Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Biggerstaff. She and her team share their story with us below:
Laura Biggerstaff, owner of IRON ELK, has been in the sales and marketing industry for 36 (thirty-six) years holding positions in sales, marketing, and research with The Greenville News, client services in the safety apparel industry with TECGEN, and in member services with Universal UniLink Purchasing Association.
Laura has strong relationships with top national manufacturers and suppliers in the promotional products, logo apparel, safety apparel, and floor matting sectors. These relationships prompted her to start her own business as a distributor. IRON ELK represents over 60 (sixty) national manufacturers and suppliers.
Many companies are now looking for diverse suppliers. IRON ELK, LLC is a nationally certified woman-owned small business (WBENC and WOSB) and is a certified Woman-Owned business by the Small & Minority Business Contracting & Certification (SMBCC) division in South Carolina.
Courtesy and professionalism are always at the forefront of IRON ELK. We listen to our clients’ needs and offer winning ideas and solutions. Our clients appreciate that we respond quickly and personally to their needs.
IRON ELK has the passion and expertise to help your company grow and the infrastructure to do so.
Laura is also the co-founder of Women Confidence Builders (WCB) in Greenville which is a group of passionate leaders in the community with the mission to educate, mentor, disciple, and empower women AND GIRLS while educating their growth and building confidence.”
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
There are many challenges and struggles I have faced. I didn’t even start the company until I was 56. However, old dogs CAN learn new tricks. Through many hours, days, and months of research and preparation, IRON ELK, LLC was formed. My goal was to set up IRON ELK, get nationally certified as a Woman-Owned Small Business (WBENC & WOSB), and begin bidding on government bids. The bidding process is very complicated so I thought that while I was learning how to do this, I would begin networking. What I found is that people want to do business with me, not necessarily for my products. I have jumped right in helping and supporting young women across the Upstate and joined networking groups that provide a service to the community. Cash flow has always been a concern for me. I have struggled so with understanding what the numbers mean and how they are a snapshot of my company. Recently, I was honored to join the Greenville Chamber’s Minority Business Accelerator (MBA) with a group of 9 other business owners. This is a year-long program that provides all the tools to run our own businesses. We each have a business coach, a financial expert, and three leaders in the community to mentor us with their business knowledge. We are currently learning about the financials of our companies and will have a 3 (three) year business plan by the end of 2022.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about IRON ELK, LLC?
Our nationally certified woman-owned business is all about servicing your needs and helping to grow your unique brand. Whether it’s logo apparel, promotional items, branded safety apparel, or logo mats, we can get what you need, when you need it… with customer service that leaves you wanting more! To be your trusted partner in the growth of your company, locally or nationally, through creative branding and extraordinary customer service.
We listen, we research and we deliver for you
We customize solutions to fit your needs
We have partnered with industry experts to make sure that your company is presented in the best possible light
We stay on top of new products and solutions
We are a certified diverse supplier
We take great care of our customers, full stop!
Our Big Vision: To be the Company that you refer to others!
Certifications and Associations:
WBENC, WOSB, and SMBCC current certifications
Member of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce
Member of Universal UniLink Purchasing Association
Marketing Committee Member of the Skilled Trades Alliance
Co-Chair of Women Confidence Builders – encouraging young women to work in skilled trades
Greater Women’s Business Council – Voice Committee Member
Member of Greer Rotary
2022 MBA Cohort
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I would like IRON ELK, LLC to be the “Gold Standard” in supplier diversity. IRON ELK is positioned to be THE resource for safety apparel, personal protection equipment, floor matting, promotional products, uniforms, logo apparel and signs, banners, and displays for companies that have supplier diversity goals. Companies are realizing the importance of creating supplier diversity programs within their companies and we want to be right there to help them achieve their goals!
Contact Info:
- Email: sales@ironelk.com
- Website: https://www.ironelk.com/
- Facebook: @IronElkGVL
