THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 30, 1995 TAG: 9501280148
SECTION: BUSINESS WEEKLY PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JANET DUNPHY, SPECIAL TO BUSINESS WEEKLY
LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
Portsmouth wholesaler Daniel R. Evans wants to deliver a message to Washington: Ease up on burdensome regulations.
Evans may well get the opportunity this summer. He's one of 45 Virginia delegates to the White House Conference on Small Business.
Established to give small business a voice in national affairs, the conference intends to convene 2,500 delegates from throughout the nation in Washington in June to iron out specific recommendations for lawmakers.
While the delegates have their individual reasons for taking part in the conference, Evans himself seems to stand out as a reminder. Rules and regulations influence business conduct.
In fact, Evans said he wonders about the difficulty of starting a business in this era of overlapping regulations.
Participating in the conference is a natural step for Evans, whose 42-year-old appliance parts business in Portsmouth is owned by himself, his brother and his sister. Evans Inc.'s sales were $6 million in 1993.
For years, Evans eagerly has written letters to local, state and national lawmakers, stating his opinion on matters that ``hit my hot button.''
Many of his concerns mirror those on the task force agenda. They range from community development and taxation to paperwork and the environment.
``I would like to see 75 percent of our items taken up by Congress,'' he said, adding that some 43 percent of the items presented at a similar conference in 1986 were considered.
Personally, he is concerned about health care reform and mandates that could put many small businesses, excluding his own, out of business.
Evans, who calls himself a lifelong Republican, also complained about tax laws that change often. He likes a flat tax on all income.
On the state level, he favored Disney's plans for a proposed theme park because of the employment opportunities and increased revenue for Virginia. Locally, he opposes riverboat gambling, saying the money spent in casinos would provide larger benefits in the community if it were spent among small businesses in town.
Evans wondered how the rules and regulations would have affected his father when he was building the business years ago. ``Government regulation has become a large part of our life,'' said Evans, 39.
In November, for example, a Environmental Protection Agency rule further regulated refrigerants.
As a result, the cost of the refrigerant has doubled and homeowners could see the cost of an air conditioning service call go up $100, he said.
Founded originally as a service company, George Evans used to take the ferry to Norfolk to buy parts for his calls.
By purchasing extras to save time in the future he eventually built up his stock. The parts business resulted. The service side of the business was sold in 1972.
Today 89 percent of the business is wholesale and the rest is walk-in or retail. Evans ships 300 to 400 packages a day, guaranteeing next-day delivery to his customers.
``Every order every day is our motto,'' said Evans, who attributes his success in part to speedy service. ``We've made a commitment that regardless of how large we grow we'll still offer next-day delivery.''
Once he gets into something he wants to do the best he can,'' said Bert Sumner, a friend for 30 years. ``He's always thinking and looking for something better, to improve.''
Charles Smith of Smith Appliance has been buying parts from Evans Inc. for 25 years.
``I used to buy parts from a lot of different distributors but now I just buy from Evans if he has what I need. He treats me better and stands behind the parts better,'' said Smith.
Evans Inc. comprises a small storefront and an adjacent 35,000-square-foot warehouse. Evans admits that Richmond would probably be more central to the states he serves, including Maryland, Delaware and West Virginia, but he prefers Portsmouth. ``It's paid for,'' he said.
With three local offices as well as one in Richmond, Evans employs 51 people. A year ago, Evans consulted his employees before buying a Norfolk competitor, Wholesale Parts Distribution. The purchase enabled him to add two additional lines, Whirlpool and Frigidaire.
``I gathered them in the office and had them vote,'' remembers Evans. ``I had to have them behind me. As we grow we have to have managers to put in other locations. They're a part of it.''
Evans says he will expand to other Virginia cities once the $900,000 debt from last year's acquisition is paid off. MEMO: Tidewater delegates to the White House Conference on Small Business
were appointed by state officials, or elected at a Dec. 6 meeting
attended by more than 400 people in the Cavalier Hotel in Virginia
Beach. Delegates and alternate delegates include:
Daniel J. Arris, Hilb Rogal & Hamilton Co. of Tidewater, Virginia
Beach; Jim Baur, Lips Propellers Inc., Chesapeake; John Beaulieu,
Horizon Aviation, Chesapeake.
Also, Curtis Cole Jr., Curtex Construction Corp., Norfolk; Rowena J.
Fullinwider, Rowena's Inc., Norfolk; John E. Greenhalgh, Green &
Associates Inc., Virginia Beach.
Also, Robert J. Keogh, Heritage Bank & Trust, Norfolk; Cathy
Ratcliff, Photography by David, Chesapeake; Charles B. Whitehurst Sr.,
Home Savings Bank, Norfolk. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Daniel R. Evans owns a family appliance business in Portsmouth.
:wq! d PORTSMOUTH by CNB