New exterminator business in southern Colorado

New Exterminator Business based in Manassa Serves Entire San Luis Valley

Spiders, ants and mites…oh my! Who ya’ gonna’ call? Specializing in residential maintenance, Kristi Jarvies, owner of 5K Pest Management, is the newest exterminator in town and can also mitigate crickets, silverfish, stinkbugs, cockroaches, centipedes and more. Kristi has already treated over 40 homes and cabins since starting her business in June of 2010. Based in Manassa and totally locally owned and operated, Jarvies can service the entire San Luis Valley.

Over 20 years ago Kristi’s dad started a similar business in Albuquerque and called it 5K because he had 5 kids. Kristi and her husband Mitchell also have 5 kids, so they registered the business in Colorado with the same name. Kristi learned the business working alongside her father as well as attending several intense certifying classes. It has taken more than two years to learn everything she needs to know such as chemical use safety and identifying different pests and their habitats and characteristics. She has passed all her tests and each year has to keep up with continuing education to stay licensed. All of the certifications come from the Department of Agriculture. “Chemicals are always improving and becoming safer and more effective. Everything we use is biodegradable and wont’ hurt humans or pets. My dad says that some household products under your kitchen sink are more harmful than what we use,” Jarvies commented. She feels her business has a niche over other exterminators because she doesn’t require a yearly contract.

“I had my house serviced from another company and they didn't get rid of my bugs. Kristi came in and serviced my home and now my bugs are gone. Her pricing is more reasonable and she is more dependable than the other company,” remarked Sandy Smalley from Mosca, a satisfied customer. Kristi contacted the San Luis Valley Small Business Development Center for some assistance with marketing and business planning. She also attended a workshop held in conjunction with Ann Marie Velasquez and the Conejos County Chamber. Kristi may be contacted by calling (719) 843-5028 or (719) 580-9411.

Tumbleweeds Gift Gallery is a New Business in Fort Garland, Colorado

Whoa! What is happening in Fort Garland, Colorado? Long standing antique owner Sarah Vanderlaan is retired and the new owners have opened up Tumbleweeds Gift Gallery featuring southwestern gifts and home décor. You can’t miss the beautiful bronze elk inviting you to stop in and browse for unique gifts including rugs, hats, pottery, candles, mesquite lamps and homemade soaps, just to mention a few of their better selling items.

Scott and Jennifer Abbes, originally from Tennessee, have been travelling to the Southwestern states for the past 12 years as tourists. They finally decided to move to Colorado, buying Sarah’s house while still running their on-line business. Scott sells air filtration products under his other business, Clean Air Solutions LLC. Crispin and Iona Free from San Luis are their store managers.

Scott and Jennifer have felt welcomed into this community and see the huge potential as the first town travelers come to when entering the San Luis Valley on Highway 160 from the East. Scott has ideas for selling to hikers, tourists and locals. He is offering a “Sand Dunes” or “Hikers” survival kit, complete with mosquito repellant and sunscreen. Jennifer mentioned that early shoppers have purchased their jewelry, blankets and wall art, commenting that the quality is like Taos or Santa Fe but the prices are much better.

The Abbes have decorated their home with items such as mesquite lamps and southwestern rugs. When they looked around, they realized that other stores in the area were not selling these unique home décor items and decided to take a chance that others would like access to these as well.

Scott built the shelves and they re-did their cement floor with an acid wash. The place has so much charm inside and out, not to mention coffee and homemade cinnamon rolls, brownies and cookies, that it is a must stop on your next visit to Fort Garland. The store is open Monday through Saturday, 9-6 and on Sundays, 1-6. They are members of the local business association and contacted the SLV Small Business Development Center. To contact Scott or Jennifer, call 719-376-4149.

Mermaid Cafe now open for dinner in Creede Colorado

What are mermaids doing hanging out in the old mining town of Creede, Colorado? Several years ago when Sharon Brown decided to open up a café, she thought to herself, I want to really stand out and be different. She reminisced about one of her favorite songs called “Carey” on a Joni Mitchell album, where she mentions “the Mermaid Café” in her lyrics. Mermaids are known as the “sirens of the sea” and can “draw you in,” an effect she hopes to do with locals and tourists. The hand carved mahogany sign was created by John Homes of Todos Santos, Mexico. He also helped create the Boathouse in Creede.

The café is located on Main Street in a building that was damaged from a fire in 2006. When she was remodeling it, she was mindful to keep a part of history which is the warm, original brick wall, built in 1890.

Every restaurant owner faces unique challenges. One of the challenges in Creede is the boom and bust cycle that exists with the summer tourists and the quiet winters. Coming from Denver with over 25 years of management, entertaining and catering experience, Sharon fell in love with this quaint town which boasts a plethora of artists and home of the Creede Repertoire Theatre. She has local photos and paintings for sale by local artists that decorate her walls.

“My goal was to offer a different selection of food than what you can get at the other restaurants in town. I try to make my salads, soups and breads with the healthiest ingredients as possible. I like to be creative, so in addition to my regular menu, I rotate specials and have just added evening dining. Some of the patrons’ favorites are Salmon with Wasabi, Chipotle Meatloaf, Thai dishes and several Italian and Mexican specialties.”

