Small Business Success Story ? The Hutchinson Studio, LLC | Small Business Consulting Services

The Hutchinson Studio, LLC – a Hardee County Success Story

The Hutchinson Studio LLC (THS) is a design firm that produces computer generated architectural renderings and animations as well as graphic design. THS was established in the fall of 2008 by Michael and Megan Hutchinson. Michael has over 10 years of professional experience in various graphic design industries and 5 years experience in IT network implementation and management. He has a degree in Drafting and Design Technology and has worked in several graphic design industries including video editing, computer animation, architectural visualization and web design. Megan is an accomplished singer-performer and has a background in office management and marketing. She uses the experience she gained on-stage to make presentations to potential clients, clubs and other organizations. Megan?s duties at THS include sales, service, and bookkeeping.

THS came into existence through a series of both disappointing and inspiring events. Michael and Megan moved to Hardee County from St. Petersburg to escape urban life and to try their hand at farming. Their efforts to enter the agricultural market with a wholesale landscape nursery were met with disheartening results as the new construction market plummeted and the endeavor took a complete loss. In the midst of their disappointment, an unexpected opportunity opened for Michael to take on a rendering and animation project. The project once again ignited the Hutchinson?s entrepreneurial passion as they geared-up to launch THS.

With the failure of their plant farm fresh in their minds, the Hutchinsons decided to seek assistance to increase the chances of success in their new venture. They were referred to the SBDC by the Hardee County Economic Development Office. The Hutchinsons met with counselors Bill McKown and Dave Noel. They entered their first counseling session with many ideas and a list of products and services to offer. Accompanying the list was a ?plan? that included an even longer list of equipment needed and retail space they wanted to occupy. Over the next few months McKown and Noel guided them through the process of developing a more comprehensive business plan. The Hutchinsons participated in a 12 week business planning course (Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning) that both complemented and gave practical application to the topics discussed in the private counseling sessions. During the REAL course there were many team projects and role play scenarios that allowed the Hutchinsons to explore their ideas and gain perspective from others attending the program.

This is how Michael describes their SBDC experience:

“Mr. McKown and Mr. Noel were very thorough in their analysis of our ideas and developing our plan. They directed us to research and analyze every aspect of our business from different angles. The detailed level of planning that we were guided through helped us discover our strengths and weakness. By the end of the REAL class and the many counseling sessions, we had a complete business plan with accurate financial projections and a refined goal for the direction of our business. We presented our business plan to the class and got a great response from our classmates. After the success of our class presentation we had the opportunity to present our business plan as an example for the REAL class to the board of directors of Heartland Workforce. This in turn opened doors in our local community to network with the Hardee Chamber of Commerce, the Wauchula Kiwanis Club, Wauchula Main Street Association and others.

As we look back on our first year of business, we can see how beneficial our relation with the SBDC has been.Thanks to the direction of Mr. McKown, Mr. Noel and other counselors from the Tampa office, we completed a successful first year. Despite the difficult economic conditions, our customer base has grown and we have continued to increase our operational equipment and marketing resources without any outside financial assistance. We look forward to continual mentorship from the SBDC as our business grows and overcomes different challenges.

When mentioning the SBDC to friends, family and business associates, Megan and I greatly encourage them to access the wealth of knowledge and resources available through the counseling and training programs. Many people often chase the illusion of Government grants of ?free money? and dive into a good idea without adequate planning. The SBDC is the practical application of government assistance for new businesses.”