Cash Course
Eileen Rogers, 41
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Allegra Print &
Imaging When Eileen Rogers first entered the Allegra Print & Imaging
center in Scottsdale, Arizona, her only intention was to make
copies of her resume. A recent graduate of the University of
Wisconsin, Rogers had just moved to Arizona and was looking for
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The then-owner of the center was looking for a salesperson and
partner to help grow the company, and Rogers fit the bill. She
began working at the center and, within a short time, set up a
sweat equity agreement to earn a percentage of the business.
"If I got sales up to a certain level in a certain amount of
time, I could buy 10 percent, and then I had an option on the next
10 percent," Rogers explains. She continued accruing
percentages of the business until 1996, when she bought out the
remainder of her aging partner's shares. Content Continues Below
When Rogers began working at the center, there were a few things
she needed to learn. "I didn't know the difference between
printing and copying, or anything about the technical or production
aspect of the company," she explains. "What I did know
was I enjoyed helping people, and sales are very natural for
me." Rogers did learn how to operate the technical side of the
business, and though she now focuses on her sales and customer
relations strengths, "understanding the production process
turns out to be an advantage at this point," she says. "I
no longer have to do it, but I'm able to relate with the staff
that does."
"What I've
built is not so much a graphic design and printing company. What
I've built is a vehicle for my life."
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Rogers is also pleased to relate to the people and organizations
within her community. Each year, her Allegra center makes donations
of supplies and printing services to local charities and nonprofit
organizations. In 1999, the store created the Baby Drive, a holiday
event that collects diapers and other baby products for homeless
families and domestic violence victims. Last year, $14,000 worth of
items, including 20,000 diapers, were collected. This year, the
store is hoping to collect 50,000 diapers. Rogers was given the Athena Award last year by the Greater
Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. "That was probably the moment in
my career when I felt the most successful," she says.
"Being recognized by peers and others in the community for not
only being a good businessperson, but mentoring women and serving
the community, that's such a big part of my life in this
company." And Rogers is grateful for the lifestyle this
$1.65-million-grossing franchise has awarded her, including a
recent trip to Chile and two dogs, three cats and a fish.
"What I've built is not so much a graphic design and
printing company," she says. "What I've built is a
vehicle for my life." Contact Sources - Servpro of Champaign-Urbana
3813 N. Cunningham, Urbana, IL 61802
Originally published in the August 2001 issue of Entrepreneur Magazine
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