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‘DON’T DO IT ALL YOURSELF” Budding entrepreneur

tells secret of success

FOUR YEARS ago Josie Loehrich bought a dozen pairs of sunglasses on a trip to the States. She sold them ail at $4 a piece to friends in Vancouver.

By ELIZABETH COLLINGS News Xeporter

From that humble start Loehrich, 3i, and partner Terry Zweng built Sun-Gold Enterprises Ltd., 2 home-based business gross- ing sales of $200,000 last year.

Loehrich’s experience with Sun-Gold makes an _ interesting case study for the growing uumber of North Shore residents consider- ins the home-based business reute.

“Don’t try to do it all yourself,”” Loetrich says to people setting up shop at home.

“I literally thought I could do ail the things myself, but it cost a lot in terms of energy. I wasn’t de- ing the things I was good at. I'd spend hours on the books and they’d still be wrong,’’? Loehrich says, laughing.

After tearing her hair out over the books, Loehrich hired a book- keeper, an accountant and a lawyer to do the job for her.

Susan Bell, director of North Shore Enterprise Development Centre, says it’s a common pitfall for small business owners to try to operate all aspects of the business singlehandedly.

“It’s hard when you’re all by yourself, Nobody tells you, ‘It’s OK to make mistakes,’’’ says Bell, who recently ran a seminar called You Don’t Have to Be Perfect, to get this message across.

Loehrich said another key factor for small businesses is to use the

Applied Training), a federally funded program which provides 12 months training for business owners.

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resources available.

“Pm not afraid to ask for help if I need it. I think that’s one thing a small business person has to do: If they’ve got a problem, learn to reach out,’’ says Loehrich, herself an expert on ferreting out pro- grams which assist small businesses.

“1 utilize a lot of government programs. There's a lot of help out there — and money.’”’

At the moment, Loehrich is in- volved in restructuring Sun-Gold Enterprises because Zweng is leav- ing the Susiness due to serious ill- ness.

Loehrich says she is especially looking to C.A.T. 90 for the mien- tor segment of the program.

“When you're operating a home-based business, you’re isolated in a lot of different ways, especially for a woman. I’m look- ing for ways to meet someone to advise me Instead of learning by mistakes, ( [ want to) to catch them and redirect them,”’ Loehrich says.

Another program Loehrich has taken advantage of is the YMCA Youth Enterprise Centre, an in- cubator centre which provides young entrepreneurs with office

NEWS photo Neil Lucente

JOSIE LOEHRICH, owner of Sungold Promotions, shows off some of her merchandise at her North Shore home office.

outlet at Lonsdale Quay, the business has grown to be B.C.’s fifth largest sungiasses retailer. In addition, Loehrich and Zweng have captured some substantial contracts providing custom- designed sportswear to major events such as the World Police and Fire Games, Playland, Van- couver Sea Festival, aud the Ab- botsford Air Show.

Loehrich says Sun-Gold lias reached a point where she must move it out of the home into the office.

This may mean giving up the flexible hours and the comfort of the home but there are some aspects of office life Loehrich is looking forward to.

“I’m very much a social animal. I like to be able to come in, have a

facilities to help launch a business.

To help her with this, Loehrich Since Sun-Goid’s first retail

has started C.A.T. 90 (Customized coffee and say hello.’’

We're proud to support Small Business Week and invite West Vancouver businesses to work with us in creating and maintaining a prosperous business environment.

If youre finding work a little out of control, maybe it's time you got behind the controls of a new BMW One short drive should convince you that there's more to life than warking. So if you want to really take off, call us and arrange for a test drive today.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ROBERTA HJORTHOY KELLY TEMPORARY SERVICES EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER 1989 Thank you and we wish you continued success.

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