Sunny Beach Clothing – Cottage Grove
Teresa Garner followed her dream when in June 2010 she purchased Sunny Beach, an established clothing store in Cottage Grove. Having no prior business experience, she quickly realized that she needed training. She learned of the Strategies of Success offered through the Lane Community College Small Business Development Center. Offered through the Chamber of Commerce, the program provided her the variety of business training she needed. Two thousand and ten is the second year the program was presented in Cottage Grove and Teresa knew of a friend who had taken the course the first year. The wide variety of topics ranging from business planning, marketing, financing, legal, to bookkeeping, sales, and human resources appealed to her. In addition to the nine months spent with other business peers in class, she also spent an hour a month with an instructor/advisor one-on-one.
Individual help included setting up a Quickbooks accounting system, and inventory control. Today, Teresa lists her successes that were the direct result of the Strategies of Success Program. She created a business plan and marketing strategy. Social media have increased her sales, although she can’t put a dollar amount on the increased sales. She also began advertising on local television–something she hadn’t considered a year ago. With her new bookkeeping ability, she can now budget and make business decisions based on data. Financial reports make sense and are documenting growth. As a sole proprietor, she is working to create a limited liability company because of information she gained in class.
Her greatest success however is networking with other business owners. She has made contact with another similar business in Florence, Oregon through the program and plans to share ideas to their mutual benefit. She remains in contact with others in the Cottage Grove program. Realizing the value of the Strategies of Success Program, Teresa has made the decision to continue her business education. She has registered for the Small Business Management Program offered in Eugene at the Small Business Development Center. This three-year program will offer guidance and support as she continues down the path of business success.
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A partnership program with Lane Community College, the Oregon Business Development Department (Lottery Funds), and U.S. Small Business Administration (Federal Funds).
“Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.”, “Financed in part with lottery funds awarded by the Oregon Business Development Department,” and primarily funded by Lane Community College.
“All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA,” the Oregon Business Development Department, or Lane Community College. Material subject to change without notice.
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Disability Resources at 541.463.5150 (voice) or 541.463.3079 (TTY), or stop by Building 1, Room 218 on the LCC main campus.
All SBA funded programs offered are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.
Lane SBDC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Service Provider.