Suni McClelland’s company makes disinfectant and other industrial cleaning products, so coronavirus has helped her sales, not hurt.
(Photo courtesy of Razor Chemical)
McClelland is the long-time owner of Razor Chemical, Inc., a North Little Rock-based manufacturer of environmentally friendly cleaners. Her customers are counties, cities, schools, hotels, restaurants, and manufacturing facilities.
She said Razor typically produces 17,000 gallons of its “Razor Citrus III” hospital-grade disinfectant a year. In the eight weeks following the onset of COVID-19, the company produced 7,000 gallons to meet demand.
“We have reached people we had not before, like dentists,” she said.
While her company is on solid footing, McClelland’s concern is for the small businesses harmed by the pandemic.
“I really feel for the small business owners who have worked their butts off. These small businesses are licking their wounds now, but they need to know they can start over, rebuild, and get back on their feet,” she said.
“How do you build your business and sustain it, if you don’t have the money? You need to find resources available at no charge.”
First on McClelland’s list of no-cost business assistance providers: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center.
She is a long-time client of the center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
“I think you guys are awesome. I’ve been around for so long, so I know. The services are just amazing.”
McClelland founded Razor Chemical in 1992 with the late Dennis McCarthy. In 2008, she became the sole owner. Knowing she needed an outside advisor on her team, she began her relationship with the ASBTDC.
Through the years, she has engaged the center to assist her company in many areas, including financial analysis, market research, and online marketing.
Looking back, McClelland sees the benefit of having somewhere to turn for one-on-one advice and topical programs through the ups and downs of developing her business.
Speaking directly to fellow business owners, she says, “You have to grow into your business. ASBTDC helps us do that. It helped me do that. Figure out funding, how to sell, whatever skillsets we need. I just can’t say enough about the resources available.”