Durango Running Company

Durango Running Company owner, Brett Sublett had lots of experience in the outdoor retail and athletic shoe industries but had never owned his own store.

Sublett had managed Your Running Store for four years and then became the footwear buyer at Back Country Experience for three years. He also knew a lot about running and running shoes since he Coached Cross Country at Fort Lewis.

When Sublett decided he wanted his own store, he contacted the SBDC and initially spoke to advisor Joe Keck. Keck asked about his personal experience in the industry, and what his qualifications were to venture out on his own. Sublett explained his prior experience and presented a rough outline of his business plan. Keck made sure all the major points were covered and the two discussed what kind of entity the business would be and how to file with the state. Sublett chose LLC – Limited Liability Company for his new business – Durango Running Company.

He also consulted with an attorney and an accountant and the business was formed.

Advisor Joe Bishop then helped with the hunt for the perfect retail location. “He pointed out the possible pitfalls and red flags and told me what to look for in a location and a lease agreement. One of the most important things Joe taught me was that I didn’t have to just accept what the landlord proposed. I could negotiate.”

Sublett didn’t realize he had leverage and Bishop’s advice gave him the confidence and strength to negotiate a lease that worked for both parties. They reviewed a few leases and looked at a few spaces before deciding on 473 E. College Drive – next to Home Slice Pizza. Sublett confesses to grabbing quite a few quick lunches right next door, as the smell is hard to ignore.

Sublett was very impressed with “the timely manner in which Joe Bishop responded to my questions.” He’d shoot an email out with a question and even if it was Sunday night- Joe Bishop got back to him quickly.

Sublett explains, “Opening a new business can be scary. The accessibility of advisors in this program is outstanding. The process was unintimidating, they were welcoming and it was easy to get an appointment. The expertise of the advisors is invaluable in helping a new business owner navigate all that needs to be done.”

970-764-4366
473 E. College Dr., Durango, CO 81301
http://durangorunning.com/

Gleason Bison: Raising Bison

In 2010, Sarah Gleason discovered that she wanted to raise bison. She was living in Durango and working as a marketing assistant for Zuke’s (yes, the dog treat company), and she became interested in agriculture and livestock. “I visited a bunch of bison operations,” she says, “and I was hooked.” Throughout the process, she discovered holistic management, which is a decision-making framework that works in sync with nature to raise animals in a way that

Jitters’ Java

Jitters Java: Where Every Burrito is Made with Love Jitters Java had been closed for more than three years. Yet, through its shuttered doors, Aimee Beauregard saw potential. Aimee had just experienced some monumental life changes that left her looking for purpose. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that she needed to find a way to give back to the community. She knew Marwa and Greg, the original owners of the

Wily Carrot

Kellie Pettyjohn is the proud owner and founder of The Wily Carrot, an organic farm located in Mancos, CO. She came to the lovely Mancos Valley in 2010 via Washington, D.C., to pursue an idyllic lifestyle, work with her hands in the outdoors and become her own boss. Kellie first got her hands dirty when she tended to two acres of vegetables on Dave Banga’s farm in Montezuma County. She interned with him for a

Guild House Games: A Game for Everyone

About three years ago, Danny Perez got an idea. He was the manager of Radio Shack in Durango, and the company had recently filed for bankruptcy. Danny’s wife had mentioned that Durango needed a game store, so he started looking into it. He soon realized that this could be a viable new career path. Danny’s first stop was the SBDC. They guided him through the business plan and loan application process, and in May of

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Fifteen years ago, Marie Soleil fell in love with the healing arts. Like many, she had grown up indoctrinated in western medicine. But, when it couldn’t help her overcome a panic disorder, she pursued more natural means of healing. “When I realized that I could heal myself,” she says, “I was hooked.” She started working as a massage therapist and soon became a personal trainer, yoga teacher, stretchologist, Master Meditation Teacher, and group fitness instructor.

BC Signs, LLC

“I remember the first time I met Joe Keck, I was huddled by a wood stove in a 4,000 square foot building accompanied by a meager video inventory and a vinyl cutter”, said Bryce Capron, on meeting Joe in at his place of business in Dove Creek. He sat next to the fire with me and we talked. “It was my first contact with a resource that I value and rely on to this day.”