Offbeat businesses hit their stride
By jeffrey t. lavery
When Javier Fuertes decided the life of a chef in some of Boston’s top restaurants was keeping him away from his family, he traded serving patrons in swanky environments for a more personal atmosphere: their own kitchens.
Fuertes is founder and owner of the DinnerMaker, a chef service that provides healthy meals for clients in need of a home-cooked meal. With a growing clientele of former fast-food junkies, Fuertes is one of several area entrepreneurs who have found success in offbeat businesses.For example, Peter Franklin started Shirley-based Cool Dog, Inc., an ice cream product shaped like a hot dog. Then there’s Paramount Industries in Medway, a family-owned business that started manufacturing bowling balls in the 1950s, and now sells personalized bocce sets and automotive shift knobs. Moving to the high tech arena, Cephos Corporation in Pepperell is trying to sell the Department of Defense on its new lie detection software, a product it hopes will replace the polygraph.
While each of these firms has its own story on how it got to where it is today, they share a common spirit of adventure and innovation, as well as a desire to see an idea through from concept to fruition.
"I’m in this business because it’s unique," says Bob Parrella, president of Paramount Industries. "You never know when one thing may lead to another."
Move over hot dog
While eating ice cream out of a hot dog bun fails to entice the taste buds of most dairy fans, a bun made of sponge cake and littered with toppings like sprinkles and maraschino cherries will cause most mouths to water.
Behold the Cool Dog, brainchild of Peter Franklin, a former software guru
at Quantum Corp. Franklin and his wife took their life savings and invested them
into Cool Dog, Inc. Although Franklin began to have doubts about his Cool Dog treat while pitching it to the Red Sox, a few free samples for the office secretaries quickly dissolved any concerns. Rich Roper, the vice president of concessions, didn’t take much notice in his product until he got a phone call from his enthusiastic administrative staff.
"He thought I was selling hot dogs," says Franklin of Roper. "Once he had one, he loved it, and now there are Cool Dog carts in Fenway."
Initially, the company faced a raft of challenges: high production costs, packing and shipping headaches, and market development. But Franklin persisted, and after experimenting with a variety of prototype cool dogs and bun recipes, production has recently shot up 250 percent. The company can now produce 70,000 cool dogs per day
Franklin has moved manufacturing operations to a Connecticut vendor who handles all the logistics of the firm, while he focuses on expanding a client base that already includes Walt Disney World Resorts and several minor league ball clubs. Markets also are opening up overseas.
Chef on demand
While Franklin works on his icy delights, Javier Fuertes provides clients with complete home-cooked versions of the main course. After noticing how many families rarely have time to cook healthy meals, Fuertes took cooking skills that were honed at restaurants like Boston’s Top of the Hub and started the DinnerMaker Clients can choose from a variety of options in 12, 16, and 20 meal packages.
"It’s sad that people tend to think going to restaurants might be a healthier option," says Fuertes. "And, you look at the amount of convenience foods in the supermarket, and you have to wonder why there is such a high demand for pre-prepared meals."
The chef’s menu boasts over 150 selections, and after building a profile of his customers, he determines how they like their foods prepped, along with any dietary concerns. He cooks in their homes, then packages the food with full preparation instructions.
After his initial investments, such as a $1,000 membership to the American Personal Chef Association, Fuertes has built a client list spread across Central Mass., from Athol to Marlboro. With a base of roughly 16 customers per month, Fuertes is reaching maximum capacity on his own, and may soon take on a cooking assistant. "I’m making a good living," adds Fuertes.
Bocce balls and more
Other offbeat companies have been around for generations. Take Paramount Industries in Medway, a company that began in 1952 as a bowling ball manufacturer when candlepin bowling was the sport of choice in Worcester, the birthplace of the pastime.
After competition from China caused many big-name sports equipment vendors to buy from cheaper overseas manufacturers, Paramount Industries diversified to include all kinds of balls. Paramount’s portfolio includes: custom billiard balls sold by Neiman Marcus, shift knobs for NASCAR, ball valves for sewer treatment plants, and bocce balls that can be personalized for any occasion, like one order for a wedding party in Montana. Although foreign labor will always be cheaper, notes President Bob Parrella, customers know they can come to Paramount for quality.
"We decided years ago we will close shop before we’ll sacrifice quality," says Parrella.
Despite feeling tired after working in the same company for over fifty years, Parrella is quick to add that the uniqueness of his business has kept him going. He notes that the most rewarding part of his business stems from sticking with a high-quality product and surviving, while other manufacturers lowered standards to compete – and still ended up closing their doors.
Test catches truth-dodgers
While Paramount is steeped in tradition, Cephos Corp. is trying to break new ground. Founder Steven Laken is developing new ways to tell if accused persons are fibbing or telling the truth. Lacken is banking on replacing the traditional polygraph with software developed to detect deception by monitoring brain waves. His setup uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines equipped with his technology. An operator quizzes suspects on their involvement in crimes, with test feedback displayed on a miniature screen.The test indicates if answers use the parts of the brain associated with lying.
"Holding your breath, delaying responses – none of those tactics have beaten the test," says Laken "The polygraph is 80-year-old technology."
While Lacken’s technology is still a few months away from a final product, the firm has already achieved 90 percent accuracy, with a goal of 95 percent. Cephos Corp. will target the legal marketplace, and has already worked with lawyers whose clients wanted to use a device other than the polygraph for proving their innocence.
Additionally, Lacken will be shopping the device to the government, which has an almost unlimited supply of employees requiring lie detection technology for national security clearances. The eventual deployment of the product is fast approaching, says Laken, and the company has found enough financial backing from investors and guidance from legal experts to remain confident in its future.
"It’s great to see what you can start off from," says Laken. "We’re hoping to become a hundred million dollar company."
Jeffrey T. Lavery can be reached at jlavery@wbjournal.com
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments