LOUISVILLE, July 16, 2013 — After too many years working for other people in the packaging business, Dan and Mindy Withrow decided it was time to work for themselves.
Seven years ago, they started CSS Distribution Group Inc. in the basement of the Louisville home. Today, CSS — the letters stand for “Customer Sourcing Solutions” — is a $30 million business with operations in a Louisville industrial park .“Our product line includes pallets, miscellaneous packaging and equipment,” Dan says. We have many years’ experience building national account programs to help Fortune 500 companies leverage their spend, reduce their costs, reduce their SKU’s and reduce their vendor base.” CSS has been an NFIB member business since 2007.
They believe NFIB has promoted and protected their right to own, operate and grow their business. “I like that we have a voice in Washington and Frankfort to help protect the little guys,” Dan says.
His advice to young entrepreneurs: “Find something that you are passionate about, or you will find when things get tough, that you don’t like doing it anymore and you will want to quit.”
Mindy agrees passion is important but says common sense is, too. “Have a strong business plan and be committed and ready to put everything you have into it.”
Balancing work and family can be hard for anyone, but small-business owners know this struggle very well. Dan and Mindy say they are constantly working at balancing time with their fast growing company and their four children at home.
Sometimes, it’s combining the two that helps. “I love talking to my children about how Mommy learned the business,” Mindy says. “I think it’s a good way to show them how I worked my way up through a company and eventually started my own.”
