Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.
From almonds to zebra-print sofas--you name it, someone inCalifornia grows or manufactures it. Ed Kurtz, 46, had been sellingCalifornia agricultural products to distributors for many yearswhen he heard about a store called "Made in Oregon." Thatsparked the idea for a California-only store, and Kurtz used hiscontacts to open CaliforniaMarketplace in Agoura Hills, where heonce served as mayor.
All items sold in the store are grown or made in California.Wares include everything from vinegar produced in Napa Valley toT-shirts designed by a renowned Los Angeles artist.
The store has become popular with locals and tourists alike."Many people who live here are transplanted from other states,so they have friends, relatives and business associates all overthe country. They're ecstatic to be able to send them somethingfrom California," says Kurtz.
CaliforniaMarketplace published its first mail order catalogthis year and projects sales of $100,000 next year. Kurtz isplanning to open additional locations at California tourist spotsand hotels.
Complaint Department
When their clients call to complain, Gary and Sandy Rattiganknow they're doing something right. Their business, Complain ToUs, serves as a middleman for customers seeking to resolve problemswith other companies.
The Rattigans opened Complain To Us in Somerville,Massachusetts, last October, after reading about a similarbusiness. Working from home, they handle complaints of all typesand sizes, writing or calling companies as needed until problemsare solved. Fees--which range from $25 for an"economy-sized" complaint to $200 for a "jumbo"complaint--are based on the amount of effort they deem necessary toresolve the problem.
Gary says Complain To Us bridges the gap between dissatisfiedcustomers and unsympathetic customer service representatives."So many companies have customer service lines that don'treally serve anyone," he says. "We wanted tohelp break through that wall."
Business was slow at first, but after Complain To Us was writtenup in the Boston Herald and USA Today, the phonesbegan ringing. Now the Rattigans have taken the business full timeto handle the extra work . . . and forestallany complaints.
Safe At Home
What dangers lurk in the ordinary family home? As any parentknows, plenty. Stairs, cabinets and bathrooms all pose risks forinfants unless a home is childproofed.
Penny Bowhall, an BIZ Experiences in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, learnedfirsthand about the need for childproofing when her 4-month-old sonhad an accident at a day-care center. The incident spurred Bowhallto find a way she could make a living and spend more time athome.
When she spotted a home childproofing business for sale in 1996,Bowhall and her husband, Buck, bought and began running SafeBaby.
Today, Safe Baby averages eight clients per month; about halfare first-time parents. "[Parents] want to spend time withtheir children," Penny says. "They don't want toworry about them getting into things they shouldn't or touchingthings that could hurt them." The company charges about $500to childproof a home.
Contact Sources
CaliforniaMarketplace, 5050 B Kanan Rd., Agoura Hills, CA91301, (800) 834-9476
Complain To Us, (888) 479-9300, http://www.complaintous.com
Safe Baby, P.O. Box 391, Mt. Juliet, TN 37121, bowhall@mindspring.com
