Business Owners Speak Out: Spotlighting Solon’s Businesses

Here’s a collection of interviews from local business owners with amazing insights into today’s challenges.

ActionCOACH’s Mark Phelps virtually sits down with fellow members of the Solon Chamber of Commerce and dives into what’s really happening.

Check out their inspiring stories for tips on how to cope with and successfully recover from this pandemic, and learn how to avoid making common mistakes. Be sure to check out special offers from these businesses. We can all use a little extra help right now!

And, most importantly, visit the company websites. Reach out to those who offer services you can use. Let’s support each other and get through this together!

7-Eleven Owner, Vikramjit Singh Sandhu

Located on the corner of SOM Center and Aurora road, 7-Eleven is your go-to convenience store for great coffee in the morning, food and snacks on-the-go, and all types of beverages. Gas up your car and get it washed as we feature BP gas as well as a carwash.

Mark Phelps (MP): Who is your target customer?
Vikramjit Singh Sandhu (VS): We serve all residents of Solon as well as those who work, shop or entertain in the city and surrounding area. Right now we are a great alternative place to buy essential products (i.e. milk) for those out there looking to avoid big, high-traffic grocery stores.

MP: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business?
VS: We saw a 40% drop in gas sales and consequently, less customers coming into the store.

MP: What are one or two actions you have taken to make a difference?
VS: I really wanted to give back to the local community so I lowered prices on all essential products so customers could get what they need without going to the stores with large crowds.

MP: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What are some mistakes you’ve made over the years that other entrepreneurs could learn from?
VS: Prior to COVID-19 I was very opposed to keeping extra stock in the store and in the back room. I was slow to shift how I managed stock early in the pandemic and the lesson I’ve learned is that in times of uncertainty having extra stock of high-demand items isn’t always a bad thing.

MP: What is most inspiring to you today?
VS: After moving from Singapore and since starting the business in early 2019, and certainly throughout the past few months, I’ve felt welcomed by the community and supported by the City of Solon as well as the Solon Chamber of Commerce. The folks at the Chamber have been very welcoming and easy to reach anytime I’ve had issues and have provided helpful solutions.

Contact: You can reach Vikramjit Singh Sandhu by email vsandhumtm@gmail.com or by phone (216) 870-0354. Be sure to drop in and try out their delicious high-quality coffee or get your car a wash at their recently renovated car wash (every 7th purchase is free)!

Solon Vein Clinic Owner, Dr. Astrid Moise

Solon Vein Clinic was founded in 2019 by Dr. Astrid Moise, a Cleveland Clinic trained, board-certified vascular surgeon. Dr. Moise is experienced in all aspects of advanced venous care from spider veins and protruding varicose veins to venous ulcers caused by venous reflux.

Mark Phelps (MP): Who is your target customer?
Dr. Astrid Moise (AM): Most of my patients, probably about 80%, are women. Women tend to bear the brunt of venous disease because of pregnancy. Two-thirds of my customers are under the age of 45. Customers come to me for issues with wounds that won’t heal or for cosmetic reasons. I also work with nurses, teachers, and chefs or anyone who stands for hours on end and experiences discomfort. Basically those whose legs feel heavy and immediately put their feet up when sitting down to take a break.

MP: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business?
AM: A lot of what we do is elective surgery, and there was a ban on elective surgery or at least a strong recommendation against it in the state of Ohio. They asked a lot of places like mine to donate our PPE. So we donated our PPE to the Department of Health, and it’s been very difficult to get it back. It’s very difficult to procure masks and some germicidal wipes.  

MP: What are one or two actions you have taken to make a difference?
AM: We opened up our doors for any urgent services so people don’t have to go to the emergency room.

MP: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What are some mistakes you’ve made over the years that other entrepreneurs could learn from?
AM: I didn’t know there were certain things you could do before you open a practice. I was waiting for my physical practice to open before I did some things like apply to join a network for an insurance company. When I first opened, I had patients coming in but I could only accept cash because I wasn’t in an insurance network.

MP: What is most inspiring to you today?
AM: People are coming together. A young mother with a newborn in our neighborhood had reached out on NextDoor.com about needing food. About 40 of my neighbors responded within a few hours and offered to buy her groceries and write her a check to support her family. 

Contact: You can reach Dr. Astrid Moise by email at support@solonveinclinic.com, by phone at (440) 600-7675, and on the web at www.solonveinclinic.com. Be sure to check out Groupon for a discount on their spider vein treatment services!

