PRINCEVILLE — The “backbone of the economy,” small businesses are what keep Kaua‘i’s financial engine running, said Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce President Randy Francisco at Thursday evening’s 2010 U.S. Small Business Administration Awards Ceremony. “Even if you are not all
PRINCEVILLE — The “backbone of the economy,” small businesses are what keep Kaua‘i’s financial engine running, said Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce President Randy Francisco at Thursday evening’s 2010 U.S. Small Business Administration Awards Ceremony.
“Even if you are not all winners, you are survivors,” he said to audience members before this year’s awards were presented at the Princeville Prince Clubhouse.
Considering “it’s been a tough two years,” and “we get calls everyday” from entrepreneurs “looking to adopt new ways” of doing business, “these people are really champions,” said SBA Hawai‘i’s Entrepreneurial Development and Public Information Officer Jane Sawyer, of those nominated.
“There are lessons to be learned in how they do business,” she said.
One business which Bank of Hawai‘i’s Larry Dressler said he considers to be a “model for everyone” is Kaua‘i Kunana Dairy & Family Farm, which is exactly why he nominated them as the Home-Based Business Champion of the Year.
“It’s impressive what they’ve done,” especially on just a few acres of land, he said.
The family-owned business, which has expanded exponentially since they first began farming in 1979, sells goat cheese, organic fruits and vegetables and various other products such as goat-milk soap and salsas, according to owner Louisa Wooten.
Another business which has grown in recent years is Talk Story Bookstore in Hanapepe whose owner Edgar “Ed” Justus IV was awarded Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
They are “living proof” that anything is possible, said Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce’s Treasurer Sally Motta of Justus and his business partner and wife, Cynthia Powell.
“They didn’t listen” to naysayers, said Motta, who drives from the North Shore to Hanapepe just to patronize one of the “best businesses on island.”
“We don’t buy into the doom and gloom,” Justus agreed.
Instead, they created their “own economy” and, after starting with around 3,000 books in 2004, have already expanded to some 30,000 titles, he said.
Business owners need to “find out what the community wants” and not just rely on the visitor industry, Justus said when asked what propels sales and keeps customers coming back for more.
Another business which focuses on providing kama‘aina with what they are looking for is Lewis & Mann Plastering and Drywall, whose owners, Henry Lewis and Terence Mann, were the recipients of the Small Business Person of the Year award.
They too are “optimistic” about the financial future, even though business is “very competitive” right now, Mann said.
Where there were once four to five bidders per customer in 2007, has now climbed to about 10, Lewis said.
But, they plan to “be here long-term,” even through the ups and downs, he said regarding their 7-year-old business.
“I’m very fond of them,” said Connie Clausen of American Savings Bank, who nominated the duo. “This will put them in the spotlight.”
Other winners included Gwynne Duarte of Duarte Financial Systems, as well as Beth Tokioka, executive assistant to Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.
Duarte has been assisting small business for some 35 years on the island, and received the Financial Services Champion of the Year award.
“The fact that most of her original clients are still with her to this day is testimony to her abilities and professionalism,” according to the SBA.
Tokioka created the Kaua‘i Made program when she was director of the county Office of Economic Development. The program has grown around 60 percent, with 114 small businesses enrolled. Tokioka was named Minority Business Champion of the Year.
This is “an acknowledgment of” the county’s “commitment … to a program that actually delivers real results” to small local businesses, she said.
“Too often it seems government makes things harder for businesses,” Tokioka said. “In this case, the county is actually paving the way for small business to be successful.”
The award also “reflects the amazing creativity and ingenuity of the businesses that make up the Kaua‘i Made program,” said Tokioka.
Each member is “unique, and the product-makers are so passionate about what they do. To be able to give them more exposure in the marketplace is a privilege and a complete pleasure,” she said.
There are an estimated 27 million small businesses in the nation, according to Gary Heu, who presented a National Small Business Week proclamation Thursday on behalf of Carvalho.
“They are major contributors to the strength of America’s economy,” creating some 60 percent to 80 percent of new jobs in the nation, he said.
• Coco Zickos, business and environmental writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or czickos@kauaipubco.com.
