Evolution of an Enterprise, Chapter 20: Halfway Mark

Design studio theworkshop 308 LLC has put six months in the books.

Neither Jason Mitchell nor Michael Mardis, co-owners of the 308 W. Commercial St. business, view the milestone with much importance, but it’s still a benchmark in their business’ development.

While Mitchell said the duo is still “just getting our legs under us,” they now have a steady stream of business. They’ve established momentum and found an unexpected niche building commercial fixtures, such as a $4,600 display rack for Staxx Apparel, 331 South Ave., and a $4,700 front counter and two workstations job for Prix Tattoo, 420 S. Campbell Ave.

Through June, Mitchell and Mardis have spent $9,500 of their $20,000 seed money, and they’ve generated more than $18,500 in job revenues, including more than $7,000 in furniture sales. About half of their furniture sales have been custom pieces.

They’ve also proposed six jobs that they figure could net them a total of $22,000.

To commemorate the six-month mark, Springfield Business Journal asked Mitchell and Mardis these questions about their experiences:

What surprised you most about the first six months?

Mitchell: Everything and nothing at the same time. Having never started a business before, I didn’t necessarily know what to expect. I knew it would be a lot of work, but it’s so much more work than what I imagined. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Mardis: The market for custom built-in systems and furniture such as Staxx and Prix has been a big surprise. Neither of us realized those jobs were out there. We would like to do more of that type of work.

Are you happy with where you’re at six months into business?

Mitchell: Yes. I look back at what we’ve accomplished with the projects we’ve completed and obstacles we’ve overcome in a matter of six months, on top of starting a business from scratch in only eight months. I’m very pleased with how things are going.

What are you happiest about?

Mardis: Our goal for the business was to offer products, services and ideas not found around this area. People have taken notice, and we are getting jobs because of it.

What are you most disappointed about?

Mitchell: I can’t say I’m disappointed with anything. Not knowing what to expect helped diminish any expectations, thus not allowing too much disappointment. I feel we’ve accomplished the goals we set so far. … The hardest thing and most disappointing thing is the sacrifice I’ve had to make outside the office, which is spending time with family and friends. Lucky for me, I’m blessed with wonderful people who understand and support me with the adventure.

Mardis: Nothing.

What are you looking forward to most in the next six months?

Mardis: Getting our license to practice commercial architecture.

Mitchell: I think we’re starting to find our rhythm and dynamic in how we operate. It’s feeling pretty good to begin to settle into that.

In what way do you expect the next six months to be most different than the first six months?

Mitchell: Time management and efficiency – less time doing the paperwork (and) overhead work and more time with the production and providing service. We’re starting to see what our individual strengths are, (and) we’re starting to define what our roles are in the business-operation side of things.

Mardis: Every week we learn something new or discover a way to improve efficiency. We’ve discussed our goals for the next six months and have done some planning for our next steps.

Do you have a written plan for your second six months?

Mardis: We have a plan. We discuss it frequently. We know what our goals are for the next six months. For us, talking about them on a daily basis works better than writing them on a piece of paper.

Name your top goals for the second half of the year.

Mitchell: Become a licensed architect, increase revenues for the business, network, keep up the work-pace we’ve established, continue to raise the bar of quality of work and growth for the company – and ride my bikes more often.[[In-content Ad]]