The hours of the Mermaid Café are 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday – Saturday, closed Thursdays. Sharon contacted Donna Wehe at the San Luis Valley Small Business Development Center at 587-5151 for assistance in marketing and financial analysis.

“Come on down to the Mermaid Cafe and I will buy you a bottle of wine…and we'll laugh and toast to nothing and smash our empty glasses down” by Joni Mitchell. There’s a community table near the kitchen so people can come in by themselves and join in local conversation and fellowship. Sharon can be contacted by calling 658-1112. The Mermaid Café is located at 115 North Main in Creede.

Del Norte home to Dun-Rite Glass New Business Owner

Dun-Rite Glass

Dun-Rite Glass, focusing on quality service, is now open at 520 Spruce Street in Del Norte.

Pete George and Elizabeth Weaver are owners of the new business. Pete George has 26 years in the glass business. Elizabeth manages the office.

Pete is a certified auto glass technician with Sika, DOW and Essex manufacturing corporations. He is also certified by AGRSS, the All Glass Replacement Safety Standards Council.

“I take pride in my work,” said Pete. “I feel a responsibility for the safety of my customers and will never take shortcuts when replacing and installing a windshield.” Many people don’t realize that a windshield is part of the structural integrity of a vehicle. If the windshield pops out, for instance in a roll over, the roof of the vehicle may be smashed, increasing the risk of serious injury to passengers. Air bag release on the passenger side could also cause an incorrectly installed windshield to pop out. Dun-Rite Glass uses only quality OEM products (Original Equipment Manufacturer), further adding to the safety features of their work. They provide a lifetime warranty on workmanship and also offer free chip repair for their windshields to the purchasing owner. They offer a $20 chip repair service for any windshield and can usually have the job done in a half hour.

Dun-Rite Glass has their focus on auto glass, residential and heavy equipment, but can accommodate just about any glass job you bring to them. They will do rescreening, thermal units for windows, glass or mirror cutting and will work with any glass. They are the subcontractors with A & M Vinyl in Monte Vista, handling the glass and screen work for the handmade windows. They are now setting up equipment to make folding “phantom” screens for patio doors.

Pete and Elizabeth have lived in Grand Junction and Denver, but decided to move back to the San Luis Valley where Elizabeth has family in South Fork. They like the friendliness and quiet of a small town and look forward to building their business in serving the entire valley.

They have joined the Del Norte Chamber of Commerce and are glad to be part of the community. Pete and Elizabeth met Donna Wehe, Small Business Development Center, at a Chamber meeting. From the SBDC they were able to receive assistance in the technical issues of getting a business set up such as registering with the state and getting bookkeeping methods in place.

Dun-Rite Glass will have a ribbon cutting on Thursday, July 15th. Their Grand Opening will be Saturday, July 17th with free hot dogs and a raffle. Stop by to visit them and find out what a quality glass service can offer to you. They are open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm. They also can provide service after 5 pm, by appointment.

Their phone number is 719-657-2000. Check out their website at www.dun-riteglass.com.

Leading Edge Business Seminar in Moffatt, Colorado

Valley’s Leading Edge Course Gives Lessons in Proven Business Methods


How can I manage my business like a true business professional if I don’t have any formal business training, and I don’t have time to go to college?

How can I plan for the growth of my company? How can I explain to my lender my need for financing and increase my chances of getting the loan approved?

If you have asked yourself questions like these, or you are an entrepreneur with a great idea for a business but no idea where to start, then you may want to consider enrolling in the Small Business Development Center’s Leading Edge course.

Leading Edge uses the NxLevel© curriculum and is one of the best and most affordable entrepreneurial training programs on the market today. It aims for these results:

1. Provide basic business skills training, including preparing a business plan.

2. Provide practical guidance in marketing, financial projections and negotiating with lenders.

Over 600 communities in 48 states use the NxLevel© training material, with an average graduation rate of 65%. Existing businesses that have completed the program see a 28% increase in sales, and on average, create one additional job within one year of graduation. Of those graduates not in business, 40% go on to start a new venture.

From a recent San Luis Valley participant’s evaluation:
“If someone has an idea about starting a business, this is the class for you. You have to start somewhere. I know I am going to start a business soon; I am thankful for the Leading Edge Course because it got my wheels turning.”

Leading Edge has been orchestrated in the San Luis Valley for over 25 years. Current classes are being conducted by the Small Business Development Center and participants are from all six counties in the SLV. Many local banks, businesses, government entities and educational institutions have contributed their resources to the success of this program.
Schedule for the Fall of 2010
Class will be co-taught between Certified Trainers Kim Smoyer, Lisa Cyriacks & Donna Wehe.  To register, contact Kim Smoyer at (719) 655-0104 or ksmoyer@centurylink.net

Classes will be on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at Moffat School on Hwy 17, Moffat, Colorado.  The 12 week seminar costs $250 per business.  Up to 3 people per business may attend.  A possible $100 back-end scholarship may be available.

