Articles

Corporate Raiders

While some students use the knowledge they learn from Texas Tech to get a job working as an employee for a company, Josh Segars used his own knowledge to start his own business.

The original business, Liquid State Graphics, was started in July 2001. When his brother, Tim Segars, moved to Lubbock this spring from North Carolina, they became partners and changed the name of the company to Segars Communications.

Josh Segars, a senior design communication major from Lubbock, said Segars Communications does Web design, marketing, promotions, intranet, and they are beginning to expand into mobile wireless net.

Josh Segars said the business is small, but they have plans to expand outside of Lubbock.

"We are really open-ended," he said. "We want to expand into other areas, but for right now, we are pretty happy where we are."

Segars Communications currently does business with seven companies worldwide, including Rustics Furniture and Accessories in Lubbock, Multi-Dimensional Maturities based in Dallas, The Bank of Clovis in New Mexico, Palmetto Development & Management in South Carolina and Premier Soccer in North Carolina.

Josh Segars said having so much responsibility gives him mixed emotions.

"Sometimes it is exciting; sometimes it is scary," he said. "There is no set paycheck; it all depends on the clients you can find."

Segars Communications employs interns from Tech.

Kyle Kothe, a senior design communication major from Fredericksburg, is the first intern to work for the company.

Tim Segars, chief executive officer of the company, said he brings in business experience and management.

"I make decisions and consult with Josh. I specialize in knowledge management," he said. "I realize what needs to be communicated and how to do so."

As an intern, Kothe optimizes pictures, uses concept development and acts as a soundboard for ideas that the Segars brothers come up with.

"This is a great experience for me because I get hand-on experience with clients that I would not get if I was employed under someone else," Kothe said. "I feel very responsible because I am learning more about the web as I go."

Josh Segars said being part of this business takes up a large portion of his free time.

"I work all day, every day for over 40 hours," Segars said. "This is more to me than a full time job, this is my life."

Josh Segars said because work takes up so much of his time, he has decided to take the semester off from classes to devote his time to getting the business up and running with no distractions from school.

"Hopefully things will even out, and we will get more interns and clients," he said. "Then I will get back to school, hopefully by summer."

Kothe said he works a minimum of 15 hours a week from his house but still manages to balance work and school effectively.

"Fifteen hours doesn't include the meetings or the personal input that I put in," he said. "I changed my schedule so all my classes are on Monday and Wednesday."

Josh Segars said he spent about $10,000 starting the business.

"Mostly we already had the equiptment we needed, but we did have to buy office supplies, a few pieces of software and an extra computer," he said. "Starting your own business can get pretty expensive."

Tim Segars said the short-term goals are to be profitable and focus on visual contacts.

"We want to grow to where Josh and I have less hands-on input," he said. "Therefore we want to hire new employees and create a stable client base."

After Josh Segars graduates he said he plans to put everything he has learned in class into the business.

"This is definitely a project we are not going to give up on soon," he said. "It is much more attractive to have the risk of owning your own business rather than working under someone else."

Josh Segars said he would recommend that anyone who is thinking of starting their own business to take the chance.

"Do not be afraid of it," he said. "It is a lot of work but it comes with the relaxation of being your own boss and that is worth it."