Core Elite Wellness Fit Cryo Owner, Victoria Kilpatrick

Opening their doors in December of 2019, Core Elite Wellness Fit Cryo is a premium wellness studio that provides comprehensive cryotherapy services, optimal health treatments, and wellness innovations, helping our clients achieve their individual goals in health, beauty, recovery, pain relief, weight loss, boosting the immune system, chronic diseases and arthritis management, and ultimate performance.

Mark Phelps (MP): Who is your target customer?
Victoria Kilpatrick (VK): Men and women between 35 and 60-years old. Many have pain or a chronic condition. They come to us because they want someone with expertise. 

MP: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business?
VK: Since many of our clients are in a high-risk group, they are scared to be out in public. There’s a lot of uncertainty, so people aren’t as willing to come to our location.

MP: What are one or two actions you have taken to make a difference?
VK: We’ve taken all the recommendations from the health organizations and are by appointment only. We take temperatures of our customers upon entry, and everything is washed and changed after every client. We’ve also designated hours for senior citizens.

MP: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What are some mistakes you’ve made over the years that other entrepreneurs could learn from?
VK: Be careful about the advertising medium that you use to attract new business. It might only attract customers who are only focused on bargains and price.

MP: What is most inspiring to you today?
VK: As human beings, we don’t give up easily. We keep moving. We continue to do what we can do. We have survivor power. All of us as a nation.

Contact: You can reach Victoria Kilpatrick by email at victoriamagnolia@hotmail.com, by phone at (336) 682-0999, and on the web at www.cryotherapyhealthcare.com. Be sure to mention this interview, and you will receive a free, 10-minute session at their oxygen bar!

Rose Senior Living Beachwood, Beth Cordi

Rose Senior Living Beachwood is a new community featuring upscale senior apartments and serving those who are looking for Independent Living, Assisted Living or Memory Care in Beachwood, Ohio. Our purpose is to offer residents a rich and full lifestyle, where they’ll only have to think about how to spend their free time while our dedicated staff members take care of everything else.

Mark Phelps (MP): Who is your target customer?
Beth Cordi (BC): I work with a lot of adult children. Primarily women that are in the sandwich generation, who have teenagers or college-aged kids of their own, and who are also looking after their parents.

MP: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business?
BC: With the COVID-19 restrictions, we’re not allowed to bring in guests for tours of the facility. Instead, we’ve started doing virtual tours. They have really changed the way we do business.

MP: What are one or two actions you have taken to make a difference?
BC: Since residents can’t see their family members, we’ve taught them how to use video conferencing technology, like Zoom.

MP: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What are some mistakes you’ve made over the years that other entrepreneurs could learn from?
BC: COVID has taught me to roll with it. Being flexible and adaptive is key.

MP: What is most inspiring to you today?
BC: I love seeing how our seniors have adapted to technology. In the beginning, I thought this was going to be an impossible situation. But when I see grandmas and great grandmas with their iPad on Zoom talking to their family members, it really is inspiring because this may be the only time they get to see or talk to their family members.

Contact: You can reach Beth Cordi by email at beth_cordi@roseseniorliving.com, by phone at (877) 222-9724, and on the web at www.roseseniorliving.com. Be sure to contact Beth about their great move-in incentives! They’re offering up to $1,000 off per month based on when you move in, so the sooner you move in, the more you save! The offer extends through the end of August in their assisted living facility.

Linda Myers State Farm Owner, Linda Myers

Linda Myers State Farm is a full-service provider of all types of insurance. Linda Myers State Farm helps people and businesses manage the risk of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and be a trusted source for helping them achieve their dreams.

Mark Phelps (MP): Who is your target customer?
Linda Myers (LM): Our main customers are residents of Solon, Aurora, Twinsburg, Chagrin Falls, and Bedford Heights. However, I do have clients across the state. My business split is 75% consumers and 25% businesses.

MP: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business?
LM: On the property and casualty side, people are not driving as much, and they aren’t buying as many cars. People are more concerned about their health so health insurance and life insurance have been extremely busy.

MP: What are one or two actions you have taken to make a difference?
LM: We took advantage of the CARES Act program so there hasn’t been a negative impact on staffing like there could have been. I’ve also been more engaged in day-to-day operations at every level.

MP: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What are some mistakes you’ve made over the years that other entrepreneurs could learn from?
LM: As an entrepreneur, I’d say one mistake that I’ve made is in hiring. I’ve kept underperforming employees too long at times.

