Business notebook: Woman harnesses her energy

STERLING ? Sarah Egan had a hard time finding fancy, colorful collars large enough for her 2-year-old Great Dane, Spirits.

So she founded The Collar Co. a couple of months ago, and started making collars for big dogs. Now she makes them for smaller dogs, too.

?We can?t leave anyone out,? she said.

Egan 28, a Walnut native now living in Rock Falls, uses a stainless steel buckle with a release on the side. They last longer than plastic ones, she said.

Most of her collars are being sold at Tuff Dog Bakery, 7 E. Third St. in Sterling.

?Her work is spectacular,? Tuff Dog owner Vicki Mandrell said, adding that her bakery sold four collars in the first couple of days.

Egan?s large collars, for dogs that weigh 80 pounds or more, are 18 to 25 inches long and an inch wide. Her medium collars are 15 to 20 inches, and her small ones are 12 to 16 inches. Prices range from $13.50 to $16.50.

She?s working on even smaller collars, 8 to 10 inches, for smaller breeds such as toy dogs. She sells matching leashes, too.

Contact her at 815-631-5542 or thecollarcompany@gmail.com for special orders or more information.

Self Help Enterprises expands

STERLING ? The recycling program at Self Help Enterprises is rearranging and expanding, its executive director said.

A new building should be completed by mid-August, Executive Director Carla Haubrich said. It will house the baled cardboard, paper and books.

The current storage facility then will be devoted to Self Help?s newest recycling product, electronics.

The nonprofit, which trains and gives jobs to people with developmental disabilities, started accepting items like calculators, cameras, DVDs and computers in February, following the implementation of a new law that makes it illegal for electronics to be put out to the curb with the regular garbage.

Electronics, as well as paper products and aluminum cans, can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at Self Help, 2300 W. LeFevre Road. For more information, call 815-626-3115.

Have a business tip? Let us know. Email SVM reporters Bridget Flynn, bflynn@saukvalley.com or Emily Coleman, ecoleman@saukvalley.com, or call 800-798-4085, ext. 521 or 526.

Source: http://www.saukvalley.com/2012/07/09/business-notebook-woman-harnesses-her-energy/aeq2cmp/

west virginia rob roy gaslight justin timberlake michael dyer bachmann bachmann