Pirlet and his wife, Marci will host Sen. Thune at their small business
On Wednesday, August 14th, the Pirlet’s will host Senator John Thune as he takes on NFIB’s Small Business Challenge. The Pirlet’s own Home Denifition, a home theatre and audio installation company in Sioux Falls, but owning and running that small business hasn’t always been easy. Here’s their story.
Scott Pirlet and his wife almost lost it all. When they started their wiring business in 2004, the two didn’t know a lot about the logistics of running a business. They both had full-time jobs and weren’t involved in the day to day operations. A few years later, the couple knew their fledgling business faced challenges – they questioned the balance sheet, but they weren’t prepared for the shock that came in the mail – a notice of foreclosure against the company. a letter informing them their business was $150,000 in debt.
The Pirlet’s had a big decision facing them. Could they swim their way out of debt – or should they file for bankruptcy? It was 2008, the recession had just hit, and the husband and wife were scared – their business, which installed home theater and audio systems, was a company you wanted to hire – but didn’t need to hire.
“We had a relationship with people in the community and we couldn’t just walk away from that.”
The Pirlet’s were intimidated by the challenges that lay ahead, but they knew they couldn’t leave the customers – their neighbors, friends, and people in their community – high and dry. The couple spent hours laying out what would become a five-year debt recovery plan and immediately pared down their company to bare bones and managed every dime that was spent. They moved all their inventory into their own garage, where they did bookwork late into the night after their small kids were in bed. Scott and Marci wore every hat from accountant to salesperson to delivery driver – all while keeping their full-time jobs. The couple relied on an employee that had been with the company from the beginning to help them navigate the comeback.
The three started educating builders on what their company had to offer and slowly, their business started to recover. They relied on referrals and reputation and expanded their list of services to include lighting control, home automation, and golf simulators. In 2013, five years after they almost lost it all, the Pirlet’s celebrated paying off their debt with a trip to Jamaica with their two employees and their spouses. Two years after that, they realized another dream: building and opening their very own building. By 2014, Scott had realized his dream of working in his business full time. He now has his hands in all aspects of the company.
“Having been where I have been and realizing where we now make it that much sweeter.”
For Scott and Marci, owning a small business isn’t just a career: it’s a calling. It’s about relationships with the people in their community, creating good-paying jobs, and making a difference.
“It’s not easy, it’s tough. We’ve come full circle and we’re trying to do right by the people who work for us.”
Scott and Marci joined NFIB because it is one of the nation’s strongest and most trusted voices on small business. As hard-working small business owners, they don’t have time to advocate for the issues that keep not only small businesses but the nation’s economy running. They’re relying on NFIB to make sure lawmakers like Senator Thune are informed on issues that will keep small businesses like theirs employing South Dakotans and keeping the South Dakota economy strong.
