‘Happy birthday ... we’re starting a business’ on The Murfreesboro Post

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By: By ERIN EDGEMON Business Editor

‘Happy birthday ... we’re starting a business’

TMP by Kelly Hite

Danny and Rebecca Westergard have never been ones to take things slowly.

When it is right, they know.

“We don’t like to sit back and say, “What if?” she said.

It doesn’t matter if the decision is about their relationship or the business they opened Aug. 1
The Westergards opened Barfield Paint & Supply at 220 Barfield Crescent Road to provide paint and painting supplies to residents of southern Murfreesboro. The independently owned and operated store carries DeVoe and Glidden paints for indoor and outdoor projects and some painting supplies.

Barfield Paint & Supply is the “new face in paint in Murfreesboro,” Danny, 31, remarked.

“It is the American dream to own your own business,” he said. “People say that but we wanted to do it.”

Danny saw a need for a paint store in the fast growing south Murfreesboro and the heavily trafficked South Church Street.

“It just seemed like a really good fit,” he said.

Danny himself was tired of driving across town to big box retailers to buy paint.

“When we would get paint, it would take us 45 minutes to get there and get back,” Rebecca, 33, said.

So far, business has been steady.

“We have enjoyed some modest success,” Danny said “The challenge for us is getting our name out.”
Customers, however, continue to tell the Westergards how much they appreciate them opening the store.

“I guess convenience is one of our best attributes here,” Danny said.

Despite being in their early 30s, the couple has been married 12 years and has three children Sydney, 6, Hannah, 4, and Daven, 20 months.

The couple met while working at the Smyrna Pizza Hut. Rebecca was a student at MTSU and Danny was a senior in high school.

“We met there and it wasn’t long before we were engaged,” Rebecca said.

But with the business, Westergards have always kept a level head. They know the high risk of failure.

Half of all small businesses fail within two years.

It took Danny a couple of years to research his business idea and to work up enough courage to tell his wife.

“I am not one that doesn’t do anything without thinking it through really well,” Danny said.

He told Rebecca on her birthday this year.

“It did not go over well, which was quite disheartening,” Danny recalled.

Rebecca, a stay-at-home mom, said she had an apprehensive reaction because she didn’t think her husband was serious.

But her reaction didn’t dissuade Danny from bringing up his business idea again on the couple’s anniversary.

“Then at that point, I knew to start taking him seriously,” Rebecca said.

She came around to the idea because of her trust and belief in her husband, she added.

“I just thought it was a great idea, a great location,” Rebecca said.

The Westergards did their homework before going forward.

They sought assistance from the Tennessee Small Business Development Center, which is affiliated with MTSU and the Small Business Administration. Through a free course and a few meetings, they learned the ins and outs of writing a business plan and setting up the business.

“They helped us out quite a bit,” Danny said. “We were able to put together a business plan and take it to the bank.”

Prior to opening the business, Danny had limited knowledge of paints from painting his own home and with working with paint on his job. Danny works second shift as a production supervisor at Standard Register.

“I tell people I am comfortable with a brush in my hand,” Danny said.

Now he and Rebecca can mix paints and give customers advice on what paint will work best for a particular surface or project.

For the time being and perhaps long-term, Danny will continue to work at Standard Register with Rebecca and Danny splitting their time at the store. Their young children can often be seen playing in the back of the store.

“We hope that this can sustain our family,” Rebecca said of the future, “and hope we can give back to our community.”

Erin Edgemon can be reached at 869-0812 and at eedgemon@murfreesboropost.com.

Barfield Paint & Supply
220 Barfield Crescent Road, Suite I
www.barfieldpaint.com
895-3567

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By: Trvlace on 9/24/07
ALL chain stores started with a small one store business, and the ideas, long hours and hard work of it's owners. Best of luck guys.

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