NFIB

Bang for Her Buck
04/01/2003

Storeel Corp. Owners Says NFIB Makes Her Voice Heard

Carolyn Galvin says some of her friends are crazy. "I tell my friends who own small businesses, 'You're crazy if you don't belong to NFIB,' " says Galvin, owner of Atlanta-based Storeel Corporation.

For Galvin, membership in an organization devoted to fighting for her four-employee company isn't optional. "So many groups we contribute our money to don't do anything for us. But NFIB does. They're out there helping us everyday - in Washington and in Atlanta."

Galvin is the second generation in her family-owned business. Her father started an office supply business in the late 50s. One of his customers, a broadcasting company, asked him to help design shelving for the massive amounts of tapes they had to store. The design worked so well, other companies began requesting similar models. And in 1969 a new business was born.

Like every small business owner, Galvin spends her days (and some nights) trying to grow her business. She doesn't have time to track legislation and regulations that may harm her efforts.

"I can't be at the capitol every day. But Bert Fridlin {NFIB State Director} can," says Galvin. "Bert's got his nose in anything related to small business. He fights for us since I don't have time."

Galvin recently got the chance to tell an important person about her struggle as a small business owner. When President George W. Bush visited a high school in Atlanta recently, Galvin was one of just a few small business owners who got to visit with Bush.

"It was a fascinating experience to have the opportunity to sit down and speak with the president one on one," she says. "I was able to talk with him about his tax bill, which will help small business by letting us keep more of our money to stimulate the economy."

Quick Facts:
Name: Storeel Corp., www.storeel.com
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Founded: 1969
Number of employees: Six