The Daily Advertiser from Lafayette, Louisiana • 33

you KN OW? J1 COMING WEDNESDAY Better Business Bureau of Acadiana President Sharane Gob warns graduates to avoid online job scams Page IB What is the www.theaivertiter.cea Suiy. Jin 19, 2IIS Kristy S. Bonner Here at home On to greener pastures KISS principle? The KISS pmciple is a poplar maxim often used hen dtscussmg design to control complexity ol development The traditional expansion ot this acronym is Keep rt Simple, Stupid," according to the Wttupedia the tree encyclopedia at http en wikpedia org The acronym is rarely explained according to the Weo site A euphemistic explanation of Keep It Simple and Straight-forward" also used Another gentler explanation is "Keep rt Other expansions of the acronym rcfude Keep ft Simple and Stuptf lohen used when dtscussng tribal regene), Keep It Smal and Smpie' and Keep ft Short and Simple (a common marketing maxm kx sa-es pfesentatwni). 11m pmc alift appkatte to speeches and other busness Osyouhavea business Of consumw related question you hke answered1 Let us net E-ma guestons to fionner fheeofteef com Oa-jjaB Laws, ciawsetneadve'iisef con- Gate Cov Lafayette is cleaned pnof to being boiled Crawfish time ends Most say season was a success Kristy Bonner kir.nmr srtrt iwrcwn wk wan th- final The drive-thru and sit-down crawfish restaurant plans to re mil i in early t)n-nmpk' a real good ftiijf There were a lot of big crawfish early." Wilkerson said, whirh kept customers coming. "If they're real small in the season, people will wait, While other POSITIVE POINTS Heuma amen Natl ii'tlo tOGBe Pwtt 4 ng Om The mrkfq bated tamnc pertxWJMMgf XX Or ftt Smrtesi ii i i .1..

tliti't si week for Gator Cow to tell boiled crawfish, said owner Jay Vborhles, but, overall. It was a for the Cajun favorite and tot restaurant was able to ge an rtirty ttart manage! fbavcntoipfd. serving crajr- 0llF have, then) Oct- Voortoes stretch th eason out." nC eliifg a a iu' lenaer. Gato.c Covf rhollot. not like during the turn.t to th ft fa lava rrayrfUh 'season, the main sfjaam.

VDorhfes said part ftf the season Durint: "Ponds have beVn done for the main pan of the season, a -little mv a montB. I was we vll anywhere frora able-to uet a royp'le oVuys to 25 sacks i a weeki But pump for nv- for atwut two presently. w- selling. I the cost just got so say, somewhere around outrageous with gas." he sarks a week said Normally. wouldn't There are many stories of an entrepreneurial spirit alive and well in Acadiana.

Several locally owned businesses have strong reputations, and many small start ups are building a devoted clientele. For those still working for someone else, the fantasy of being your own boss may often cross your mind. At a recent event honoring local entrepreneurs, a majority of the crowd was struck with just this thought. As Tom Cox of Golfballs. com waa honored The Times of Acadiana's Business Hall of Fame for his entrepreneurial efforts, he told of how he started his company.

As he shared his story of how he began selling golf-balls over the Internet and is now making millions, whispers could be heard and others were most likely repeating the same sentiment in their heads "Why didn't we think of that?" Many search and search for a get rich-quick idea, but most say it doesji't happen overajght T'ye often "heard lsjness' owners- sa? wvrkipg, leng, hfu'rs -t incauoUng. holidays, tfianbts-? and weekends are almost always invohed, at least in the beginning. Those working for some one else may say. but you get to set your own hours." but is that really the case? Most say no, they work when they are called. The hours set you when you have bills to pay Others say family time and home time become business planning strategy talks or trouhle-shooting meetings.

Desiree Gulllory, who is making her mask with her product. Blue Magnolia Bread" Pudding Said-she is taking her new slow after getting. advice from others who own their, own businesses. Guillory said she has learned that talking to friends and neighbors can be a valuable tool in building a business. Guillory is just beginning to reap the fruits of her hard work.

