Fighting Through COVID-19 and Other Crises

Situation

• In 2004, Rhonda Hatfield and her husband Tim opened Little Scholars, Inc. childcare center in Louisville, KY.
• The childcare industry is highly fragmented, labor-intensive and very competitive. Cash flow must be well monitored and managed.
• Management skills required to start a business are different from those needed to grow a business with more employees & obligations.
• In 2013, Rhonda sold the childcare business and began searching for her next entrepreneurial voyage. 
• Rhonda opened Blue Halo Med Spa in 2014, a day spa that offers a customized program, including wellness services for its patrons.
• In 2020, Blue Halo Med Spa was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Solution: How the SBA Helped

• In March 2020, Rhonda applied for SBA loans specifically for COVID-19.
• Rhonda Hatfield had used the Louisville SBDC office for budgeting, management and marketing assistance in 2003 and still does.
• The SBDC provide Rhonda with guidance as her first location evolved. They were successful and opened a second location in 2007.
• Rhonda had obtained an SBA 504 loan to renovate the first childcare center in 2003, a second 504 loan in 2007 to build out that location and an SBA ARC loan in 2009 to assist with cash flow challenges caused by the Great Recession.
• Rhonda also got an SBA Express Loan in 2015 for building improvements and equipment before opening Blue Halo Med Spa.
• They offer injectables, liposuction, CoolSculpting®, skin resurfacing and skin tightening, laser hair removal, facials, massages, body treatments and more.

Successful Impact/ Outcome

• The new med spa was going so well that Rhonda Hatfield had planned a second location and had paid off the SBA Express Loan.
• However, due to COVID-19, the Hatfields had to close their med spa for months.
• They did obtain and SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan from Stock Yards Bank, an SBA experienced SBA lender.
• With the PPP, they have brought some employees back to work and will bring the rest back soon, and they plan to hire two more.
• They also applied for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance grant for their business due to the COVID pandemic.
• Rhonda commented on that experienced: “Benjamin Allgeier, our Loan Officer at Stock Yards, was amazing. He and their team worked around the clock to help us and so many other small businesses.
• She continued, “I mean this from the bottom of my heart. The SBA and SBDC resources made all the difference in our success. I will be forever grateful!”
• Despite these challenges and the severe downturn in the economy from 2009 – 2011, their childcare business was sold for a substantial profit in 2012.
• The spa industry is also fragmented and labor intensive, but profit margins can be substantially higher than those in the childcare industry.
• Rhonda took the lessons learned in managing and leading a childcare center that focused on quality programs for Blue Halo Med Spa.
• She also graduated from the SBA Emerging Leaders program in 2018. The initiative is designed for small businesses poised for growth.
• Rhonda, Tim and their team have been actively involved in many community projects, including Dare to Care; the Heart Association; neighborhood festivals; collections for children with cancer; and support to disadvantaged families and military veterans.