Sharyl Markham
Lewisburg, KY (USA)
Role(s):
Founder/Owner/Principal
Markham Design Group
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Startup
Location:
Russellville
Industry:
Design
Year Founded:
2002
Number Employees:
1-10 people
Description:
My company is a design/construction company. I am the sole owner, but my husband has the construction talent. We have restored, remodeled, designed, and decorated homes and business for several years, working this as a second job. I have been told for many years that I needed to open a shop and work out of our business. I resently became unemployed, 53 years old, and signed a non-compete clause, so I am not able to work for one year. My husband just resently took a early retirement, so this is as good as a chance to open the shop. I would like to have discounted fabric, tile, hardwood flooring, and consignment home furnishings, in an upscale design, but with discounted pricing. We live in a rual community, and many of the people would like to have something nice, but they just can't afford it. So, I want to show them how they can have something nice, without paying a high price for it.
Also, I have contacted many local artists, and they are going to rent space to display and sell their art. This is going to pay the rent. Right now I have enough to pay the rent, and double. This way, if someone decides to move out, it gives me time to replace this artist I have contacted several antique dealers that are coming into the shop, and they will pay straight commission. I have run business for several other people, making one a millionair, and I am tired of making other people money. I put myself through college, majoring in management, earning a BS (it took me 14 years working full-time and raising a family of four), and I started on my masters, but decided against it. I have a 4.0 toward my masters program. I have always worked at least two jobs. Operations Manager during working hours, and decorating during night and weekends. My husband has done the same thing. We have worked hard. I started a small business for a friend of mine (now a millionair), so I know how hard it is. I also realize that it takes three years before you begin to show a profit. We both are prepared to work hard, and we will not have a whole lot of money tied up in inventory. I would like to purchase fabric from the mills, and we have to purchase some tile samples from the warehoused. We just need a little start-up cash. I am not buying any other merchandise to sell in the store other than fabric.
The building is an old building, 1889, and my husband have made arrangements to paint and do touch up repairs, for exchange for rent for at least four months. This will allow me to start up a good cssh flow.
So, this is the plan. We will be open on Oct 1st, being a great time before Christmas. And, with the housing slump, people are redecorting their homes. I have talked to the local hardware owner, who is a good friend, and he said that business has not slowed down a bit, he thinks that it has actually picked up.
I've done a lot of research, ran business before, and people have been begging me to do this for years. I've bit off the bullit, now I just need a little help bitting it into!
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and please consider me jor a small loan.
Founder/Owner/Principal
Markham Design Group
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Service Provider
Location:
Lewisburg
Description:
We will be offering home decorating consultation, home redos, construction consultation, and a hub for local crafters. I will also have a art gallary for the local artist.
Services Provided:
- Logo Design