Jay Sachetti joined Jeff O’Brien, partner at Husch Blackwell and Dyanne Ross-Hanson, president of Exit Planning Strategies talked about the market for mergers and acquisitions, exit planning opportunities for companies that don’t end up for sale and how companies can maximize their eventual sale price during an early October panel at the first Upsize on Tap event at Summit Brewing Co. in St. Paul.
When the state Legislature passed a law requiring employers to provide paid leave and safe time for employees, Justin Bieganek started hearing differing details from friends, colleagues and peers.
Former local TV anchor Colleen Needles started her first company, Tremendous Entertainment Inc., 11 years ago to produce and distribute programming.
She’s passionate about the programs the company produces, such as a new show for the Travel Channel called Bizarre Foods. And she’s proud of the projects it distributes, especially nonfiction programs that don’t get wide release.
But now she thinks she has a business idea that could make a lot of money. She’s started The Family Entertainment Catalog, Minnetonka, a collection of family-friendly DVDs and CDs, which schools can sell to raise funds.
“We’re like any other retailer,” she explains. “Part of our cost of sales is up to 50 percent goes back to the schools, and there’s a margin in the remaining 50 percent” after company expenses.
She got the idea about a year and a half ago, when her kids came home with yet another fundraiser from school. In this case, students and parents don’t have to deliver the goods that people order because her company ships directly to the customer. Also, they’ve populated their Web site with hundreds of schools, and people can order for the school of their choice even if that school isn’t a current fund-raising customer.
“The older business is truly a labor of love. It’s a viable business, but production is labor-intensive,” she says, referring to Tremendous Entertainment. “Family Catalog, in terms of a business model, is really exciting because it serves so many needs.”
Her timing is great for two reasons, she believes: Schools are turning away from traditional fund-raisers that sell candy, because of the focus on healthy eating. “We are riding that wave like crazy.”
Second, they have a well-developed distribution system. “Producers, from huge studios to independents, are all interested in reaching families,” Needles says.
Colleen Needles, The Family Entertainment Catalog: 952.258.0220; co*****@**************og.com; www.thefamilycatalog.com
