What are the keys to success?

What are the keys to success?
by Michelene Malosh

Harrisburg area small business entrepreneurs reflect: What are the keys to success in starting a business venture?

BUSINESS: North Street Café
231 North Street, downtown Harrisburg
717/233-7194

TYPE: Started as a neighborhood coffee shop and café, evolved into a restaurant and catering house.

ESTABLISHED: May 1993. Purchased existing business and changed the concept.

CONCEPT: A neighborhood focused café and eatery. A place where everyone from all walks of life could come in, hangout, and feel welcome. When started, North Street Café was one of the pioneers, in Harrisburg, of the indoor/outdoor cafes. Slogan: A touch of Sausalito and SoHo in Harrisburg.

OWNERS: Although they had no prior experience running a business, Jim Maturani combined his knowledge in sales and knack for cooking with Michael De Fazio’s background in the hospitality industry to revamp the North Street Café. As patron of the former establishment they saw the eatery had the potential to go from a part-time, low traffic coffee shop to a steady, high traffic hangout.

MODE: What did you do to get your business started and turn it into a profitable operation?

JIM: By working work long hours, about 105 hours per week each, and having a lot of energy. We’ve only had one seven-day vacation in four years. Also, we are extremely committed to our business.

MODE: What is the secret to your success?

JIM: Having a good, consistent product and service. We know how to make good food people enjoy and we are people who care.

MODE: In hindsight, what would you do differently in starting your business?

JIM: A business plan. We knew what we wanted, so we had no written business plan. Although we have done well, with a business plan we would have seen our needs quicker and would have been able to expand faster. Also, if we did it again we would have obtained more working capital to begin with. You can breath easier in the beginning, and more effectively deal with the unanticipated low points and repair bills when you have more capital to work with.

BUSINESS: ASAP Typing Services
206 Bosler Avenue, Lemoyne
717/730-9833

TYPE: Lemoyne-based professional secretarial services offering a variety of typing, document preparation and administrative support services, including: transcription service, business correspondence, resume preparation, brochures, and faxes.

Varied clientele - corporate, small businesses, independent consultants, individuals.

ESTABLISHED: 1989

CONCEPT: Provides personal, accessible service with a large, professional staff.

OWNER: Sally Harper

MODE: What was the most important thing you did when setting up your business?

SALLY: I sat down and wrote out what type of services, who was my target market, how would I reach my market, and what equipment was needed.

MODE: What made you want to go into business for yourself?

SALLY: I was a full-time secretary with the skills and knowledge. As an office employee, I started to do a variety of services for others on the side, and so I saw the needs that were out there.

MODE: In hindsight, what would you have done differently if you were starting your business today?

SALLY: I discovered that a "reality check" is very important when starting a business. When I started in 1989, I worked out of a different location that, in hindsight, was not accessible to my clientele. Consequently, I moved my business to a different location that is both accessible and convenient. My business has been good ever since.

BUSINESS: First Impressions
3200 Paxton Street, Harrisburg
717/564-8033

TYPE: An image consulting firm featuring a boutique (clothing, accessories, gifts) and pampering services (manicures, pedicures, facials, make-up consultation, color analysis).

ESTABLISHED: 1984

OWNERS: Larry and Tina Robenolt

MODE: From your experience in establishing First Impressions, as well as a prior arts-and-crafts franchise business, what do you consider the best place to start when you want to open a business?

LARRY: Research. Find publications featuring similar businesses. Go to the library. Seek out and examine other businesses that have a similar concept. Try to speak to other business owners and experts in related businesses and "pick their brains". Take a business seminar to learn the basics if you have never been in your own business before. Be prepared to work much more than a 40-hour workweek.