Focus

Steve McFarland runs a technology consulting firm, Orbit Systems Inc. in Eagan, which will hit about $6.5 million in sales this year, up from $5 million last year. So it was surprising to hear him talk at first about etiquette ? not software, tools and gizmos ? when the subject was how small companies can handle their flood of e-mail. Simple, low-tech steps can help, he says. Oh, and he eventually described some neat gadgets to boost personal productivity, too.

An ambitious growth plan is the common denominator for the three winning companies of this year?s Upsize Growth Challenge. Otherwise, they?re markedly different.

DeJarlais Enterprises, Crystal, is a 33-year-old family business that repairs industrial machinery in the five-state area. Mike DeJarlais, president, bought the firm from his father seven years ago, and Becky Lawrence, his sister, keeps the books.

They want to market the company?s services to a diverse range of customers, especially emphasizing the many services offered. Then, they want to identify and attract outstanding service technicians who can speak as easily with the company president as to mechanics in the shop.

When Robb Leer was a reporter for KSTP-TV, the station took care of his every telephonic need. But when he out on his own last year, he was unprepared for the bombardment of telecom offers he was going to receive.

Leer?s needs weren?t complicated. He needed call forwarding, conference calling, faxing and other fairly basic business services.

Dave Wagner operated his podiatric laboratory in two suites of an office building in White Bear Lake for most of the two decades he had been in business. But when his lease expired and a larger tenant wanted to expand, Wagner?s landlord politely told him he might want to find a new office.

Wagner, owner of Hugo-based North Star Podiatric Laboratories Inc., considered many options, including another traditional lease or even building his own office.

But in order to make the latter pay off, he says he learned you almost have to build a 20,000-square-foot edifice ? something that doesn?t make much sense for a small business.

Then he learned about the growing trend toward office condominiums. ?We weren?t really ready at the time to buy, but the opportunity came up,? he says. ?You can purchase a smaller chunk of the building. It really made some sense for us to go that route.?

Getting the attention of real estate brokers isn?t always easy when you own a small, growing business. That?s beca?the commission might be $3,000 and I?m running around like a dog,? says Paula Anderson with a laugh.

She founded Square Feat LLC three years ago to represent tenants, and she likes to start with companies in their early stages and help them grow into their space all along the way. Anderson tells how to make the most of your real estate spending, whether this lease is your first or your 15th.

Dr. UEL), the new, non-profit bioscience incubator, located in St. Paul between the University of Minnesota?s Twin Cities campuses.

Most people bring little else than their shaggy manes to the barber’s. But at Dick’s Sports Barbers, customers over the years have brought their high school jerseys, autographed team portraits and snapshots of personal athletic achievements.

For a brief moment, Rick Schaffer wondered if his business would survive.

“We never really expected anything like this to happen and it really isn’t something that a small business prepares itself for,” he says.

Teresa Lynch joined in January Dorsey & Whitney, the Minneapolis law firm, as legislative affairs director, where she lobbies on behalf of corporate clients at the Legislature. Before that she was chief lobbyist for AT&T. Despite her powerful credentials, she doesn’t believe that only the state’s biggest firms can make their voices heard. A former state legislator, Lynch encourages small-business owners to get involved with the law-making process.

New tricks Start to Furnish concept charges up old-time furniture firm by Andrew Tellijohn   While in high school, Larry and Russ Schneiderman would attend basketball practice at Toivola-Meadowlands High School in northern Minnesota. They would then stock shelves...