MP: What is most inspiring to you today?
LM: My Mom. She inspires me to do good every day and to be my personal best. She inspires me to continue to have the means and temperament to continue to care for her and to be a good steward to my community and my employees. It all stems from her.

Contact: You can reach Linda Myers by email at linda.myers.w318@statefarm.com, by phone at (440) 349-9300, and on the web at www.lindamyersinsurance.com. Be sure to speak with her about a free comprehensive review of your life insurance!

Ignition Owner, Jeff Pugel

Born of the need to help small businesses and entrepreneurs win new business, Ignition helps companies differential themselves through clear positioning.

Mark Phelps (MP): Who is your target customer?
Jeff Pugel (JP): My target audience would be small business owners and entrepreneurs who are ideally in the B2B professional services space.

MP: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business?
JP: It unfortunately wiped out some great clients that were in affected segments, such as the entertainment industry.

MP: What are one or two actions you have taken to make a difference?
JP: I’ve changed up a lot of my offerings. I now have less “done for you” packages and, instead, have more “done with you” packages.

MP: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What are some mistakes you’ve made over the years that other entrepreneurs could learn from?
JP: One of the biggest things that I’ve learned is to qualify your clients. Be very diligent about qualifying prospects and make sure you know that they live up to your standards of who you want to work with. Because ultimately, it’s okay to say no. You don’t want to work with that one bad apple.

MP: What is most inspiring to you today?
JP: Today, it is the ability to help people. I went into this whole business to help people.

Contact: You can reach Jeff Pugel by email at jeff@ignition.llc, by phone at (216) 903-2289, and on the web at www.ignition.llc. Be sure to reach out to Jeff about scheduling a free, 15-minute consultation on your market positioning!

ThornCreek Winery & Gardens Owner, Dave Thorn & General Manager, MJ Mullins

Nestled in Aurora, Ohio, ThornCreek Winery and Gardens features award-winning wines and beautifully developed gardens. The goal of the team at ThornCreek is to give customers the greatest experience possible in a unique setting. With new renovations and unmatched attention to detail, the property can be rented for one or multiple special events. There is interior dining as well as an underground speakeasy lounge. Share the experience with loved ones at ThornCreek Winery and Gardens.

Mark Phelps (MP): Who is your target customer?
Dave Thorn (DT) & MJ Mullins (MM): An eclectic group of people from our greater community – Chagrin Falls, Solon, Twinsburg, Hudson, and Mayfield, as well as from the far west side of Cleveland. People even come from Pennsylvania.

MP: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business?
DT & MM: With the COVID regulations, the biggest hurdle was having people in the facility. All of the events that we had booked, we had to pair down guests or move to a later date. Now, it’s the ongoing struggle of making people feel safe while they’re here.

MP: What are one or two actions you have taken to make a difference?
DT & MM: Fortunately, we were able to capitalize on our expansive outdoor space. We’re only taking reservations to control numbers, and we’re constantly doing a cleaning cycle.

MP: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What are some mistakes you’ve made over the years that other entrepreneurs could learn from?
DT & MM: Recognize we all make mistakes and it’s important to own them, be honest, and transparent. Have an open relationship with your team and use mistakes as an example and learning opportunity.

MP: What is most inspiring to you today?
DT & MM: We’re all in this together. It’s inspiring to see other businesses rallying to support each other. Many businesses are experiencing the same kind of challenges. It’s also inspiring to have MJ and the team onboard with everything.

Contact: You can reach out to Dave Thorn at dthorn@dtrlandscapes.com, by phone at (330) 212-4952, and on the web at www.thorncreekwinery.com. Be sure to call the winery at (330) 562-9245 to schedule a property and wine cellar tour with MJ Mullins! Reservations for dine-in service are also being accepted.

SpeedPro Imaging – Cleveland East Owner, Ron Levine

The experts at SpeedPro have the skills and tools required to provide customized solutions for all your printing needs. SpeedPro Imaging has more than a decade of combined experience producing everything from trade show displays to vehicle wraps. They help their customers find more customers and communicate more effectively and more efficiently.

Mark Phelps (MP): Who is your target customer?
Ron Levine (RL): Our best customers are ones who take their branding and their communication to be important. And so they want someone who will partner with them to give them the quality outputs that they need while still being competitive in price. Our wholesale side of the business includes providing large format printing for printers, sign shops, marketing firms, ad agencies, and graphic designers. We work to provide large format printing for them for their clients. We also work directly with venues and with the trades for event signage, location signs, venue signage, and vehicle wraps.

