Contestant's Case to Win

My home-based business Lava Cable should be seriuosly considered as winner of the 2009 Home-Based 100 competition for the following reasons:

1. I am veteran-owned business(I am currently an active duty Army Major) that has successfully capitalized on a niche' market within the music industry - making custom audio (guitar, speaker and microphone cables) to order by uniquely bringing multiple brands under one roof and providing my customers with a wide variety of choices that are differentiated by price and design(most other small companies in this are focus just on one product)As result of doing this, I have now sold more 35,000 cables to more than 60 countries, and have more than 100 dealers world-wide since my company started in 2005. My company is currently selling more 1200 cables monthly. Base on current sales figures for 2009, I expect to have gross revenues in high 6-figures this year.

2. As a result of my experience with multiple brands of cable from various countries I have designed my own unique "Lava" brand of cable products that includes the best solder-free mono plug and cable combination for guitars on the market as well as six of my own cables that the bulk cable is made at three seperate factories in the United States.

3. Lava Cable is lean with high profit margins. I have only three employees and my average profit margin on all products is above 55% gross with numerous products being above 75% gross.

4. Lava Cable is debt free. By opertaing lean and with high margins my company has good cash flow and ability to continously purchase inventory and advertising.

5. Lava Cable has maximized the Web in building business by developing a world-class website, using PayPal and going to where my potential customers are daily - multiple music forums and actively participating. As a result, my Google rank for the serch term "high end guitar cable is #1 and for the search terms "guitar cable" or "guitar cables" I am usually in the top 5 on the first page.

6. Lava Cable is leveraging another company - G&H Industries Inc. (Audio plug manufacturer) as an assmebly house to make and ship dealer orders so custom shop direct sale manufacturing is not adversly affected.

7. Lava Cable has used advertising and Trade Show (NAMM) attendance to build brand and product awareness. The company has now run full-page color ads in all the Major Music Magazines (Current issue of Guitar World has full page ad) and has a had a booth at the last four NAMM shows.

Bottom line: I believe my business is doing all the right things to grow. Three months ago, I hired a full-time sales manager who works out his home another state and we are adding an average of five new dealers a week, while website direct sales have remained consistent and grown during this down-turned economy. I fully expect to do more than $1,000,000 in gross revenue in 2010 and maintain that for many years to come as my dealer base grows.

Mark Stoddard
Owner
Lava Cable
(910) 797-7214
mark@lavacable.com
www.lavacable.com