Entrepreneur: Stuart Foreman, Senior at UNCW

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:51:16 +0000

Stuart Foreman, 22, Senior, Entrepreneurship Major

High Speed Welding

Q: What is High Speed Welding?
High Speed Welding is a custom aluminum welding company. We specialize in aluminum welding such as truck ladder racks, marine products, and handrails.
Q: How did you end up in the aluminum welding business?
During high school I took a welding course that required a welding internship. The company I interned with ended up giving me a job. Later, I worked for Spencer Yachts from graduation of high school until my start at UNCW. I then started High Speed Welding based in Wilmington.
Q: What made you decide to break off on your own?
I had some unique product ideas that no one else in this area was doing. My main idea was for the production of custom ladder racks for trucks that I ended up calling RyderRacks.
Q: How did you get your business started?
I started out in my garage fabricating mainly RyderRacks and smaller custom modifications. After 2 years I bought a shop off of Gordon Rd which has given me more room to grow my business and expand beyond RyderRacks.
Q: How’s business?
Business is great, I’ve sold over 200 RyderRacks that I have shipped nationwide everywhere from California to Florida to Canada. I currently have one full time employee. Having the extra help makes my life much easier (no more long nights or weekends). I’m actually planning to hire another full time welder and a marketing intern within the next couple of weeks.
Q: Where do you see yourself and High Speed Welding in 5 years? I see myself sitting in my office overlooking a bigger and better shop. As for High Speed Welding, I see several new markets, products and employees.

Article by David Bowden
Photos by Jay Tomlin

Entrepreneurs: Lane Dietz & Josh Cleghorn with Surfside Takeout Express

admin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:40:21 +0000

By Amanda Cavenaugh-Smith
Have you ever been relaxing or watching movies and wished that you could get takeout from one of your favorite restaurants without having to leave home? With a little help from the guys at Surfside Takeout Express, Wilmington now has that option.
Surfside Takeout Express is the creation of two young Wilmington entrepreneurs, Josh Cleghorn and Lane Dietz, and is refreshing alternative to pizza. It allows Wilmington residents to order food from local restaurants and have it delivered right to their door.
Ordering from Surfside Takeout is a simple three step process. Customers simply call or go online, select items from the menus provided, and pay. The cost of the service is only $5.00, no matter how large the order, and the food is delivered within a reasonable thirty to sixty minutes.
This innovative business idea is a juxtaposition of Josh and Lane’s prior endeavors.
“I had a business called Surfside Snacks, delivering drinks and snacks to construction sites and [Lane] had an errands service” Josh explained.
Ultimately, the guys at Surfside Takeout Express want to improve the local business economy, while providing a valuable service to Wilmington residents.
“Everywhere this happens it’s real successful and it benefits everyone, from the businesses to the community,” explains Lane.
The service allows restaurants to function to their full capacity, while adding a new twist to Wilmington dining.
“There is to-go food or in room dining. We are adding one more aspect to the whole experience,” Josh explained.
Surfside Takeout Express also offers more to the community than just convenience. It provides options for Wilmington residents that are unable to leave home.
“We have one customer who has her spine fused and can’t go out to eat. Once she found out about us she was ecstatic.”
UNCW students can benefit from the service as well. Whether students are stuck studying for exams or parting just a little to hard to leave campus, Surfside provides them with a quick and safe way to beat hunger.
But satisfied cravings is not the only thing Surfside and its creators have to offer students. Their business model demonstrates to young people that initiative and innovation are important elements of success, regardless of age.
As Lane explains, “You don’t have to fit in the mold to be successful. You just have to think of a demand that needs to filled or a problem that needs to be solved.”

Surfside Takeout Express
(910) 547-8883
www.SurfsideXpress.com

TWP Magazine » Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneur: Stuart Foreman, Senior at UNCW

Entrepreneurs: Lane Dietz & Josh Cleghorn with Surfside Takeout Express