'Growth' aids firm's move to Inc. 500.

Chatsworth-based One Stop Shop has made for the first time Inc. 500's list of the 500 fastest growing companies in the country--partly a credit to the influence of personal growth coaches, according to its president and CEO Marx Acosta-Rubio.

The company ranks No. 383 on the magazine's recently published list.

Also making the list from the Valley are Canoga Park's DSL Extreme, which was ranked at No. 13, with a staggering four/five year average annual sales growth of 1,214.5 percent. Chatsworth's Millennium Rugs finished at 115, with annual growth of 258.5 percent, while Glendale's Red Peacock International placed 164 with 202.5 percent growth. Calabasas' iHomeowners came in at 389 with 94.2 percent annual growth, followed by La Crescenta's Pacific Pavingstone (403, 92 percent growth), Chatsworth's Micro Solutions Enterprises (453, 82 percent growth), and Topaz Systems (500, 73.4 percent growth).

Acosta-Rubio's six-year-old computer and peripherals supply company had a four/five year average annual sales growth of 96.4 percent. Acosta-Rubio attributed the business' success to providing superior customer service and a hard-working and focused staff.

"Customer service at most companies is dismal at best. We create a service that not only anticipates our clients' needs but allows them to do their jobs better," Acosta-Rubio said. "We truly love our clients."

Starting the company with only $70,000 from his mother's life savings, Acosta-Rubio parlayed that cash into $5.8 million in revenue last year. In 2004, One Stop Shop is expected to gross more than $7 million, he said.

"I think the company has been successful because of the type of business that (Acosta-Rubio) runs and the type of person that he is. They won't pressure you into anything," One Stop Shop customer Jarrod Stabnow said. "They respect the customers and really get to know them on a personal level. It doesn't surprise me that they were named to the Inc. list. If you do what they do it's bound to pay off."

Acosta-Rubio has implemented a rigorous training program to initiate employees into the company. Each employee is required to memorize a labyrinth of flow-charts, metrics, and company by-laws. Additionally, Acosta-Rubio has encouraged the use of personal growth coaches.

"What has made our company so unique is implanting our beliefs and philosophy into our existing representatives," Acosta-Rubio said. "Personal growth is the engine that drives One Stop Shop. In order for the business to improve, we have to improve ourselves. We don't make it mandatory but everyone here is into it."

"We have a completely different philosophy than most other companies. We really try to build client relationships so that they're more than just business," One Stop Shop account representative Mike Oranksy said.