LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The city of Louisville is helping one man help others clean up thanks to the city's Economic Development Alliance.
Pail 2 Compare on 7th Street Road was started about six years ago by Terrance Qualls, who moved into a new location a month ago. He credits the help from the city with helping him get to where he is.
Qualls sells detergent, soap for everything you own. His journey as a business owner started six years ago, when he ran out of laundry detergent. He had bought a 5-gallon pail of laundry detergent from a friend and couldn't find anyone locally that sold detergent in that size.
"And I got to thinkin' well, let me see if I can’t find these laundry detergent containers on my own,” said Qualls.
He met with a distributor and started selling detergent and other cleaning products from the back of a van. His business started to take off.
"Word of mouth, we started telling people we had this soap available, started giving out samples, people were impressed with the product and then they started purchasing and as they did they started telling friends and neighbors, family members and the word of mouth just started me a business,” said Qualls
The business was growing, but not fast enough. One night while scrolling through social media, he found the Louisville Economic Development Alliance.
He attended one of their meetings where he said he met Gigi Talbott, whose Small Business Support group from the EDA coached him.
"So we help people maneuver Metro, whether it is codes and (regulations), or (getting) connected to Louisville Metro Revenue Commission and as a new business, setting up those tax accounts and things of that nature," said Talbott.
It was the encouragement and direction he needed.
“I would probably still be selling out of my vehicle," said Qualls. "Yes, this is how this initially started, selling laundry detergent out of the back of my van, and it progresses to me selling and saving my money to get an establishment.”
His new location opened to customers two weeks ago and, like clockwork, during his interview with WDRB, a longtime customer came in for detergent. Once the sale was complete, Qualls gave a quick tour of his inventory. He does everything in the store.
"This is a one-man operation. For right now, I am the CEO, the secretary, the maintenance man, I am the gardener I'm the plumber," he laughs. "The roofer, I’m every man ... I’m the man."
He told WDRB he has financed the entire operation on his own. The city does have financing for small business owners for things like façade improvements or a new sign. Qualls has priced the cost of new signs, and Talbott said he would be a great candidate for a loan from the city.
The Louisville Economic Development Alliance offers the METCO Loan Program, which provides small businesses and commercial property loans for expanding business in Jefferson County. Leaders said that while Qualls has not applied for a METCO loan, he has received services from the Small Business Team, including connecting him to other resource partners.
Some organizations that have received funding from the programs include AMPED, Metro United Way, LHOME, Louisville Urban League and the UofL Digital Transformation Center.
To learn more about the Economic Development Alliance's Small Business Support group, click here. To learn more about the city's METCO loans, click here.
Previous Coverage:
- First Black-owned pharmacy in 100 years opening in west Louisville this summer
- 'It's great' | Louisville small businesses taking advantage of loans provided by the city
- Metro Louisville expands small business and commercial renovation loans
- Louisville Metro announces additional funding for Black, minority-owned businesses in fiscal budget
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