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Cellular & Satellite Warehouse
Ben Thomas, Owners
Fort Smith, Arkansas

In 2002, Ben Thomas, a Fort Smith entrepreneur, received some surprising news. His company, Cellular & Satellite Warehouse, had been recognized as one of the top 75 Dish Network retailers in the entire nation. Not bad for a business less than a decade old.

Thomas and his partner began their business venture with an AT&T wireless retail store in Fort Smith with just four employees in 1995. With an SBA loan, they opened a second store in Springdale the following year. By 2004, they had 10 Arkansas locations and 60 employees. The addition of Dish and Direct TV sales and installations had business booming.

In early 2004, Thomas met with Vonelle Vanzant, Center Director at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith SBDC, for assistance in preparing a loan proposal. Referred by Bank of the Ozarks, Thomas wanted to buy out his partner's interest in the business and protect the company's access to its line of credit. Vanzant worked with Thomas and the company's Controller, Bill Kibler. Kibler, confident in Cellular & Satellite Warehouse's ability to grow, invested personal funds to assist in the buyout. Thomas presented the loan proposal to the Bank of the Ozarks in Fort Smith. All parties agreed to the terms, completing the transaction. The company met all its 2004 goals and was once again recognized as one of the top 75 Dish Network retailers in the nation.

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration through a partnership with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock College of Business and other institutions of higher education. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. It is the goal of UALR to eliminate discriminatory harassment and to promote equal opportunity regardless of race, gender, color, national origin, sexual orientation, age, religion, veteran's status, or disability.