It's a long way from North Dakota for Rosalie and Paul Brinkmeyer.
But when they moved, the Sahuarita-area residents brought a little bit of their North Dakota home to Green Valley — their custom engraving and embroidery business.
The Brinkmeyers started their business 12 years ago while living in Bismarck, N.D.
When Paul's job moved to Peoria, near Phoenix, they took along their home-based business. Then a couple of years ago, his job with Bobcat Co. brought him to Sahuarita. Again, they brought their business with them.
But the Brinkmeyers, sensing greater opportunities, opened a store-front business a year ago in Suite 17 in the Green Valley Mall, 101 S. La Cañada Drive.
And it's working, they said.
Custom Plus is doing well despite the current economic downturn. On April 25, the Green Valley-Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce awarded its Best Small Business Award to the Brinkmeyers.
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Jim Green, president of the Chamber, said the Brinkmeyers' success is simply a result of their friendliness and attention to their customers.
And their customers keep coming back. "It seems like we're here every day," said Marie Cory of the Community Performing Arts and Learning Center.
The Brinkmeyers churn out personalized promotional items for businesses and groups. They also engrave and embroider knickknacks for individual customers who want to memorialize a date, a name or a picture.
Paul said he can engrave or embroider on just about anything.
When the Brinkmeyers met and wed in North Dakota, she was a manufacturer's sales rep. He worked for Bobcat, which manufactures small tractors.
They decided she would leave her job because of the constant traveling, and they established their home business. Not long after their move here, Paul, who managed Bobcat's proving ground near Sahuarita, retired after 32 years with the company.
"I knew how to break stuff. Now I make stuff," Paul, 53, said.
He operates the embroidery and laser-engraving machines while she rounds up the customers.
While they were comfortable working out of their home, the Brinkmeyers wanted more public exposure and to get more involved in the local business community. They opened their store and joined the Chamber of Commerce.
"Another part of being successful is being accepted by the community," said Rosalie, 48.
She said she enjoys meeting people and making connections. It's in her blood.
Her dad had her selling carpet sweepers when she was 10 years old, she said.
Her sales talents now are put to the test as businesses and people curtail their spending in response to a flat economy.
So far, the Brinkmeyers said, their business hasn't seen a drop.
One reason may be that businesses consider promotion and promotional items important even while they cut costs elsewhere, said chamber president Green.
The Brinkmeyers want to grow their business. They would like to hire someone to work at the counter so that Rosalie can get out and do what she does best — meeting people and drumming up business.
They are confident they are on their way. But the Brinkmeyers have one more plan for the future. They want to own their own building.
Custom Plus
• Green Valley Mall
• Suite 17, south side of the mall
• 101 S. La Cañada Drive
• Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and by appointment
• 625-2878
