05/01/2002
Her whole life, Evelyn Reis Perry has been standing up for what she believes, and she's counted South Carolina small business as one of her top causes for the past 15 years or so."I don't do well on the sidelines," Perry laughs. "You must either do something about it or don't complain. And doing something keeps you busy."
Perry owns Carolina Sound Communications, the Muzak franchise for the Charleston and Myrtle Beach area; this covers twelve counties of South Carolina. She and her staff work with their customers to design, create and install sound systems that inspire the appropriate atmosphere for a business, church or other establishment.
Her business has been fortunate over the past couple of years and hasn't suffered from a lot of economic pressures. "We don't know about an economic slowdown. We now have 14 employees, from 2 originally, and we're still growing. We're very grateful," Perry says.
NFIB has been a partner almost since the beginning.
"I joined NFIB my second year in business. Someone cold-called me and said NFIB does things to help small business. I said, 'What can I do besides pay you?' I've always been an activist. So I joined the Leadership Council. I've been on it for close to 15 years, and I chaired it for six or seven years."
Perry has not only worked within NFIB but also shared the benefits of the organization with others.
"You can't do it alone - you have to have a voice. I'm very much an evangelist for NFIB. I helped start a National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) chapter here, and I introduced my colleagues there to NFIB as well."
On the NFIB/SC Leadership Council, Perry says members make an effort to ensure lawmakers understand where small business stands.
"We've done a good job of making our lawmakers aware of the issues," she says. "NFIB is known by people who are in the business of making laws."
NFIB/SC state director Michael Fields seconds Perry on that, and says that her personal efforts have made a big difference in the legislature. As an example, he tells about an April vote to preempt a living wage law in South Carolina.
"She [and others] made eight contacts with lawmakers out of her office in one day. It absolutely made a difference," Fields says. "Nobody said a word against the bill that day, and it passed, a major victory for small business."
Perry says it's essential for small business owners to speak out on issues that affect their business. She lists some hot-button issues that make a difference to her.
"My major issue is the death tax. With two sons in my business, I want to be able to be able to pass it on to them," she says. "Also, workers' comp is a constant threat, and Michael Fields has done a wonderful job with that. Also, health insurance and health care costs are always a concern."
All of Perry's work in her business and on behalf of all small business hasn't gone unnoticed. The Small Business Administration will recognize her as the South Carolina Women-in-business Advocate of the Year on May 21 at a ceremony in Columbia.
"I think my work with NFIB had something to do with that," Perry says. "A lot of what I have learned is through my work with NFIB."
Quick Facts:
Name: Carolina Sound Communications
Founded: 1984
Location: Charleston, S.C.
Number of employees: 14
What services does your business provide?
We have a systems contracting business -- anything having to do with low voltage systems i.e. sound, video, board room audio visual systems, closed circuit digital security systems, gate entry and fire alarms. We are the Muzak franchise for this area. We design, install and service sound systems for digital satellite delivered business music, drive-through restaurants and nurse-call systems for hospitals and nursing facilities.
How did you get into business?
By accident!
My husband was working for Westinghouse broadcasting in New York. They bought a cable company and Muzak was part of it. It wasn't working very well at the time and the president asked him to help out. At first my husband was not interested. He was a broadcaster. But when the president of Westinghouse asks two times, you do it.
We started to attend conferences, and found we liked the people and the business, but decided we were on the wrong side of it. We started looking for a Muzak franchise to buy. Muzak is oldest franchise in the country. The only way to get in is to buy out someone who is selling. Lots of the franchises are passed down in families, so it's really hard to get one. We heard Charleston might be for sale. We made an offer and then we didn't hear, didn't hear. Meanwhile, my husband got a job offer in D.C. with a broadcast consulting firm. Three weeks after he accepted, we got a call from Charleston saying, "Congratulations! You own a Muzak franchise."
"Temporarily" I came down to South Carolina with two children to run the business. That was 17 years ago. My husband stayed in D.C. until six years ago and he commuted back and forth.
Does your family participate in your business?
My husband and my sons are in the business with me. My husband is a P.E. engineer and one son is an engineer and one sells sound and music. We have been in the top 10 in the country for Muzak sales for the past six years since my sons joined us.
