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ENLARGE
GRAND JUNCTION — When the tool supply company that Wayne Castro and Robert Ingalsbe worked for went out of business, they decided they’d open their own business, believing they could do a better job running it. Plus, they were tired of working for other people.
“It’s a lot more fun owning our own business,” Ingalsbe said. “I want to get out of bed a lot faster.”
Castro and Ingalsbe signed up for a 12-week business planning class taught at the
Wayne Castro and Robert Ingalsbe operate their Empire Construction Supply business out of The BusinBusiness Incubator Center in January 2006. By March, they had incorporated their business, Empire Construction Supply (ECS Corp.), basing it out of Ingalsbe’s home.
The “Leading Edge” course taught the two, friends since high school, the basics of running a business. The course is offered twice a year and teaches people cash flow management, marketing, finance, personnel and legal issues, and how to prepare a business plan.
“We already knew how to sell blades, but we didn’t know how to run a business,” Ingalsbe said.
Empire Construction sells Diamond blades and other tools to companies nationwide, as well as in Canada.
By December 2006, the business had outgrown Ingalsbe’s house and the owners looked to the Incubator for a space to rent.
The Incubator program helps new and expanding businesses by providing affordable rental space in a supportive entrepreneurial community.
“Everyone around here is helpful,” Ingalsbe said, whether it’s loaning out a fork-lift or handing a package to FedEx.
“We’re pretty self-sufficient, but if we do have a problem we know we have a backbone over there,” Ingalsbe said.
On Aug. 25, Castro and Ingalsbe attended another Incubator class, “The Ultimate Supervisor.” The company now has four employees.
While the bulk of Empire’s business comes from companies from around the country, they also sell tools locally to places like L.E. Dangler Masonry, Fowler Concrete, Classic Services and FCI Construction.
There are numerous Diamond Blade distributors in the nation. Jason Dangler, co-owner of L.E. Dangler Masonry, said there’s an advantage dealing with a local distributor however.
“They bend over backwards for us,” Dangler said. “We order a tool, they deliver it to us. Their prices are more than competitive. They’re constantly checking up on how their products are doing. They’re really, really a good outfit; very personable.”
Castro and Ingalsbe, and their employees, spend a lot of their day on the phone with companies nationwide. While telemarketing is challenging, there are endless companies involving concrete, masonry and granite in addition to salvage yards, who use the type of tools they sell.
They hope to do more local business by opening a store in about a year.
At the rate they’re going, it looks likely.
During their first year in business they earned $150,000 in profit.
To start the business, Ingalsbe took $20,000 out of his IRA, and Castro borrowed $10,000 from his uncle. It was all paid back within four months, Castro said.
“American National Bank also really helped us out; got us going,” Castro said. “Those guys took a chance on us.”
Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.
“It’s a lot more fun owning our own business,” Ingalsbe said. “I want to get out of bed a lot faster.”
Castro and Ingalsbe signed up for a 12-week business planning class taught at the
Wayne Castro and Robert Ingalsbe operate their Empire Construction Supply business out of The BusinBusiness Incubator Center in January 2006. By March, they had incorporated their business, Empire Construction Supply (ECS Corp.), basing it out of Ingalsbe’s home.
The “Leading Edge” course taught the two, friends since high school, the basics of running a business. The course is offered twice a year and teaches people cash flow management, marketing, finance, personnel and legal issues, and how to prepare a business plan.
“We already knew how to sell blades, but we didn’t know how to run a business,” Ingalsbe said.
Empire Construction sells Diamond blades and other tools to companies nationwide, as well as in Canada.
By December 2006, the business had outgrown Ingalsbe’s house and the owners looked to the Incubator for a space to rent.
The Incubator program helps new and expanding businesses by providing affordable rental space in a supportive entrepreneurial community.
“Everyone around here is helpful,” Ingalsbe said, whether it’s loaning out a fork-lift or handing a package to FedEx.
“We’re pretty self-sufficient, but if we do have a problem we know we have a backbone over there,” Ingalsbe said.
On Aug. 25, Castro and Ingalsbe attended another Incubator class, “The Ultimate Supervisor.” The company now has four employees.
While the bulk of Empire’s business comes from companies from around the country, they also sell tools locally to places like L.E. Dangler Masonry, Fowler Concrete, Classic Services and FCI Construction.
There are numerous Diamond Blade distributors in the nation. Jason Dangler, co-owner of L.E. Dangler Masonry, said there’s an advantage dealing with a local distributor however.
“They bend over backwards for us,” Dangler said. “We order a tool, they deliver it to us. Their prices are more than competitive. They’re constantly checking up on how their products are doing. They’re really, really a good outfit; very personable.”
Castro and Ingalsbe, and their employees, spend a lot of their day on the phone with companies nationwide. While telemarketing is challenging, there are endless companies involving concrete, masonry and granite in addition to salvage yards, who use the type of tools they sell.
They hope to do more local business by opening a store in about a year.
At the rate they’re going, it looks likely.
During their first year in business they earned $150,000 in profit.
To start the business, Ingalsbe took $20,000 out of his IRA, and Castro borrowed $10,000 from his uncle. It was all paid back within four months, Castro said.
“American National Bank also really helped us out; got us going,” Castro said. “Those guys took a chance on us.”
Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.
