New Dive Shop Opening in So Cal!

[Kevrumbo]

Good luck Robert on the new enterprise!

Don't ignore potential customers & the market in the Antelope Valley -Armed Forces Personnel at Edwards Air Force Base and Palmdale/Lancaster Aerospace Workers (Lockheed Martin; Northrop Grumman; Boeing and BAE Systems).

Some small business stats (Forbes Magazine):

1) The SBA defines a small business as an enterprise having fewer than 500 employees

2) There are almost 28 million small businesses in the US and over 22 million are self employed with no additional payroll or employees (these are called nonemployers)

3) Over 50% of the working population (120 million individuals) works in a small business

4) Small businesses have generated over 65% of the net new jobs since 1995

5) Approximately 543,000 new businesses get started each month (but more employer businesses shut down than start up each month)

6) 7 out of 10 new employer firms survive at least 2 years, half at least 5 years, a third at least 10 years and a quarter stay in business 15 years or more

7) 52% of all small businesses are home-based

8) There were 22.5 million nonemployer firms in 2011 (up almost 2% from the year before)

9) To classify as a “nonemployer” business you must have annual business receipts of $1,000 or more and be subject to federal income taxes

10) Approximately 75% of all U.S. businesses are nonemployer businesses

11) 19.4 million nonemployer businesses are sole proprietorships, 1.6 million are partnerships and 1.4 million are corporations

12) The fastest growing sector for freelance businesses in 2011 included auto repair shops, beauty salons and dry cleaners

13) Total TOT -6.88% revenues from nonemployers hit $989.6 billion in 2011 (up 4.1% from 2010)

14) Nonemployers had average revenues of $44,000

15) Around 80% of nonemployer businesses for 2011 (or 18 million businesses) reported less than $50,000 in receipts

 

[mjrob]

Robert:

Best of luck in the new endeavor! If we can help in any way, let me know; the more educated, thoughtful and quality-equipped divers the better!

Mark

 

[Scubatude]

WOW! Thank you all so much for all the well wishes and kind words. We had a great opening day. I loved meeting and talking with everyone. We had old friends and new friends coming by all day. Many Scubaboarders came by including a visit by NetDoc and mselenaous.

We are open all day tomorrow. Stop by and see us!

 

[scubadada]

So, I grew up in Burbank, in the SF Valley, less the a half hour straight up I5. If I still lived there, I would be glad to make the trek to a high quality LDS

 

[NotarPilot]

I can't wait to dive my new BP/W and Regs that Robert and his staff set up for me on Friday. Great people and a great shop in a convenient location so go and see him.

 

[The Chairman]

I can't wait to dive my new BP/W and Regs that Robert and his staff set up for me on Friday. Great people and a great shop in a convenient location so go and see him.

Did he let you watch them do it? I'd like to hear how he does it.

 

[NotarPilot]

@NetDoc Yes, I stood right next to Robert and watched him assemble, test and adjust my new Hog BP/W and D3/Zenith regs. He adjusted and tested all the pressures and installed all my hoses, spg, necklace, bolts snaps etc... Nice to be able to see the whole process and know it was all done correctly. Robert knows what he's doing and I have full confidence in him.

 

[mselenaous]

Saweeeet!
Now you know more about your gear. It always amazes me how few folks know ... or want to know. .. how their stuff is put together. 'Cause God knows we never have an infield tweek/fix to deal with far off shore on a boat or in a foreign country while your vacation time clock is ticking.
Smarts on you.
If possible take a general equipment specialist class or HOG repair class from Robert.

 

[tye1138]

Here is a little video of "building" Scubatude!

It's part one… waiting on some material for part two!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiJl3_7tAyQ&feature=youtu.be

 

[The Chairman]

Wow... a lot of work went into that shop. Way cool.