NFIB Colorado Member Profile: Linda Allour of Daylight Donuts in Dacono

Date: August 18, 2015

'I just really like the ability to create whatever we want.'

Name: Linda Allour

Business: Daylight Donuts

Location: Dacono, Colorado

Employees: 1

Patrick and Linda Allour started their doughnut company almost 13 years ago with the help of a Small Business Development Center, which helped them develop a business plan that would lead to success. The couple originally owned a roofing company, but had both spent time making doughnuts in their younger days. When they decided a change was in order, a doughnut shop seemed the perfect fit.

What’s the best part of owning your own business?

It encompasses everything I want to do. I have a business degree, so I can make use of that, and I can create things without having to follow corporate rules. We get to meet people, and our hard work is our own gain. I just really like the ability to create whatever we want.

How do you compete with big chains?

The only competition in our area would be grocery stores. Still, that is another type of competition. First of all, we have a better product than a grocery store, and as a small business we try to come up with things that make us different.

Our benefit is that we have an agreement with Daylight—we use their company recipe, doughnut mix and name, but have the freedom to innovate. Apart from the base recipe, everything else is up to us. I subscribe to industry magazines, like Bake, and I look at different websites and research the industry to try and come up with something different that will set us apart.

How did you get involved with NFIB?

I met State Director Tony Gagliardi at a Chamber of Commerce meeting, which I attended because I really believe in networking and being involved with the community. I found that NFIB has the ability to support and fight for small business in a way I never could. Like the minimum wage issue going on right now—how could I possibly do anything on my own?

I’m just one fish in a pond, but sometimes NFIB will send out the voting issues or comment cards. Every time I got a comment card, I said I hated the personal property tax on equipment. NFIB played a part in reducing that personal property tax for a lot of businesses. We used to have to pay taxes on all equipment that was worth $500 or more, but the state has since raised the price limit.

How is it doing business in Colorado?

In general, Colorado is pretty good, and this is one of the best years we’ve ever had.

In 2009 and 2010 it was awful, business was terrible, but now, just through marketing and word of mouth, the area is growing and it’s taking off. What has benefited us is this is a very unusual shopping center in that it was condoed out, so we individually own our part of the building.

How many doughnuts do you sell on a regular day?

At least 30 dozen. My husband’s here all night, then I come in about 4 a.m., finish making the doughnuts, then I make the biscuits for biscuits and gravy, and I also make doggy doughnuts. We’re open every day until 9 p.m.


Related Content: Small Business News | Colorado

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