Arko Telephone of Springdale Looks Beyond State’s Borders

Arko Telephone of Springdale Inc. is planning to expand beyond the state’s borders this year.

Arko, the largest provider of business telephone systems in Northwest Arkansas with annual revenue of $1 million, plans to acquire a company in Springfield, Mo., and one in Tulsa, Okla. this year. Russell Wood, the company’s president, says the acquisitions would double the company’s annual revenue.

“The key is controlled growth,” Wood says. “We don’t want to grow faster than we can provide customer service. Our business is built on customer service.”

In the last two years, Arko has bought the client lists of three competing companies in Northwest Arkansas. Those additions doubled the company’s revenue from $500,000 in 1994 to its current $1 million with more than 2,000 customers.

Arko sells and installs telephone equipment, provides service on the equipment, provides cellular service through Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., connects with Sprint for long-distance service, has Internet access service and provides pagers.

Arko is one of only six companies in Arkansas that is an authorized agent of Southwestern Bell Telephone. The certification means Arko can install and service products provided by Southwestern Bell and is paid a commission by the company.

“We are like a marketing company with direct support from Southwestern Bell,” Wood says.

Arko’s clients in Northwest Arkansas include the city administrations of Springdale and Rogers, First Baptist Church of Springdale and the Bella Vista Property Owners’ Association.

tttttttttt— Jim Lovel