She shared this advice that she was told along her journey: It doesn't take a good idea to get a business going, it just takes an idea. There is always someone who can take something to the next level and that may be you, she said. Guillory said being passionate about what you are doing is what will make the project a success. Knowing what they know now. would business owners do it all over again? For those owners whose businesses have failed, they may say no.

For those who are successful, the answers may vary, but despite this, many in Acadiana will continue their quest to own their own business. They will continue their search for a product or service to make their mark or at least make enough money to work for themselves. (Kristy S. Bonner is the business editor of The Daily Goto 4www mdMftiutt X9 tdrtHMhaitMeri -wred JwZWBeiiCaytar Sngfes fcrtesMeawne letotsed June 2003 Go lo com LajemsJcrccfaxartati. prjrar 'if3 fhl Mfon for Mcond year trcmauedoneawal character and efccsveness of He aaxMtabUy system The saw 6 $.1 jf as yeafsiartangatfto 7 aaodfig P(onfiev 2903 Go to ww pnocetoc eie com BLSls School of Bustfess ranked among the fop )2 ft the accorjng neu Uaame rnlpnl 2003 Go to entrepreneur oet -The sign at Dwights Restaurant bids crawfish season farewell and thanks customers for helping make it a successful season "It was a good season," said owner Dwight Breaux.

because of availability and price. Dwight's Restaurant started selling crawftsh in December and stopped selling them at the end of May, Brea-ux said This season, a three pound order was selling for 110 to b)Uistana Crawfish Time un Ven School KishI c1(m1 for the season two weeks ago, said owwr Mwaiti Wilkerson sell the Basin crawfish, but we're at the very tail end of it. and I have still people asking for it "Normal! crawfish sea son ruas November to July." Voorhie said During peak months of the season February through April the Gatoi Cove spends between $35,000 and $40,000 a month ontTawfish As crawfish became more plentiful more people started coming in. and Qator Cove droppad its prices "We started out we were 'selling them at $1595 for three pounds, that was when 1 Travis Lejeune of Sunset pulls the tail off of a boiled crawfish Wednesday while eating dinner at Gator Cove in Lafayette. was paying $1.75 a pound." for $9.99 to $10 an order." Vobrhies said." "Once the 'f''i-- price dropped, an order sold See CRAWFISH on Page 4D A Business is jumping for owner Mouton Mary Mouton of Bmux Bridge owns Party Inflatable fourteen She delivers, picks up and maintains the bouncers she rents out with help from her husband and children.

Tlfs is her busy tme of year, and she is pretty much on duty seven days a week Bouncers start at JSS for half a day and all day for SHO. and her company also carries supplies for any occasion, including cotton candy machines, snou cone makers, games, tables, chairs and balloons Mouton has been working for herself for about nine after quitting her job. She spoke with Business Editor Kristy Bonner about the ups and downs of being in her industry. How did you get started in this business? Al needed one for a wedding party, and I couldn't find one So, I got one out of Crowley, and then I told my husband that would be a good business to get into. I waited five years before 1 got into it.

I thought about it in '90, and then 1 got into it in '96. QWhat did you do before you started this business? Al worked at Martin Mills (the Fruit of the Loom factory). I was a seamstress. 1 quit right before (the plant closed). QWhat was the hardest part of going out on your own and starting this business? Al was scared to get in.

I didn't have the finances to go back to. And the responsibility now, I know it's a lot to take on. How competitive is the amusement industry now? Claudia B. Lawsclawstheadvertiser.coin Mary Mouton of Breaux Bridge is the owner of Party Inflatable Bouncers, an amusement company that provides everything from balloons and cotton candy to water slides and giant bouncers like the castle bouncer in which Mouton is jumping. Very competitive.

1 do some H'c mncllv ufntvl Advertiser. Call her at 289-6321 or e-mail kbonner(a, theadiertiser.com.) See MOUTON on Page 4D ot moutn.