T.W. BUDIG JOHN GESSNER LAURA ADELMANN
Sen. Amy Klobuchar sees new civility 2A Walmart scoping out Burnsville 6A Grow Farmington plants seeds 44A
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DATE ##, 2009 FEBRUARY 17, 2011
VOLUME 30, NUMBER # VOLUME 31, NUMBER 51
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INSIDE BIZ FORUM
Business leaders from Rochester and other areas understand the value of Gov. Dayton’s proposed bonding bill. 4A
DANE SMITH FORUM
Entrepreneur brings Games2U by Stacey Ackerman DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
After having entrepreneurial dreams for years, the opportunity was finally right for Jim Sadlovsky of Inver Grove Heights, to launch his own business. Sadlovsky, who worked as a certified inspector for nuclear power plants, bridges and refineries for 19 years, inspected a lot of businesses before purchasing his Games2U franchise in late 2009 and opening it in April 2010. “I was looking for my own business for a long time,� he said. “I’ve always been an entrepreneur at heart. Timing was key. I was ready to move into something.� Sadlovsky knew he didn’t want a traditional brick and mortar business with a lot of employees to manage. He also didn’t want to be confined to an office since he was used to being on the road all of the time as an inspector. “I was initially turned off by franchises because I felt like I’d be buying myself a job,� Sadlovsky said. “However, a franchise is a great thing – you have a backbone.� Sadlovsky discovered Games2U after reading about it in a
In Brief
For more information or to book a party, visit www.g2u.com or contact Jim or Jen at (651) 454-1451.
business article. It is a mobile entertainment company that brings high-tech gaming to birthday parties, nonprofit events and corporate f u n c tions.
Customers can choose from a variety of entertainment options such as the Games 2U specialties such as the Giant Hamster Ball, B o o g e r Wa r s , Fo a m
Machine and Candy Cannon. He can supply a video game theater or outdoor laser tag. Other multi-media options include a satellite TV system that hooks up to a giant external flat-screen TV for projecting movies, XBox 360 or Wii games outdoors. All of the games are delivered to parties with a Games2U party van, which is climate-controlled and has screens inside and out. The business is run by Sadlovsky and his wife, Jen, along with a part-time marketer and six other part-time employees. “3D gaming is starting to break in 2011,� Sadlovsky said. He said he feels confident he purchased the right business at the right time based on consumer trends. “People still spend money on their kids’ birthday parties, even in a down economy,� he said. Sadlovsky’s business is the only franchise in Minnesota and the surrounding ones, with the closest location being in Kansas City. His territory includes Dakota County and the Eden Prairie area, but he hopes to purchase more territories in the future. Games2U is rated one of the Top 10 Franchises by Inc.
The federal system of taxation is complicated and unduly burdens businesses that would otherwise add jobs. CHRIS 4A ANDRYSKI BUSINESS 101
Knowing the three levels of conversation will help when having diff icult discussions in the workplace. HAROLD 5A TORRENCE CAPITOL COMMERCE
MARK DAYTON
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Gov. Mark Dayton calls for shared sacrif ice in his f irst State of the State Address at the Capitol. 10A
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See Games2U, Page 6A