Schedule subject to change.

September 1     Introduction to Entrepreneurship
                          Understand business ownership, develop goals, objectives and mission statement
September 8     Planning and Research - this class will be at Adams State College Library in Alamosa
                           Use the resources at ASC to learn more about your industry, trends & demographics
September 15   Legal Structure and Management
                           Learn from an attorney and CPA how the legal structure chosen for your business
                          may help mitigate tax and other liabilities
September 22   Marketing Analysis
                            Use market analysis to develop your customer profile and analyze the competition
September 29    Marketing Strategies
                            Realize the importance of business image; learn what influences price/quality
                            relationship, and examine tools used to promote your business
October 6         Financial Overview
                           Gain an understanding of the basic financial statements and how they are used
                            Pricing your product strategies
October 13      Managing Money & Selling (Marketing)
                            Learn how budgets, sales forecasts and other tools provide performance feedback
                            Learn effective sales techniques from experienced business owner
October 20     Money Cash Flows & Effective Signage (Marketing)
                         Learn the concept of break-even, internal operation controls over cash &
                         develop cash flows (hands on activity to understand profit and loss statement)
                         Watch and discuss a 20 minute video about effective signage
October 27     Financial Statements & Ratios
                         Develop a pro forma balance sheet; learn and practice the important financial ratios
November 3    Financing Your Business (Lender Panel)
                         From Angel Investors to traditional commercial loans, discussion with a panel of
                        experts over ways to finance your business
November 10    Green Business & Human Resources & Insurance
                           Learn the necessity of "going green," employer responsibilities, business insurance
                           and financial planning options
November 17     Future Growth/Graduation
                            Now what?  Growing pains that face businesses and how to handle them; hear
                           the succes story of a local small business and how they got there.

New Niche Carpentry Business in Monte Vista, Colorado

New Niche Carpentry Business Opens in Monte Vista

New business owner Ben Beckner’s motto is “Delivering Quality Through Integrity.” Beckner comes from a lineage of talented carpenters and many locals might know of his grandfather Myron’s intricate work as a woodworker and craftsman.

While attending Leading Edge in the evenings, he was putting in long days doing the detailed finish work in the newly remodeled Bistro Rialto Restaurant on Main Street in Alamosa. Beckner Custom Carpentry, LLC, opened for business in the spring of 2010 in its first retail location, moving out of the 100 year old barn on his farmhouse. The new shop is in the Weiss Cleaner Building, behind Community Banks in Monte Vista.

The new site will be more central to the jobs he works on and will also provide a direct retail spot for anyone needing custom trim and woodworking. No job is too small or intricate for Ben. He loves the challenge of the “hard to match” or “make it look unique” jobs. He purchased a new molder that enables him to match trim and offers over 500 different profiles in almost any specie of wood; and next to his lovely wife Jennifer and four young children, it is his pride and joy. A satisfied customer commented, “He has lots of potential with his new molder for custom work to match vintage trim, to replace a piece of trim on furniture, or to make something unique for his customers. He can also use different types of wood than what may be available in a lumber yard.”

The phone number for his shop is 852-2992 and you can view his work and learn more about him at his website, becknercustomcarpentry.com.

New Art Gallery Opening in Monte Vista, Colorado

What’s the story behind the new gallery in Monte Vista? All Good Things, Gallery and Gift Boutique, is located at 1021 Second Avenue, across from the bowling alley and is owned by Jenna Ford. Jenna, who has a degree in art, has always had a real passion for art, and she has had an idea for an art gallery and gift boutique in Monte Vista for a long time. For the past eleven years she has been busy with her family potato farm and the Mansion Bed and Breakfast businesses. Jenna has been involved with the DREAM TEAM and Monte Vista Chamber as a volunteer and thought, there is something more that downtown Monte Vista deserves. Finally the timing felt right to Jenna and she acquired an 1896 home that she has been renovating, with as much emphasis on historical restoration as is feasible. Drawing inspiration from former owner Hope Ortiz, Jenna has completely rejuvenated this structure inside and out. While word spread around the community of a future showcase for artists, Jenna was busily scraping, sanding, texturing and painting. Her labor of love has now paid off with a beautiful gallery and gift shop. Many artisans are looking forward to displaying and selling their original artwork and unique gift items in this location and have already contacted her. Jenna wants to offer the possibility of themed shows and wants to tie in with Wild Thyme Gallery owned by Laura Murphy about six blocks away to market their shows and events together. Jenna strongly believes in giving back and getting involved in your community and encourages small business owners to join their chamber, Monte Arts Council, use resources like the SLV Small Business Development Center, or whatever groups that can help them advocate, teach and network their business. Jenna is also now selling the beautiful laser-cut panels designed by artist Tord Boontje that adorn her gallery windows. She can be contacted at (719) 849-0891 or www.goodthingsgallery.com for upcoming events. Don’t miss her Trunk Show and Open House featuring Autumn Teneyl clothing on Friday and Saturday, Memorial Day weekend. Free and confidential business counseling is available from the SLV SBDC at coloradosbdc.org or call Donna Wehe at 587-5151.