Small Business Stories - The Solar Store

Small Business Stories the Solar Store Ivy Hartman: Welcome to our coverage of the 2007 Novo Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. I’m Ivy Hartman and with me is Katharine Kent of the Solar Store in Tucson, Arizona. Now, Katharine, what brings you to Atlanta, Georgia, the Novo Conference? Katharine Kent: Well, just an opportunity to see what’s going on, on the National Level at Novo and that in a rub shoulders with all the other Novo members. Ivy Hartman: Okay now, what is on the solar store and you’re not, you really felt time not feeling solar energy. So what is some of your client— what do you sell basically? Katharine Kent: We actually provide solar energy products, solar pool heating, solar hot water, photovoltaic systems, on grid off- grid, two little skylights and tankless water heaters. Ivy Hartman: And I think the stigma can be that changing over to something and more green could be very costly. What is your opinion about that? Katharine Kent: Well I mean you know you can look at the basic economics of it just to cash basis but the honest reality is that the cost of our current energy used in traditional method is more than we anticipate. We got to take in the environment, what kind of world are we living our children but the basic matter is, if the system is so correctly a value system it’s the cost effect of that’s in there. Ivy Hartman: Now you are a board member of the Novo group in Tucson area and I had a great testimonial about how Novo has helped you and not only networking but in sales. Katharine Kent: But, you don’t join organizations like Novo just to increase your sales. But, I was a member for probably maybe a month or two and I made my first sale to a Novo member and in season it made several of them and its so fun when they all talked to be together about isn’t it great, isn’t it older system the greatest so Ivy Hartman: That’s a wonderful testimony and its fun and you don’t have to look at the finger around here then I guess of the conference if they all speak well of you then— Katharine Kent: Well it is always your customers that are your best sales people. Ivy Hartman: Okay now, this is your first conference so tell me what do you hope to get out of this years conference. Katharine Kent: Well I was really interested in the International form and finding out how to expand my business internationally and I found that was incredible opportunity. There are some members here from China and from Kenya so and there’s trade missions coming on and so there’s actually a lot of ways that we can work with the organization to expand our businesses. Ivy Hartman: Speaking of expanding our businesses are there any loss or public policy issues in the forefront today that is actually going to help you with promoting the solar system business. Katharine Kent: Well the energy policy act, which was passed in 2005, has been an incredible boom. The legislature and the first thing this year in 2007 decided to extend it one more year while they evaluate what to do in the future. So this going to be some very significant changes and hopefully increasing the rebates work for people doing solar in their homes. Ivy Hartman: And I think increasing awareness is starting to help a little bit with more businesses like yours and green business building businesses but then I’ll go you know has moved in his mission I think is helping people realize they’re carbine footprint and how can I make a difference. Katharine Kent: Exactly it’s so important for people to understand how there energy uses impacting their whole lives and that’s what we do is just to spring that were in to were our customers. Ivy Hartman: Well good luck to you on your international outreach and be happy to follow up with you on how that goes and thank you for joining us. Katharine Kent: Well thank you so much Ivy. Ivy Hartman: You’re welcome. Keep it right here on sbtv.com as we continue our coverage of the Novo Conference 2007.