A Florida Small Business Development Center at Indian River State College client success story.
In the world of outdoor tools and equipment retail, TrenchBadgers, Inc. stands out for their innovation, offering solutions that transcend the ordinary. Co-founded in 2015 by Dale Ballinger and Giusepe Burgos, the company boasts a remarkable nine-year legacy of transforming the trenching experience with tools that combine efficiency and ease.
Dale Ballinger, the visionary behind TrenchBadgers, drew inspiration from his early days trenching for his father's irrigation business. Armed with an engineering degree, Dale conceptualized a tool that would not only revolutionize trenching but inject an element of fun into the process, paving the way to TrenchBadgers, Inc.
Giusepe Burgos, Co-Founder, serves as the driving force behind marketing, business operations, and technology at TrenchBadgers. Transitioning from product conceptualization to business operations presented challenges, and this is where the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Indian River State College played a pivotal role. "The SBDC is such a great resource in many different aspects of a business," says Giusepe. From resolving inventory issues to securing funding, consultants like Bill West, Tom Kindred, and Katherine Culhane played parts in the growth of the business. Giusepe highlights, "We were able to review all of our financial statements, review the status and the health of the company, and that was such a key component."
Dale Ballinger emphasizes the depth of resources provided by the SBDC, extending beyond financial solutions. "For sure, the resources are much larger than what we know as a business," says Dale. What began as a quest for capital evolved into a realization of untapped opportunities. The SBDC introduced TrenchBadgers to the world of exporting and the potential of opening doors to a global market. Dale notes, "We don't want to just sell domestically; we want to find a solution for exporting as well."
Katherine Culhane, Associate Director at the SBDC, played a key role in TrenchBadgers' journey. Through the first consultation, a business plan was crafted, laying the foundation for acquiring capital. Katherine's involvement went beyond financial aspects, providing insights into inventory management, and procedures.
As TrenchBadgers looks to the future, the company is committed to leveraging the SBDC's resources for exporting, manufacturing, and business consulting. "There's a lot more than we have to take advantage of," emphasizes Giusepe. The SBDC continues to be a guiding force, offering support in areas that extend beyond initial expectations, “I would recommend using them, don't do this alone. Take the time to take advantage of the resources. We definitely recommend the SBDC and the great team here at IRSC.”
You can learn more about TrenchBadgers, Inc. by visiting their website at: https://trenchbadger.com
