Success Story: True Value

True Value – Grafton, 2017

In 2004, Kerry DeMars, purchased his first hardware store located at 532 Hill Avenue, Grafton, ND. Growing up on a small family farm, Kerry helped out as a farm hand. Throughout his child hood, he didn’t really know what he wanted to do. “I went to school to be a crop duster,” says Kerry.

Kerry first dreamt of running his own business when he worked at a lumber yard in high school. His prior experience led him to expand into a full fledge lumber yard with hardware. In 2015, he did just that. Grafton True Value moved, expanded, and is now located at 85 E 4th St, Grafton in ND.

Kerry admits that working with ND SBDC and Julie Campbell of Walsh County JDA made it an easier process for him. Both Julie and the SBDC worked together to provide a financial package. SBDC provided the guidance and direction that he was looking for and made it easier to figure out the projections and specific results were seen.

What influenced Kerry to take advantage of SBDC was that it was nice to have everyone involved. Kerry found SBDC services to be very beneficial and would recommend ND SBDC to others looking for the ease of going through the process of financing and having a presentable package for the lender.

When asked what his plans are for the next 5 to 10 years, Kerry’s response was, “I want to get to the point where I can retire or win the lottery and retire.” Kerry isn’t sure that would occur over the 5 year mark but hopes it will occur by year 10.

The greatest thing about being a business owner is the privilege to work with the public, Kerry Says, but there are always drawbacks. The economy and natural disasters can put a damper on business, with rain, being the largest of them. The advice Kerry has for today’s entrepreneurs is to be ready to put in long hours. It is not a typical 8 to 5 job and your nearest vacation may be the next largest town and a movie.