President George W. Bush got an education about the linen rental business two weeks ago thanks to Angela Klodnick and Deidre Dockman, founders of Valley View, Ohio-based L’Nique Specialty Linen Rental. Along with a handful of other small-business owners, they spoke with the president about how his tax cut program has helped L’Nique expand its operations.
The Bush team found L’Nique through a trade association for small business. The tax cut package started by the president during his first term is scheduled to expire by 2010; the Bush Administration is attempting to make the cuts permanent.
At the meeting, held at a local restaurant, the pair described how they started their business in Klodnick’s house “until all the space was taken up by tablecloths, and we knew we had to move,” Klodnick explains. “He commented that it sounded like the real American Dream.”
She continues: “I then told him about our rapid growth from moving from the house to the 5,000-square-foot warehouse where we dreamed of owning our own building within five years. I mentioned that we never thought it would be possible in such a short time. But because of his tax cuts--specifically the increased expense reduction, [about which husband and accountant] Keith prompted us of course!--we were able to save almost $40,000 over the past two years. I told him that last year when we got the keys to our building, we joked that we should thank President Bush for the tax cuts, because without them, we would not have been able to save enough money for our down payment or buy all the new equipment that we needed for the new building. I also told him that we hired four new employees last year and have already hired two this year with the hopes of hiring more by the year end.”
She adds, “I know all businesses are different, but for L’Nique, this theory actually worked for us, and we have grown faster than expected.”
