By Jenny Callison
Enquirer contributor

EZ Change had 'interesting' year

WEST CHESTER - Rod Herdman concedes it's been an "interesting" year since his company was profiled in November 2002.

The former locksmith and owner of EZ Change Lock invented two lock mechanisms that make it easier and cheaper for business owners to re-key, and to control access to property. A year ago, the company was manufacturing both the Security lock and ViprLock, and marketing its products through trade shows and referrals. It was trying to raise $1 million to support a major marketing effort.

"We didn't raise enough capital with our initial offering," Herdman said. "But considering the economy, we did all right."

During the past year, EZ Change Lock installed about 1,800 of its locks, mostly in schools. Word got out to other school systems in Ohio, resulting in orders from 12 districts for about 17,000 locks in 2004.

Sales should total nearly $1 million.

Meanwhile, the company is getting ready for another stock offering.

"We need to let the world know that we have a better product out there. We'll use the capital to improve our image identity and brand identity, and then build on that with advertising," Herdman said.

EZ Change Lock has a manufacturer lined up to produce much of its output in 2004.

"Our strategy is to grab as much market share as possible, ahead of possible competitors. We want to be known as the original," said Herdman. "We've been approved for one patent, and one is still pending. We want to continue to innovate."

EZ Change Lock Co. is at 6234 B Centre Park Drive. Information: 777-3329 or www.ezchangelock.com.

EIC prepares for partnership

Electrical Innovations Corp., a minority-owned electrical contractor, continues to build its capacity to compete for contracts in the Tristate construction market. (Enquirer file photos)

NORWOOD - Electrical Innovations Corp., a minority-owned electrical contractor profiled last December, continues to build its capacity to compete for contracts in the Tristate construction market. EIC is taking a major step by forming a strategic partnership with Instrumentation and Control Systems Inc., which will help the fledgling enterprise spread its wings.

"For a majority-owned company like ICS to step out and mentor us is truly a pioneering act," said Electrical Innovations spokeswoman Charlene Monroe. "ICS is working with us in such areas as business planning, finances, record-keeping, bonding, equipment utilization and capital formation."

Although still in its infancy, Monroe expects that the relationship with ICS will give her company access to otherwise unapproachable opportunities in new markets. For instance, ICS just won a contract from Hebron-based Nor-Com for work on the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, part of which it will subcontract to EIC. Already, EIC has been bidding on a greater variety of projects and recently met with Johnson Controls to discuss subcontracting possibilities.

Revenues in 2003 have more than doubled over those in 2002, Monroe said.

Sharon Commins, EIC's new president, moved her company into the Hamilton County Business Center in August to plug into the network of young entrepreneurs in the incubator.

Electrical Innovations Corp. is at 1776 Mentor Ave. Information: 333-0612.

Ohio CemTech forming partners

WYOMING - Since his company, Ohio CemTech, was profiled last January, Jeff Weiss has been busy cementing business relationships. The designer and producer of lightweight-core concrete furnishings had dropped its manufacturing arm when it relocated here from Connecticut. Instead, Weiss found a production partner in Baxter PreCast, located in Hamilton. That partnership continued to solidify as the year progressed.

"We did a large project with retailer J. Jill, creating cash wraps for 65 of their stores. They have just ordered for next year," Weiss said. "We also did a very large commercial installation for Fisher Design, in their new facility on the top floor of the old Model T factory on Lincoln Avenue. Fisher is moving into the realm of store interiors, and looking to partner with me, to demonstrate their expertise in using innovative materials."

CemTech also just signed an agreement with a stone and tile distributor who serves the New York and international markets.

"This means the New York design market is now open to us," Weiss explained. "I'm seeing real positive sentiment in the market, and I'm looking forward to growing."

Ohio CemTech is at 444 Hidden Valley Lane. Information: 477-8779.

Jancoa Janitorial cited for excellence

NORWOOD - It has been an exhilarating year for Jancoa Janitorial Services. In May, the company received the Small Business of the Year award from the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce. It was cited for achieving excellence in its operations, and especially for investing in its workforce to increase employee retention and customer satisfaction.

The award and subsequent publicity have had an enormous impact on the company, said Mary Miller, who owns Jancoa with her husband, Tony Miller.

"The award gave us more credibility with customers and employees," she said. "We've gotten new jobs and new opportunities. Our people now see themselves as our ambassadors. And clients have become our salespeople, too."

"There have been articles about us in trade publications," added her husband. "The whole thing has given us energy and confidence."

It's not just Jancoa's cleaning capabilities that have its customers abuzz. They are also intrigued by the company's Dream Engineer program, which challenges its employees to dream, set goals and establish plans to achieve them.

"We've taken the 'dead-end' out of a dead-end job," Tony Miller said. "It's about lighting that pilot light; helping people to discover skills they never knew they had. Several of our customers have asked us to bring the Dream Engineer concept into their companies."

Dream Engineer is poised to begin offering its services to businesses and individuals in early 2004.

Jancoa Janitorial Services is at 5235 Montgomery Road. Information: 351-7200.

Pasta Wagon's just rolling along

Pasta Wagon's Barry Rubinstein has a new location in Hyde Park.

