Semi-finalist Q&A: All-American Fencing Academy

The All-American Fencing Academy provides recreational and competitive fencing training as well as facilities and equipment for the life-long sport of fencing.

Information from their grant application is available here. Read below for more, and if you have questions for our semi-finalists don't hesitate to ask them in the comments section.

Also, don't forget to cast your vote! YOUR vote will determine which entrepreneurs most deserve to be amongst the finalists.

How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I started fencing in college (UNC-Chapel Hill) and fenced on the Division I NCAA fencing team. After graduation, I moved back to Fayetteville, where there were no fencing clubs. To keep up a hobby, I had to start my own club. It started with a few fencers here and there, and eventually started to grow. We eventually took the initiative to make it an LLC and opened a new location dedicated to teaching new fencers and training competitive fencers.

What do you love most about running your own business?
There's a part of me that says, "I love owning a business"...and that's it. It's part of the American Dream. It's something that I and a friend built from the ground up and we are able to keep it going. It's something that we can say that we worked hard to create and keep successful and pass on our knowledge.

What makes your business unique?
Fencing itself is unique. Add the fact that it is the only fencing club in Fayetteville and within an almost 2 hour radius. It makes our competition pretty slim. It's an activity that draws children and adults alike. Someone once asked my business partner why he and other people start fencing. He responded with what I think is the best and most truthful answer, "Because when we were kids, at some point in our life, 'we played swords'."

What are some of your top business-related accomplishments, or business lessons learned?
One of our top business-related accomplishments include taking on a new coach and employee. Largely the business was volunteer run by myself and another business partner. Then in August 2009, we decided to hire a part-time coach and expand our business outside our doors and increase the operating hours. It's been meagerly profitable, but we are able to extend the reach of fencing to more students who might not have had the opportunity to fence. I have learned to creatively market and advertise my program without spending a dime. To date, I can honestly say that the All-American Fencing Academy has effectively marketed our program without paid advertising.

Why should the Idea Cafe regulars vote for you?
Because we were runner up the last time we entered this competition? No, that's not a good answer. Because we've worked hard to make sure that our patrons and not the business owners benefit and earn the most through our business. We're teaching our students life long skills and sending students to fence in college. As the business owner, I still don't have a take home pay check (sometimes I use income to put a little extra gas in the truck and get some lunch). Our only paid staff is our part-time coach and we try to use our profits to make sure we have the training, equipment and facility to provide the best teaching and training atmosphere for our students. The grant money will immediately go to equipment that our fencers can use nightly.