Mountain Glory Creations

SCORE Helps Couple Put Their Retirement Business Dream into Sharper Focus

Jan Seale and Bob Brandenburger had big plans for their retirement years--travel, visits to family members, and perhaps a small business that would provide some extra income without cramping their newfound freedom.

But just ten days before bidding farewell to the nine-to-five routine, an automobile accident restricted Jan’s mobility for several months.

Suddenly faced with more down time than they’d expected, Jan and Bob began experimenting with their new digital camera.  They photographed the scenic natural beauty and architecture near their Charlottesville, Va., home, and used their home computer and printer to create notecards for friends.  As the distinctive notecards got around, Jan and Bob began receiving more and more requests for additional sets.

“This looked like the interesting and flexible business opportunity we had hoped to find,” Jan says of the enterprise they named Mountain Glory Creations.  “However, both of us had been public-sector administrators.  We had a lot to learn about running a small business.”

Jan and Bob discovered that the local chapter of SCORE offered a series of low-cost seminars for new and prospective entrepreneurs.  While the formal presentations gave the couple valuable information about business planning, financial management and other start-up issues, SCORE Counselor Steve Cooper provided free advice on specific aspects of their business idea. 

“We love photography, but we didn’t want this idea to overwhelm our retirement,” Jan says.  “We had a lot of decisions to make, and Steve helped us brainstorm how big and how quickly we wanted to grow.”

Adds Bob, “Steve introduced us to a number of marketing paths, and how to evaluate their potential value to our business.  He also gave me tips for approaching store owners about selling our cards, which was important since I’m not a natural salesperson.”

"SCORE Counselor Steve Cooper introduced us to a number of marketing paths, and how to evaluate their potential value to our business."

—Bob Brandenburger, co-owner, Mountain Glory Creations

Cooper also offered suggestions managing large influxes of orders, and cost- and labor-saving measures such as using an area printer for some of the more popular notecards.

“SCORE could have shrugged us off because we wanted to stay small,” Jan says.  “But we received the same amount of attention and consideration as anyone else.  That says a lot about the organization.”

SCORE’s counseling and seminars have helped Jan and Bob grow Mountain Glory Creations at a comfortable pace.  Their regular appearances at the summer Charlottesville City Market have led to new products such as prints, calendars and computer screensavers, as well as commissions to photograph area homes, farms, restaurants and vineyards.  The couple also learned how to create a Web site that exposes their products to an even wider market.

Among the most rewarding aspects of their involvement with SCORE, says Jan, is the diverse network of new friends they met through the seminars.  “Some of them are doing small side businesses like ours, while others have much bigger plans,” she says.  “It’s been so valuable to trade ideas and experiences, and help each other through the process of getting a business started.”

Jan and Bob have a ready answer to anyone who admires their success and expresses interest in getting a business started.  “We send them all to SCORE,” Jan says, “and we’re pleased to hear that many have indeed called them.”