When the recession hit, Rosemary Bryant knew people needed certain items
for their homes, but didn't want to pay the higher prices
demanded at many retail stores
Then the harsh reality of the economic downturn hit home - hard.
"I found myself one day without a position"
"That I had held for twenty-two years, and the company went bankrupt"
"So I decided, you know, if I'm having"
"This type of difficulty, other people would be too"
"So I'm going to help them out."
So she moved forward with her plans to create the "EZ Dollar Store"
A place to find those sundry items you need for everyday use:
glasses, paper towels, party supplies, kitchen utensils
Even jewelry.
Rosemary began to put her efforts into creating a business
that would give people what they needed for the lowest price possible, What she calls - "Dollar Power".
"We feel that your dollar has a lot of power here."
"You can take that dollar and you know when you walk in our door"
"with that dollar"
"You're going to leave with an item that is"
"valued at more than a dollar, but you only paid a dollar for it."
"That's how you have "Dollar Power"."
"I'm just amazed at the"
"customer service and how friendly they are."
"It's a husband and wife team"
"They're both really fun and friendly and they seem to care about the customer"
"not just oh okay, we're going to make money"
"when this person walks in, but they seem"
"genuinely concerned and compassionate towards the customer and your needs."
To get her vision off the ground, Rosemary called the Small Business Development Center
- or SBDC - at College of the Canyons
She began working with SBDC Senior Business Advisor Gil Murphy and when asked what the SBDC did for her
Rosemary said the shorter answer is what they didn't do for her.
"If it wasn't for the Gil and the SBDC team"
"I think that I would be walking around lost right now."
"They set a path for me and they helped me with my business plan"
"and gave me guidance all the way through."
"Even to the point of suggesting different sources"
"that I contact in order to get financing."
"They were a big - huge - help in opening our store."
(SBDC Business Advisor Gil Murphy) "Once she started with the business plan preparation"
(SBDC Business Advisor Gil Murphy) "She became more confident with every meeting that we had. We had about ten meetings"
(SBDC Business Advisor Gil Murphy) "it's very typical with a client that we take in that we meet with them about eight to ten times."
(SBDC Business Advisor Gil Murphy) "They had the ability to do this; they had the willingness to do it."
(SBDC Business Advisor Gil Murphy) "I found a very compliant customer"
(SBDC Business Advisor Gil Murphy) "So we worked with them from there."
The advice, the planning, the direction Rosemary received
All, for free.
"It blew me away, actually."
"The information was invaluable to me; there's no price you can put on that"
"Everytime I met with the SBDC, I expected to get a bill"
"And I never got a bill!"
"They were just so helpful; they guided us,"
"and gave great advice to my husband and me"
"And we are eternally grateful for that."
And her advice for those wanting to start a business
or are already in a business that needs help?
"If you don't know where to start
"Step one - contact them"
"They have a mountain of information"
"And it's free. And they have the information at their fingertips"
"They don't drop you once you get started"
"They stay with you; they find out how your progress has been"
"and make make suggestions on how you can do it better"
EZE Dollar Store has become a destination for shoppers looking for
those necessary household items at dollar prices.
And it exists, thanks to the guidance
of the Small Business Development Center hosted by College of the Canyons