Client Story: Jenness Hill Auto and Marine Storage
Client Name: Andrea and Jerry Harper
Business Name: Jenness Hill Auto and Marine Storage
Business Website: jennesshillstorage.com/
Industry: Warehousing and Storage
Location: Meredith, NH
SBDC Advisor's Name: Janie Wang
SBDC Client: 4 Years
Born building and restoring everything from cars to antique wooden boats, Jerry Harper’s had a passion for vehicle restoration and boat mechanics his whole life.
In 2020, with the pandemic still forcing people to find safe outdoor activities, the Lakes Region of New Hampshire became overwhelmed with boats. Homes were being bought and sold, marinas were quickly flooded with more boats than they knew what to do with, and renting dock slips was becoming a challenge for everyone who wanted to escape to enjoy lake life.
Lifelong Meredith residents with a deep love and appreciation for the region, Andrea and Jerry Harper were presented with a business opportunity just as boating was booming. A friend of the family was looking to retire and offered the Harpers a chance to purchase his 17,000 square foot, two-story facility on three acres of land. Andrea was simultaneously becoming burned out in her healthcare career and considering new paths and opportunities.
It didn’t take Andrea and Jerry long to decide to lease the space and open Jenness Hill Auto & Marine Storage. They knew there was a demand and were sure they could fill up the facility in no time!
Then came the hard part. The first challenge was that it was filled with salvaged boat parts and needed a serious clean-out before any boats, cars, motorcycles, ATVs, and jet skis could be stored. The clock was ticking; summer in New Hampshire never sticks around for long. The second issue was that the bank also needed to be assured that the Harpers could make this a viable business before giving them a loan to purchase the facility. The bank asked for a business plan, and despite being an avid researcher, Andrea had no idea where to start.
Solving Problems They Didn’t Even Know Existed
The Harpers got to work fast! Andrea discovered the NH SBDC thanks to a local website designer and contacted them immediately to help her put together a formal business plan to present to the bank.
Her first point of contact was Rita Toth, former SBDC North & Central Regional Director, who, in Andrea’s words, “Put together the most beautiful spreadsheet I’ve ever seen!”
Business plan in hand, the couple was approved by Meredith Savings Bank for a loan to start their business, and while they missed the first season of storage (the clean out took until September!), they focused on automobiles through the winter. The next season was an entirely different story - they filled the storage space just as quickly as they’d hoped!
They soon began working with business advisor Janie Wang, who listened closely to their goals and needs and connected them to education and online trainings, contacts and resources, and financial assistance through the LeAF program. Andrea is learning more about budgeting and forecasting, and gaining general financial management skills through working with her LeAF consultant and with Janie. Andrea loves that Janie sits in on calls with the professional and helps her to navigate any unfamiliar topics as her business “interpreter”.
With Janie’s support and guidance, they recently hired a bookkeeper and applied for the Community-Driven Economic Empowerment (C-DEE) grant through the NH Community Loan Fund to upgrade technology and bookkeeping. They also put together another business plan to apply for a line of credit as a safety net of capital.
“You don’t know what you don’t know! The SBDC has been indispensable in teaching us what we need to enhance efficiency, improve our systems, and connect us to the contacts we need.”
Andrea appreciates Janie’s expertise and wealth of knowledge and is quick to send members of their entrepreneurial family to the SBDC so they can glean the many benefits, too.
“The SBDC can help every business be even more successful.” - Andrea Harper
A Vision for the Future
A family-owned and run business, Andrea handles the day-to-day business operations while Jerry takes care of the hands-on tasks: vehicles in the units, winterization, summerization, and overall property management. Andrea loves understanding all the ins and outs of the business, from cash flow projections to taxes. She enjoys learning and growing in the areas of marketing and advertising, and is quick to research anything Janie presents her with.
The Harpers also purchased the land next to Jenness Hill Storage, which was previously a metal scrapyard, and are working to increase their storage capacity once it’s cleaned and ready.
Their customers are at the heart of everything they do, and they never hesitate to share their favorite local hiking spots, restaurants, and activities in the area. They’re known for their affordability, warm customer service, and keeping boats and vehicles ship-shape all year long.
Andrea and Jerry are grateful to the NH SBDC for helping them to turn a community need into a thriving business.