from TXDOT Roadlines Newsletter – April 2008 Edition:
HB Equipment Company was founded by Harold Barker in 1989 in Houston, Texas. The company provides property owners with a variety of maintenance services as well as materials storage/handling equipment. They also distribute new and used warehouse storage products for commercial, wholesale and manufacturers. HB Equipment Company has earned an excellent reputation over the years by offering good value and outstanding customer service.
When Mr. Barker was approached by Design2Train, a Houston-based TAP provider, he was somewhat skeptical at first. The offer of free business consulting and training just
sounded too good to be true, but once he committed to the program, he discovered the TAP services were just what he needed to get his business back on track.
He recently remarked to Autumn Harrison, TAP Program Manager, that “TAP was a blessing to his business.” Since receivingthe TAP training services, HB Equipment has experienced significant growth and Mr. Barker’s motivation to sell has been reinvigorated.
The TAP computer services he requested provided him a manageable blog-based Web site he could update on his own, a new online Quick Quote system to provide customer requests immediately to his e-mail box and search engine optimization (SEO) services to move his Web site up in the Google rankings.
And he received a new logo to help brand his Web site and marketing materials. You are greeted with Mr. Barker’s voice welcoming you when you access his Web site. The first week his Web site went live, he co-authored an article that placed his company on page one of the Google search for the highly competitive terms “power wash Houston.” The article is still live months later, pulling in new customers each week.
Other TAP services HB Equipment received included: creating a business and marketing plan, new business flyers, online advertisements in Yahoo Local, Google Local and
Craigslist. Mr. Barker can now direct clients to his Web site to view or download his brochures and the informative company capability statement. “I can honestly say that the help I received from the TAP services has saved my business. It has allowed me to find and respond to new and established clients without actually having to visit them in person. The Web service is also there 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
“Thank you, TAP and Ms. Miller, for allowing me to participate in this wonderful program/opportunity. It has trulym been a blessing and a God send.” – Harold J. Barker