HYDE PARK - Restaurant entrepreneur Barry Rubinstein continued to follow his recipe for growth in the second half of 2003.

"I really accomplished what I said I wanted to do," said Rubinstein, who outlined his franchising goals in the June 15 profile. "I sold the Pasta Wagon in Beckett Ridge (West Chester) and on Dec. 8 I opened our location in Hyde Park Plaza."

To minimize costs, Rubinstein did almost all of the franchise planning and paperwork himself. He assembled a detailed operations manual and concocted recipes that were easy to follow, so that new owners could replicate the original Pasta Wagon's success.

New Pasta Wagoneer Matt Walsh purchased Rubinstein's original restaurant Nov. 1 and now shares with Rubinstein the cost of marketing and advertising both restaurants.

Rubinstein loves his new restaurant, which is decorated with Italian mementos and photos of famous Italian-Americans. He has introduced several new menu items, including a wagon-wheel pasta dish aimed at young fry. But his eye is fixed on the horizon.

"I'm looking for a franchisee to take over the Hyde Park store, and we're negotiating for a location in Clifton," he said. "I want my franchisees to be owner-operators, because I want Pasta Wagons to be run by someone who cares."

The new restaurant is at 3880 Paxton Road, Suite G, in Hyde Park Plaza. Information: 321-7979.

Pro$perity Billing sees good growth

WEST PRICE HILL - Since Pro$perity Billing Service was profiled last June, the small medical billing company has taken on five new clients and will add another in January. That's good growth for Pro$perity, said Sue Holmes, who owns the business with her sister Ruth Tallarigo and sister-in-law Mary Beth Holmes.

"We've found that it is a 60-day roll until you see the potential of the new client," she explained. "It takes about 30 days to get them into our system, analyze their prior billing system and fix problems. After that it becomes routine."

Pro$perity prides itself on its knowledge of the medical insurance industry, attention to detail and persistence in extracting every cent of reimbursement owed its physician clients. Its owners say they can achieve a 15-40 percent increase in their clients' accounts receivables payments.

Sue Holmes' husband, Dave, who is retired, now works for Pro$perity four days a week on a volunteer basis. His help - and use of more sophisticated technology - has enabled the three women to handle the increased workload, but expansion of the staff isn't far off.

"We have some people in mind who look at things the way we do," said Sue Holmes. "We don't want to compromise the quality of our work; that's very important to us."

Pro$perity Billing Service is at 4871 Prosperity Place. Information: 244-4165.

Pass It On keeps helping new pets

Pass It On Pet Supplies, owned by Tina McCarty, is seeing an increase in rentals of pet equipment.

SHARONVILLE - Since Pass It On Pet Supplies was profiled July 6, owner Tina McCarty has continued to expand her customer base and network in the animal-care community.

"We were on Channel 12's morning news last summer," she said. "And other people are finding us through the Internet. We're advertising.

"Our rentals (of pet equipment) are up, because at this time of year, people are going on vacation or they have family with pets coming in."

McCarty said that Pass It On has picked up more commercial items from vets and animal-related businesses that have closed or moved.

"Commercial items are a great find for the home pet owner at a great price they can afford," she said. "They are also perfect for rescues or for someone, like a groomer, who is just starting out in a new business."

While sales this December are down a bit from the same period in 2002, McCarty prefers to see that as a positive, a sign that fewer people are giving pets as gifts at Christmas and Hanukkah.

The company is still hoping to establish branch locations within county animal shelters. It offers a week's free equipment rental to folks who find strays, giving the animal temporary quarters until its owner or a new home is found.

The store is at 11974 Lebanon Road (U.S. 42) just north of Interstate 275. Information: 563-PETS or www.passitonpetsupplies.com.

Success breeds success for Creative Shapes

CAMP WASHINGTON - Victoria Archable was reaping the first fruits of an aggressive marketing strategy when her company, Creative Shapes, was profiled Aug. 17. The small custom woodworking shop had recently landed a contract, through Hunt Construction Co., with Procter & Gamble. Archable was expanding her shop's capabilities from laminates to solid wood.

Success has bred success for Creative Shapes, which Archable purchased from its original owners in fall 2002.

"We're not crazy busy, but we're busy," she said recently. "I now have four production employees instead of two, and hopefully we'll hire a co-op student in January to work in the office.

"We were awarded a contract to do the millwork for the new Kroger store in Mason, and we got a small contract to provide ergonomic furniture for members of Cincinnati Public Schools' clerical union: We're making the desks and buying ancillary items from a distributor."

Creative Shapes has also formed a strategic alliance with Art Woodworking. With the larger millwork company, Creative Shapes has submitted a bid to CPS to do the millwork for the new Midway Elementary School.

Most importantly, Creative Shapes is making a name for itself and has gotten on the supplier list for several large Greater Cincinnati corporations.

"We're working with Health Alliance to try to become a preferred supplier," Archable said. "We're waiting to hear on a couple of other jobs for P&G. We've been asked to bid on some work out at Fifth Third. We bid on a job for GE and did a little job for Xavier. The word is getting out."

Creative Shapes is at 2861 Sidney Ave. Information: 541-4425.

E-mail jcallison@zoomtown.com.