Owner/President: Barbara A. Graham
Company: Barbara Graham & Associates, LLC d/b/a Dollars & Sense
Address:
The Shops on Blue Parkway
4401 E. 50th Terrace
Kansas City, MO 64130
Phone: (816) 924-2219
E-Mail:
Type of Business: Retail Sales & Distributor of general merchandise

The Business: Dollars & Sense is an upscale dollar plus dollar store that specializes in offering something for everyone. The product line includes balloon bouquets, party supplies, paper products, cleaning and laundry products, toiletries, framed art, household decorating items, gift bags and gifts for all occasions. We also specialize in handling bulk ordering of party supplies for large events.

Dollars & Sense is a certified MBE/WBE company that is actively pursuing purchasing contracts in the public and private sectors. The company is a supplier of general merchandise and uses more than a hundred distributors nationwide to provide a variety of products at reasonable prices. If we don't have it, we try to find it.

Challenge: It is difficult to find adequate time in my busy schedule to assemble all the supporting documentation required for certification applications. It's also difficult to find time to network and follow up with prospective leads.

Advice: First seek certification through the MidAmerica Minority Business Development Council to decrease the time and requirements of certification from other agencies. I was not aware of this prior to starting the process.

Motivation: My many years of experience in corporate America, as well as my active affiliations with several organizations, prepared me to multi-task. Being an entrepreneur is a constant state of fast-paced learning and readjustments. The ability to trust in the value of teamwork and empower my managers to work to their fullest potential has been a key element. It allows me the opportunity to focus on the administrative, marketing and growth aspects of the business.