MP: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business?
RL: In the beginning, some of our largest clients were closed. We took a huge hit that first month. Many people are being very cautious about spending money. Since many businesses furloughed or downsized their workforce, it’s also difficult trying to reach the right person.

MP: What are one or two actions you have taken to make a difference?
RL: We started to refocus our energy on COVID signage, including the social distancing (6-feet-part) wall and floor graphics. We’ve also reached out to colleges and private schools to see what signage they need for their facilities, stadiums, and cafeterias. We want to be a resource for them.

MP: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What are some mistakes you’ve made over the years that other entrepreneurs could learn from?
RL: When COVID-19 hit, I spent too much time digesting all the different webinars and talking heads. The takeaway from all of this is to have a contingency plan. We spent too much time pontificating on what’s going to happen.

MP: What is most inspiring to you today?
RL: The resiliency of the United States, Ohio, and Northeast Ohio. People are, for the most part, stepping up and doing what they can to help others. To all of our peers, from all of us to all of us, is that now more than ever, we should be supporting small business, we should be supporting our chamber, and other association partners. More than ever, we need that collective community.

Contact: You can reach out to Ron Levine by email at rlevine@speedpro.com, by phone at (216) 342-4954, and over the web at www.speedpro.com/cleveland-east.

AFLAC of Solon Owner, Polly Spaeth

For more than 60 years, Aflac has been helping people with out-of-pocket expenses that major medical does not pay. If you get sick or hurt Aflac pays cash to help with deductibles and the costs of everyday living.

Mark Phelps (MP): Who is your target customer?
Polly Spaeth (PS): B2B (Business to Business) companies in the United States. In particular, Aflac insurance is best suited for businesses in the manufacturing and transportation industries.

MP: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business?
PS: Businesses are not letting us in. Getting an appointment is tough.

MP: What are one or two actions you have taken to make a difference?
PS: We have implemented a lot of virtual techniques, which for some companies it works and for others it doesn’t. We can do Web-X and Zoom meetings. We have also done mailings to employees at their homes along with follow up phone calls.

MP: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What are some mistakes you’ve made over the years that other entrepreneurs could learn from?
PS: I would say activity. As they say in sales, it’s all in the numbers. The more touches you make, the more success you will have.

MP: What is most inspiring to you today?
PS: What really makes my day is when I see that someone got a direct deposit of $4,000. That’s a big high for me. It makes all the hard work worthwhile.

Contact: You can reach Polly Spaeth by email at polly_spaeth@us.aflac.com and by phone (216) 906-0235. Make sure to contact Polly to learn how Aflac can help you save on payroll taxes and help with the attraction and retention of employees!

D-Bat Solon Owner, Brad Emerman

D-BAT is the Premier Baseball and Softball training facility in the country. The 20,000 sq. ft. facility opened its doors in 2018 in Solon.

Mark Phelps (MP): Who is your target customer?
Brad Emerman (BE): Our target audience is 7-year olds all the way up through college-aged players. We do have adults that come in but our primary target business is 7 to 15-year-old recreational softball and baseball players, as well as very serious players.

MP: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business?
BE: We are a membership facility that is indoors so that has been hard to overcome. It has put tremendous pressure back on us to adapt our cleaning protocols to make it a safe environment.

MP: What are one or two actions you have taken to make a difference?
BE: We’ve really looked at how we do business so we don’t have people congregating in the facility. As a member or non-member, you were able to walk in the door. Now, everything is done by appointment so we don’t have too many people in an area at once. The other thing is cleaning. We’re literally cleaning off everything – from the balls to the turf, to the fence that you have to walk into or kiosks that you get to touch for the pitching machines.

MP: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What are some mistakes you’ve made over the years that other entrepreneurs could learn from?
BE: I definitely have made the mistake of hiring too fast. Take your time. Find the right person. Get that person in the right position. I knew that but I didn’t follow that wise advice. Also, I think training is so important. Train your employees the right way, and keep training and teaching them.

MP: What is most inspiring to you today?
BE: The thing that’s most inspiring in the business is seeing my instructors teach young players how to play the game. I tell them all the time, we want to get every single player that walks through that door a little bit better. They’re all at different levels, but let’s get everybody better and help them improve. In my personal life, watching my two children grow up is most inspiring. They’re 21 and 23-years old, and they’re awesome.

Contact: You can reach Brad Emerman by email at brad@dbatsolon.com, by phone at (440) 732-3228, and on the web at www.dbatsolon.com. If you’re new to the D-Bat facility, make sure to schedule a time to get 5 free credits in the batting cage!