Sikeston woman wins entrepreneurial contest, to expand rental business

Last fall, April Samples hoped to market her inflatable castle rentals to friends and others in her community.

Samples never dreamed her idea would lead to winning six months of free kiosk space in West Park Mall and free advertising space in the Southeast Missourian.

The Sikeston, Mo., resident was named the winner of the "You're In Business" entrepreneurial contest on Friday. Open to residents 18 years and older of Cape Girardeau and surrounding counties, contestants went through a multi-part process before a winner was selected.

Samples' idea was expanding her rental business, C.A. Sales and Rentals, to include a prepackaged basket of goods used for parties. Included in each basket is a tablecloth, centerpiece, plates, napkins, hats and invitations for various themes that accompany a coupon good for $25 off the rental of her inflatable castle. Samples did not have a location for her business at press time.

Samples thinks the use of space inside the mall will lead to her dream of establishing a permanent place of business.

"I'm wanting to start small and take baby steps," Samples said. "I'm trying to stay as little in debt as possible, which is especially important in this economy. I'd love to one day have my own space in the mall but I have to take things as they go."

Samples entered the contest in May soon after receiving an e-mail from Richard Proffer of the Small Business Development Center at the Missouri Extension, where she completed a class for budding entrepreneurs during the fall of 2008. She later modified an idea she developed in the class to use in a 20-page plan that was submitted to judges during the second round of competition. The first round required a short explanation of a business idea while the final round consisted of an oral presentation before judges.

Susan Godorov, spokeswoman for Centro Property Groups that owns West Park Mall, said a kiosk was chosen for a variety of reasons.

"Our thought was that a kiosk was a small setting where you can start a small business and the build-out is less than customizing a store," Godorov said. "It's a place to incubate a business and give it a test drive."

Godorov said the contest is the perfect example of how a small business should evolve, from start to finish.

"April not only will have the support of the judges throughout the process but a setting like a mall is where she can start a business with a built-in audience," Godorov said. "She also has other business owners surrounding here who have had prior experience and can give her suggestions."

For other would-be-entrepreneurs, Samples said they should try, no matter how unclear the future may appear.

"If you don't try you won't know if you could have succeeded," Samples said. "Everyone kind of knew this would be a good idea but until I went through with it they never truly realized how great my idea was.

"I never dreamed it would have progressed this fast," Samples said. "This entire experience has been truly awesome."

To learn more about C.A. Sales and Rentals, e-mail ca.party@yahoo.com, call 573-776-5417 or visit casalesandrentals.com.

bblackwell@semissourian.com

388-3628

Pertinent addresses:

3049 William St., Cape Girardeau, MO