Sondra attended one of our Starting a Business seminars in Tinley Park in October, 2010.
She wanted to buy a 30-year old florist in Beverly from the retiring owners. Price was right, landlord offered concessions, location on busy Vincennes in a popular strip mall. Sondra had worked part time in the shop for a few years, and the owners were willing to stay on for a while to manage the transition. Sondra had good skills and good credit after many years in the corporate world.
We immediately began working with her on her business plan. By spring, 2011 she had it in great shape. We helped with the acquisition legal and reg issues as well as advised on negotiations with the owners. It became a pretty drawn-out process with some big hurdles, but Sondra persevered.
She needed more than most micro-lenders limits, so we worked with Accion and, after she opened, a city of Chicago program offered through the Duman Center SBDC to put a package together to get her the financing for 80% of the purchase price at special terms.
She has added 6 part-time employees, and during the holidays (especially Valentines Day), she adds even more drivers and designers. “I didn’t sleep for 3 days during the Valentines Day rush trying to get all the orders fulfilled,” Said Sondra. Long-time clients of the previous owners have been happy with the service and have stayed, and she has done some new marketing to bring in more clients.
Her new website, www.mybouquet.net is an inviting, easy-to-use method to purchase flowers and plants for local or international delivery.
All in all, Sondra says that she has had very few surprises during the first six months. She was prepared, and she has the great attitude that she can handle whatever comes her way. “Thanks so much to the resources and support of CenterPoint.”
It is with great pleasure to congratulate our own 
When the ITC staff visited the Transco office in November 2011, the Client mentioned they had a proposal in the final stage of a multi-million dollar contract with a Chinese company. They needed advocacy assistance from DCEO. In order to take advantage of international resources, the ITC introduced the client to the DCEO Office of Trade and Investment (OTI). With help from the OTI and the foreign offices, this special case was brought to the attention of Mr. Gary Locke, the U.S. Ambassador to China, to advocate for the bidding.
