Recently, some local businesses: Air Comfort Consultants (ACC), Kelly Wilson Crane and Home Town Barber, came together to solve a problem.
"Tanner Perez from Home Town Barber has a new business," explained Paul Rosales, ACC. "He needed some more heating and air conditioning in his building. We came up with a game plan for him and got it worked out."
It wasn't just a job - it was a collaboration.
"We are in heating and air - we drive the big blue vans," Rosales said of ACC. "We needed a blade to set the unit up on his roof, so that's where Jim Wilson of Kelly Wilson Crane came in. They are the crane experts in our area. Along with Home Town Barber - these are all small, local businesses working together to keep it together. If we could get more companies to do that it helps our community."
Rosales said the project was started several weeks prior to its beginning.
"When we all met up it maybe took us 45 minutes to get it done," he explained. "But between Tanner and I - we had been working on it for a few weeks. We were drumming up some ideas, making sure it was correct and seeing what we needed to do. Another business from somewhere else wouldn't take that much time to work on it either you did it or you didn't. But, we went to the drawing board and figured out what he could afford within what we could do the job for. That local approach and touch you don't get anywhere else. That care..."
The trio, who are licensed and insured, weren't the only local companies to have a hand in the project.
"Tanner banks locally," said Rosales, "The money he put out isn't something someone has in their back pocket, so there's another deal. That's four local businesses working together to make this happen."
Rosales is concerned not everyone understands the importance of utilizing local businesses for their work.
"I know things are more expensive here where we are in Southwest Kansas- in Ulysses," he said. "I get that it is more expensive to buy local bread, to get a gallon of gas - but if we go out of town to buy our bread and gas the small businesses are not going to survive."
He wishes other businesses understood the importance of local.
"If we could emphasize to other businesses such as the city, state - government offices and bigger businesses here the importance of keeping our business local ," Rosales said. "I know things go up for bid and many times we are going to be more expensive. Because of that they go with the lesser bid that's out of town. But, we don't get anything out of it. It's our tax money that is paying for it if it is the city, county or school. We as a community don't benefit at all from it."
Rosales said location makes it harder for smaller, local businesses to compete.
"Because of where we are at, it takes more freight to bring us the stuff we need," he explained. "It is more expensive to get stuff here, and as a small business we don't get the quantity discount bigger companies get. For example, I know my air conditioner is going to be higher than one from Kansas City or Wichita. But, if we could keep it local that would be fantastic. I know everybody is looking to cut back because it is expensive, but if it's a tax thing I think it ought to be done locally even if it is more expensive."
Rosales said there are benefits to staying local versus going with a company that is not here.
"We can be there within minutes or hours when you need something versus the alternative which may be days or weeks, if they are even interested in coming back when something goes wrong," he said. "Sometimes it may not be worth it for them to come back. The biggest benefit is service. Local businesses are here and they stand behind their products 100 percent."
Another benefit is having a business that will work with their customers in other areas.
"I've had other businesses call me and say, 'I can't afford to get this fixed, but I have to have it'," Rosales said. "So, we work it out. I don't know of any other heating and air company that would do that. It either gets done or it doesn't. When they say I can't afford to pay you right now - I said let's get it done and we can work that out after. I want these small businesses to stay in business."
Rosales said the upcoming bond issue for the school is a perfect example.
"They will have these companies come in and make bids on work," Rosales said. "Say they come in and bid on air conditioners and things. Sure, they will under bid me, but if I were to get the bid then 100 percent of that would stay right here in the community instead of maybe 10 percent. I know they have this bond coming up. My concern is how much of that will stay here if any? It's $45 million of our tax money. How much will be spent with our small businesses and people who work around here?"
Rosales says it is possible the boards who vote on submitted bids are doing the best they can.
"They may have their hands tied and may be expected to go with the lower bids," he said, "But, these larger companies will come in and maybe spend $100,000 in Ulysses. How much is going out?"
Rosales has been in business as ACC in Ulysses for the past seven years; however, he has lived here for the past 30.
"I'm invested in this community," he said. "We help out wherever we can. Grant County and Ulysses have been wonderful to us. They have helped us and have been here to support us. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here. This is the place to be. That's what keeps us going is there support."
Rosales would like to see it be better.
"If we all worked together we could advance and work together to get it done," he said. "There are quite a few of us businesses here. We are small in size but not where it counts. We need each other."
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