From School Project to Growing Business

While running her husband’s chiropractic office and homeschooling her teenage son, Tiffany Steel got an idea. She wanted to find a business in which her 17 year old son could incorporate his photography, adding an element to his learning that could become the foundation for his future career.

When they first discovered inventory programs during an online search, it was obvious to them that it would be a valuable tool for insurance purposes. Belongings could be photographed, inventoried, stored and made available in case of any disaster that required a claim for reimbursement. What they didn’t realize was what a small facet of the business that arena would ultimately be, or how much potential they had in this “school project.”

“This was something we could do together, and we have a very close-knit family,” said Tiffany. “It’s very overwhelming initially from not doing anything for so many years and literally starting from ground zero. There were so many different avenues. What do you do first?”

They purchased the software and began forming their business plan. With a background in marketing and a degree in architecture, Tiffany was no stranger to professional business elements, but she soon realized how much the business world had evolved.

It was at this time that she happened to meet Collaboration consultant, Steve Thomson. Their paths continued to cross and she took it as a sign, bringing him on board to get Comprehensive Inventory Solutions LLC up and running.

“It’s been a wonderful experience. It’s been like a snowball effect – a great thing,” she excitedly reported. One of the first things she learned was how critical her strategic partnerships would be for the business, and how to begin building those relationships.

“When I graduated there were certainly no networking groups. I can get up and I can speak one on one to anybody all day long. Put me in front of a crowd, which is actually what happened at the first networking group I went to, I was like a deer in the headlights. ‘You want me to speak about what?’ Even though you know it, this is your dream, this is what you want to do and this is how you want to carry it out. It was hard in that initial situation.”

Beyond insurance agents, she’s discovered attorneys, estate planners and appraisers have a need for their services – virtually any circumstance in which personal property is concerned.

“Any time a bank comes into a foreclosed property they have to inventory everything that was left there, both residential and commercial. There are so many avenues past the insurance agent,” she explained.

As Tiffany continues her work with Steve, she said she has a vision for her business in the long run.

“I will grow it as large as I possibly can. I would love to be able to grow this to the point where I can tell my husband, ‘you’re done’ and pass it on to my son. In my mind, I can see it there,” she stated with confidence.