DEVELOPING A FIRM GRIP ON HIS NEW COMPANY.

BUSINESS NAME: TartanGolfGrips.com

BUSINESS ADDRESS: PO Box 3484, Thousand Oaks, CA 91359

PHONE: [phone]

E-MAIL: TartanGolfGripsDotCom(at)gmail.com

OWNER: Scott Tesar

ESTABLISHED: March 2006

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: One

DESCRIBE YOUR BUSINESS: TartanGolfGrips.com is an online retailer of specialized golf grips from C-Thru Golf Grips, featuring tartan designs with custom, personalized text. As an authorized distributor for C-Thru Grips, I develop "Artans," which are Scottish, Irish and Universal tartan designs under putter and full-swing golf grips that feature personalized, custom text.

IS THIS YOUR FIRST BUSINESS? Yes

WHY DID YOU START THIS BUSINESS? I designed one of the grips for myself, and I liked the results so much, I had a hunch that other golfers would also want one. When I showed my neighbor and he wanted one, that validated my concept and I immediately got busy developing the plan and launching the business.

WHERE DID YOU GET THE IDEA? I originally wanted a golf towel that featured the Sinclair tartan to pay tribute to my mom's heritage. There were many towels with plaid patterns, none with the specific Sinclair design. I already used a C-Thru putter grip with the Pepperdine Waves logo, so I contacted them to investigate creating a custom design featuring the Sinclair Tartan. I was so pleased with the outcome, I became an authorized distributor for C-Thru Grips and developed my own custom tartan-based designs.

HOW LONG WAS IT FROM CONCEPT TO OPENING? Two-and-a-half months.

WHAT DID YOU DO DURING THAT TIME? Built the first generation of the Web site and shopping cart, got my reseller sales tax and business licenses, learned Web development and began marketing the site.

WHAT WERE YOUR STARTUP COSTS AND HOW DID YOU FINANCE THE BUSINESS? About $2,000 from savings.

WHO DID YOU RELY ON FOR ADVICE? My Pepperdine MBA, my CPA for tax and tactical business formation advice and my wife for design decisions.

WHAT HADN'T YOU CONSIDERED BEFORE OPENING? The amount of time it would take to develop and maintain the Web site and shopping cart. I'd never done any Web development.

WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTED REVENUE THIS YEAR? Conservative estimate is $10,000-$12,000

WHAT GOALS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE COMPANY? To expand the product line to include the "Solid Impact" line of solid colors and custom text, to increase awareness by advertising at Scottish Highland Games and Celtic festivals, to launch a business-to-business initiative to Scottish-themed golf facilities and other businesses and to expand the product offerings to include golf accessories and other tartan-themed merchandise.

CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

(color) Oak Park resident Scott Tesar displays golf clubs equipped with his Tartan Golf Grips, which he sells online at TartanGolfGrips.com.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer