IL SBDC Client Spotlight

The Flower Basket
Sugar Monkey Cupcakes
Richwood Collections

The Flower Basket - Aurora, IL
Colleen Hardekopf, owner of The Flower Basket, knows how to make things bloom.  Colleen came to the Illinois SBDC at Waubonsee Community College seeking help with her business plan to obtain financing to purchase and renovate vacant property at 302 North Lake Street in Aurora. The building's large display windows offer excellent merchandising visibility, and its proximity to downtown Aurora will lead to more walk-in sales.

After just a few sessions with the Illinois SBDC, Colleen was able to put together a strong business plan that resulted in her receiving the necessary financing from both her bank and the Aurora Section 108 Loan Program. Colleen moved into her new home in October 2010, and the renovation began immediately, even as she was busy planning a large Christmas order for one of her major business clients.

To watch Colleen's Flower Basket take root in its new space, visit them at 302 North Lake Street in Aurora. You can also find flowers for any occasion online at her website www.flowerbasketinc.com or by phone at (630) 892-7673.

Sugar Monkey Cupcakes - Naperville, IL
Opening a business in today's economic climate is no picnic, but Neda Darwish was not intimidated. Neda first met with the Illinois SBDC at Waubonsee a few months before opening her business, Sugar Monkey Cupcakes in December 2008. In addition to assistance with creating her business plan and financial projections, the SBDC informed Neda on the food business regulations that would effect her venture.

Neda spent months planning, navigating health department code, and overcoming obstacles before opening her doors. Now, great things are happening for the business in the short one time that they've been open. To start with, Neda discovered that the Naperville trolley stops at her front door. Sugar Monkey Cupcakes was also the topic of the ABC 7 Hungry Hound segment. After her first month in business Neda reported, "we are doing way better than I anticipated - I'm exhausted but it's all worth it."

They offer eight to ten flavors daily, including Vanilla Gorilla, Chocolate Monkey, Baboon with the Red Velvet, and Good Monkey/Bad Monkey (do you sense a theme?). You will find Sugar Monkey Cupcakes in downtown Naperville at 28 W. Chicago Ave. For more information, visit her website at www.sugarmonkeycupcakes.com or call her at (630) 416-5600.

Richwood Collections - Maple Park, IL
Catherine Phillips visited the IL SBDC at Waubonse to get help re-starting her business. The SBDC helped update her business plan, and connected her with a mentor in the industry who helped her set pricing and marketing strategies.

Catherine gathered more information, and devised the mechanics for a snap-together rail system featuring carved hardwood designs. Richwood offers either semi-custom or complete custom designs, which are placed along the inner edge of a window frame. Consumer focus groups describe her product as "crown molding for windows." Catherine currently holds two U.S. patents and one Canadian patent. She also has over 100 copyrighted designs.

Catherine lined up two IL manufacturers, and relaunched her product at the IL chapter of Window Coverings Association of America, where she had inquiries from interior designers, retailers and distributors across the country. Check out Catherine's window products at www.richwoodcollections.com