Tyler McElroy expressed his post-college aspirations of realizing his dream to own a business selling shoes and clothes. He required funding to address repairs needed for the storefront.
"He's been a lifesaver to us. After our first meeting I mentioned other issues we were having like taxes, running the business better, keeping up with the books and money coming in and out. Frank told me about his background in accounting and we hit it off."
WV SBDC Business Coach Frank Goldsborough aided McElroy in obtaining an ARPA grant from the City of Morgantown to fund storefront expenses. Subsequently, as their relationship grew, Frank provided assistance to Tyler in managing his bookkeeping and finances.
The client successfully obtained the necessary funds for the repairs, and his store is now officially open for business.
The clients had a dream of opening the area's first outfitter store but didn't know where to begin. Lacking prior business startup experience, they were filled with numerous questions.
The WV SBDC coaches Michael Boyd and Carol Goolsby provided personalized coaching to guide Alex and Amanda Teixeira through every essential step in registering their business. Additionally, they extended support in areas such as merchandise, supply chain, research, marketing, and more.
The clients readied the store and achieved a successful opening. The business is still thriving today.
The challenge, during the pandemic and in its aftermath, was staying operational and open. As an exporter, owner Doug Kreinik often traveled to other countries to do workshops and exhibitions of his thread. COVID-19 shut down all travel, but he was able to access, through his SBDC coach Marsa Myers, funding from the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). In addition, Kreinik worked with a subject matter expert provided by the WV SBDC through COVID-19 funding.
"Marsa, at the SBDC, has helped me find resources and different people to work with to make my business more successful."
Kreinik has worked with the local SBDC for loans, and has taken numerous state government classes on exporting. His SBDC coach nominated him for the 2023 SBA Small Business Exporter of the Year and won at the regional level. He was awarded the WV Governor's Export Award 24 times for selling to over 20 countries. The Kreinik brand is represented through sales to every continent except for Antarctica. He has lectured and given presentations across the United States, Canada, the Philippines, the UK, and Russia, and did not let the pandemic stop him — he turned to Zoom in order to work with crafters across the world. His website is currently being adapted to translate product information into 130 languages.
Because of the assistance he received from the SBDC, Kreinik Industries is thriving today, when many businesses shut down during COVID-19. We found a way to make it all work, and he had so many national and international orders for his product that his shipments became backlogged. He has only recently, in the past few months, gotten caught up with the demand for his product.
