Profiles of Startups in Northwest Arkansas

Mold Solutions LLC
Owners: Phil Gawthrop and Jerrmy Gawthrop
Address: P.O. Box 3103, Bella Vista 72715
Phone: (479) 644-9163
Hours: By appointment
Startup date: Nov. 15
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.fungiphil.com

The more Phil Gawthrop learned about mold, the more he became concerned. He began to suspect that some illnesses friends and family had was related to mold they might be breathing. That concern led to an idea for the creation of a new business.

Gawthrop and his son, Jerrmy Gawthrop, now inspect and test for mold through their new company, Mold Solutions. They also offer consultations and remediation services by contract through Enviro-Cure, an Atlanta-based company that provides specific enzymes to address the identified strain of mold. The enzymes are microscopic organisms that eat the mold and die out when the mold is gone.

Cleaning services that douse a mold problem with fungicide without identifying the particular strain of mold are applying more chemicals than needed, Gawthrop said.

“We get the job done as quickly and as inexpensively, but we’re not into chemicals,” he said.

Mold Solutions actually inspects every part of a house to determine where mold is, tests the mold and provides a remediation plan. Jerrmy Gawthrop explained that the problem isn’t addressed by painting over or cleaning up mold without checking to make sure it hasn’t spread into the walls or other parts of a building. The company charges $300 for such an inspection.

The Gawthrops expect their business to grow over the next year and may hire as many as five employees to assist.

They invested between $7,000 and $10,000 to start the business, Phil Gawthrop said.

Finders Keepers
Owners: Carolyn Johnston and Deborah Tyra
Address: 1512 N. 2nd St., Rogers 72756
Phone: (479) 621-5337
Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday
Startup date: Nov. 16

Carolyn Johnston had dabbled in retail for years, but when her two daughters noted the lack of consignment furniture and home furnishings stores in Northwest Arkansas, she pulled together $25,000 to open Finders Keepers in Rogers with the help of her daughter, Deborah Tyra.

“We have home accents, accessories, some antiques, some newer items, lamps, pictures, furniture and all kinds of home décor,” Johnston said.

Pricing and a large selection, she said, sets Finders Keepers apart from other home furnishing stores. Merchandise that doesn’t sell within 30 days is marked down 15 percent. Thirty days later it’s marked down another 10 percent, and if it’s still there another 30 days, it’s returned to the consigner, Johnston explained.

“Everything in here is a bargain, and if it’s not, we don’t want it,” she said. “And although we have used merchandise, it’s not a flea market and we don’t have junk items.”

Johnston said she never knows what is going to sell.

“At first we were selling a lot of bedroom sets,” she said. “Then all of a sudden, it was dining room sets. I just can’t tell you what moves the best.”

Her daughter manages the shop several days a week and they’ve hired another part-time clerk, but they expect to add as many as three employees during the first year of operation.

Finders Keepers has 3,750 SF of showroom space now, but they would like to add to that.