What it does: Great Kolor serves as an Advocacy Agency assisting many Bay Area Non Profits in securing low or no cost outdoor ad space and then printing and delivering the finished graphics.
HQ: Walnut Creek. Founded: 2005. Source of start-up capital: Self financed. Websites: CameronFolio, GreatKolor.
Reason for starting business: Previous company was purchased and facility was shut down. Approaching your 50th birthday without a job was a big motivator.
Background: CUNY-Brookly college with BA in Social Science. Sales career in photo equipment supplies evolves into graphics output with primary focus to assist the non Profit world.
Most difficult part of decision: Not very difficult, in a sink or swim moment, it's good to know that you can still swim.
Biggest plus of ownership: The empowerment of being in charge of your own destiny.
Biggest drawback: Negative of ownership is flip side of the positive. Being in charge puts all the responsibility on you and it's very dependent on your state of the mind, success or failure is up to you.
Biggest business strength: Very fortunate that many long term clients continue to compliment us with glowing endorsements for reliability, quality and dedication to excellent customer service.
Biggest business weakness: None. Well okay, maybe it’s outreach time management and not putting enough energy into bringing in new clients. Fortunately solid referrals turn into new business.
Biggest risk: There really isn’t much risk, Great Kolor is a tight little business.
Biggest mistake: Except for the one mis-spec'd window graphic, honestly I can't think of any.
Smartest move: Decision to put resources into the organization of a brief and to the point non-profit education program called the Not-For-Profit Publicity Workshop. The volunteer venues like ODC Dance, California Historical Society, Mission Cultural Center and Robert Cameron’s Environmental Journey have all been excellent and feedback from every atendee has been terrific.
Daily routine
Most challenging task: Same as favorite task: Aligning clients needs with our capabilities.
Least favorite task: Having to say No. Source of support in a business crisis: My much better half: St. Michelle.
Biggest frustration: Traffic jams and voice mail tag. Favorite task: Aligning clients needs with our capabilities.
Dreams
First move with capital windfall: Repair our home, pay off the mortgage and take a much delayed three month around the world vacation, just me and the Mrs.
Key goal yet to achieve: Financial stability. For a very short moment it was in hand, then the housing bust cleaned our clock. That's okay, lesson learned, we'll get there. Five year plan: Take that three month vacation.
Inducement to sell: I really enjoy doing this and it would have to be an extraordinary spectacular buyout to induce selling.
Personal
Most admired entrepreneur: Benjamin Franklin. Most interested in meeting: Napoleon Hill.
Favorite film: The Lion King. Favorite pastimes: Hiking the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range with my sons.
Favorite destination: Mt Evans, Colorado.
Stress reducers: Listening to motivational CD’s in the car. Favorite restaurant: Nordstrom’s Café.
Favorite book: “The Magic of Thinking Big”, Dr. David J Schwartz. What is on your iPod: Don’t have one.