Mike Cambron is a great example of a career pivot that led to the start of his own small business. He began in law enforcement and soon decided that he could better serve the community by helping people on the front end of a problem as a locksmith.
After several years working for others, Cambron contacted Darren Gibbs, a local small business attorney, for advice on starting his own locksmith and safe business. Gibbs referred him to the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at the University of Arkansas. Cambron became a client in June of 2022 and consultant Lori Lieblong guided him through the process of determining startup costs, creating a financial workbook, and developing a business plan. Needing capital for equipment and a truck, Lieblong connected him to FORGE, Inc. – Community Loan Fund where he obtained the necessary capital for his business.
JR’s Lock and Safe LLC became a reality and was up and running by summer’s end. Cambron had purchased his equipment and truck, created a website, set up his social media platforms, and had business cards in hand. Lieblong continued her assistance by helping him learn the various administrative tasks associated with starting the business. When he found his most challenging management issue to be marketing, she directed him to the center’s marketing resources on sbtdc.uark.edu. “Getting advertisement, getting my name out there and what my business can do for the community was a challenge,” according to Cambron.
He said the best lesson he learned is to follow the advice you are given. “You cannot overstate the importance of doing your research and asking questions before you get started,” he adds. “Lori has been great to work with throughout this process. I’ve suggested to others looking to start a business to reach out to ASBTDC because of my interaction with Lori,” said Cambron. “She is very knowledgeable and assisted me greatly with questions and answers.”
“Mike is the kind of client that does his homework, asks the right questions, and follows through, step-by-step,” said Lieblong.
Visit jrslocksafe.com to learn more about JR’s services.