Alternative Custom Crating of Polk County

When Timothy Bowser first started his business in 2000, he started in his garage with a saw he borrowed. Today, Bowser services an area of about 100 miles and operates Alternative Custom Crating in a 20,000 square foot warehouse, based in Lakeland.

To Bowser, success isn’t just measured by this expansion, but also by the company culture he has built for his six employees, whom he calls family.

“Every Friday everybody goes home happy,” Bowser said. “They get more than enough to take care of their families and I’m happy at the end of the day as well.”

A loan officer referred Bowser to the Florida SBDC at University of South Florida to find assistance in applying for a loan. He said the insight into his business that business consultant Brad Owens has given him has been very helpful. Owens helped Bowser construct a formal business plan that will help him close the deal on a loan for improvements to the warehouse and parking area.

“Actually, he has helped me more than I could ever imagine,” he said. “He’s helped open my mind to new ideas and different things that has helped me pick up bigger and better accounts and do better for myself.”

The two have formed such a bond that Owens is one of the first people that Bowser contacts when something exciting happens in the business, like landing an important new client.

“About a week ago, we got a job at the auction in Davenport,” he said. “I’ve been trying to get that deal there for the past 12 years. I was so ecstatic, I just had to call Brad.”

With the help of Owens, Bowser said the next step for Alternative Custom Crating will be to secure government contracts, a move Bowser predicts will lead to steady work and a more secure future for the company.

“I cannot say how much I appreciate Brad for coming into my life and being able to almost like help restructure me, [not only] my business. To help make everything go right and to help point me in the right direction.”