Running Supplied Industrial Solutions for five years has been a roller coaster, but it's definitely more peaks than valleys these days, says Veteran owern Steve Brock.
Brock, who previously worked in the industrial supply business, decided in 2003 to parlay his industry know how into a company of his own. He opened Supplied Industrial Solutions at the RiverBend Industrial Park in Granite City. The company sells pipe valves, fittings and connectors to mechanical contractors and large companies, such as Boeing Co. and Ameren Corp.
As Brock began looking for resources that could help grow the business, he decided to seek out the comprehensive services at the Veterans Business Resource Center in St. Louis. Business development director Darcella Creven helped Brock target his market more effectively and broaden his contacts.
"She was really helpful not only in giving me some good points to narrow my market, but she was also helpful in giving us people to network with and some Websites that were good. She was wonderful," Brock says.
Brock then took an entrepreneurship class at VBRC as part of the Bootstrap Training Program. Since he worked with Craven and completed the class, the company has improved both its sales and bottom line.
"We were able to get the tools we needed to get customers and contact businesses we hadn't tried before," Brock says. "The Veterans Business Resource Center had a lot of tools and resources and a dedicated staff that were really advocates for Veteran entrepreneurs.
Supplied Industrial Solutions Inc.
1300 W. Third St. Suite 2E
Granite City, Illinois 62040
618.452.8151
sbrock@supplied-inudstrial.com