Rod Adams founded R & S Equipment, Inc. in 2001 after nearly 20 yearsof experience as a small engine mechanic and managing service centers for several local businesses. After years of running a business for someone else, Rod realized he should try being his own boss. R & S Equipment, Inc. is a family owned and operated business servicing small engine equipment and selling parts. Soon after opening his storefront, Rod decided that in order to grow his business and expand his customer base, he should start selling his products online. That’s when he launched outdoorpowerdeals.com.

Motorcycle enthusiast and economist Travis Baird started SpeedOutfitters shortly after finishing college in 2004. The business started with a mere $3500 and Travis as the sole employee. Travis started SpeedOutfitters as a traditional retail store named Baird Motorcycles, before expanding to online sales. From parts and accessories to apparel, SpeedOutfitters can satisfy all of its customers’ street and off-road motorcycling and power-sport needs.

Tire Net USA was founded in 2006, after co-owners Wes Myers & Michelle McConnon discovered a need in the tire industry for a business that sells discontinued inventory tires for vehicles ranging anywhere from light trucks, to passenger cars to performance and racing vehicles. The business started small, exclusively selling odd sized and hard to find tires in the marketplace, but grew very quickly increasing from 20 eBay listings to 1,000 in a very short amount of time.

After working for General Motors for 30 years, Frederick Krause retired and started his own brick and mortar computer repair shop, ATR Computers, in 1999. Competition was fierce and it was difficult to keep the company afloat solely through brick and mortar sales, so Fred decided to try his luck selling items online on the eBay platform. He now credits the move to online retail with saving his business. Since 2005, ATR Computers has experienced steady growth.

Brian Robinson has lived in the Canton, Ohio area most his entire life, and earned his first job in the area when he was just 15 years old. Brian started in the music business in 1992, and the company he was working for began going under in 2004, he started looking for a new job. Ultimately, he decided to follow his entrepreneurial aspirations by starting his ownbusiness. In 2004 The Music Farm was born.