In the tiny town of Jewell, Iowa, Dan and Meryl Scarrow discovered a business opportunity. Though Dan was still in dental school, the Scarrows knew they wanted to move to a small town and start their own practice one day. The moment arose when they spotted Jewell listed as “a community in need of a dentist.” Upon further exploration, Dan and Meryl decided Jewell was indeed the perfect location for their startup business of Jewell Family Dentistry.
Jewell Family Dentistry has made a commitment to the community by giving back through contributions in booster clubs, sponsorship of local events/sports teams, student activities such as post-prom and holiday drives, and a fund which provides scholarships to graduating seniors. They have additionally provided food and free dental care to a family in need and have visited elementary schools to teach dental education and pass out goodie bags complete with toothbrushes, toothpaste, and fun prize items.
Dan had heard of America’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) through Jewell’s local Economic Development Group as the Scarrows needed guidance in drafting a business plan and working out financial projections. They worked closely with Brook Boehmler to give their dreams a solid foundation. “Working with SBDC and Brook Boehmler in particular was fantastic. In dental school we learn very little about business, so we were starting with very limited knowledge. His expertise was invaluable, and his excitement in our project was encouraging and motivating.”
A year after initially meeting with Brook, the Scarrows reflect on their experiences working with the SBDC; “Our experience with SBDC was one of the most positive experiences we had throughout the difficult process of creating a startup dental practice. It was absolutely crucial to our progress and without help from the SBDC we very likely would have been either unsuccessful or significantly delayed in starting our business. I can’t say enough to express our thankfulness to Brook Boehmler and the SBDC.”
Revenues have continued to increase for Jewell Family Dentistry with their past two months exceeding the first two months by 40%. The Scarrows plan to continue growing their business by expanding days of operation as well as adding a hygienist. They look forward to continue enhancing their quality of care and expanding their positive influence on the community, schools, and citizens of Jewell.
For more information about Jewell Family Dentistry, please visit their website at http://www.jewellfamilydentistry.com/ or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Jewell-Family-Dentistry-1115078591883165/.