The
Branson, MO, boom was about more than just country music. In 1994,
it encouraged Nolene Davis to move her wholesale fashion jewelry business
to the popular Southwest Missouri tourist destination.
Nolene buys and imports women's fashion costume jewelry. Many of
her customers are entertainment venues including Silver Dollar City,
the Lawrence Welk Theater and the IMAX Theater in Branson, along with
Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN. The company also has two private labels—Branson
Blues and Denim Connection—and two retail outlet stores in Branson.
Nolene believes that her success selling fashion jewelry at tourist
destinations results from offering products that are unique and hard
to find. Those products range from clip-on earrings to the 10,000
butterfly necklaces purchased by the Rainforest Café
chain.
While patriotic jewelry is popular year-round in Branson, Nolene
purchased an extremely large amount in early summer 2001. Fortunately,
Nolene's business had the inventory necessary to fulfill requests
totaling over $100,000 in sales following the Sept. 11 tragedy. That
equates to around 35,000 pieces of jewelry. Her red, white, and blue
success story also included the distribution of 12,000 scarves.
Specialty Merchandise Sales has grown to produce more than $1 million
a year and provides year-round employment to 10 people. Its latest
area of growth has been the expansion of Christmas jewelry. Nolene
recently filled an order for pins, earrings and scarves for Bronner's
Christmas Wonderland, the largest Christmas store in the U.S. with
92,000 square feet. She also has her jewelry lines in Atlanta.
Nolene was first introduced to the SBDC through her enrollment in
a "Financial Management Series" of seminars.
"The classes offered by the Small Business Development Center
have assisted me in determining future cash flow needs and in developing
financial plans for future growth," says Nolene. According to
consultant Rayanna Anderson, the SBDC has since worked with Nolene
on several issues including a building purchase, financial analysis
and most recently a SMART analysis to help her plan for continued
growth. Rayanna has enjoyed each project.
"What a fun business to work with!" Rayanna says. "Nolene
has done a great job of monitoring fashion trends, giving great customer
service and constantly seeking new information and knowledge to support
her business's growth," says Rayanna.
Nolene plans to continue utilizing the services provided by the Springfield
SBDC. "The recent SMART analysis really helped me focus on processes
I need to have in place for the future. I have also appreciated the
one-on-one time I have spent with my consultant, Rayanna Anderson,
and the support of the whole team."
Specialty Merchandise Sales
P.O. Box 6728
Branson, MO 65615
(417) 335-6868
(417) 337-5308
Manufacturer
- A.M. Pyrotechnics LLC of Buffalo - produces fireworks and choreographs professional pyrotechnics displays
- Billy Goat Industries of Lee's
Summit - manufacturer of outdoor power equipment
- Eyes of the World of Rolla - manufacturer of high-quality intraocular lenses for humans and animals
- ISW Group, Inc., of St. Louis - manufacturer of a skin-care product for
African Americans suffering with dermatological problems
- The Newberry Group of St. Louis - developer of computer security systems
- Patric Chocolate of Columbia - gourmet chocolate maker
- Pogue Label and Screen of St. Louis - a specialist in printing labels on plastic containers
- Sigma Aldrich of St. Louis -
chemical manufacturer
- TechGuard Security of Chesterfield - provider of information network security products
- X-Com, Inc. of Warrensburg, - produces digital communications hardware and software for the Navy and other commercial applications and products
Professional, Scientific and Technical Service
- Aegis Business Solutions LLC of Kansas City -
offers solutions to business problems in information technology
- Brick City Custom Works of Mexico - custom motorcycle repair and service shop
- Gaskin, Hill, Norcross of
Springfield - developer of a text messaging system
- Global Solutions Group of Fenton - network solutions, IT telephone and
systems management firm
- H2O Technical Services, Inc., of Springfield, a provider of integrated water treatment services and applications
- Hammer Collections of Springfield - employs computer software and information technology to resolve and prevent payment delinquencies
- InnovaPrep LLC of Drexel - developing technology to aid detection systems for biodefense, medical diagnostics, food and beverage industries
- Language Solutions, Inc. of St. Louis - specializing in translation technology and multi-lingual communications services to assist other businesses reach a global market
- Logistical Resource Solutions of St. Louis - storage and inventory control
- Lytmos Group LLC of Lee's Summit - provides peer review and grants management support to organizations that sponsor high technology R&D
- Mobile Media Technologies, LLC of Kansas Ciy - wireless communications
- Nanoparticle BioChem Inc. of Columbia - research and production of nanoparticle-based products
- Nanova, Inc. of Columbia - researching biomaterials, materials, composites and medical devices to develop more reliable medical devices
- NEMS/MEMS Works LLC of Columbia - engineering researchers developing early-stage prototypes of nanotechnology delivery devices to target drug applications in patients with life-threatening conditions
- OsteoGeneX of Kansas City - drug research and biotech commercialization
- Paternity Testing Corporation of Columbia - forensic investigations, DNA profiling
and parental identification
- PureFlow Technologies Inc. of Jefferson City - produces and markets a diesel engine fuel efficiency device
- P/Strada, LLC, of Kansas City - a
consultant in bio-terrorism and homeland security
- QM Power Inc. of Greenwood - developing magnetic force control technology
- Sign Designs of Joplin - designs and manufactures custom signs for large corporations and small businesses
- Technology and Networking of Cape Girardeau - computer technology and telecommunications sales and services
- The Vacation Channel of
Branson - independent TV station providing tourism info
- Westinn Kennels of St. Charles
- canine boarding and training facility
- Wren Associates, Ltd. of Jefferson
City - provider of retail fraud detection systems
|
|
|
Visit the current Featured Entrepreneur
