Survival Still Possible for Local Businesses

Nearly one in 10 employable adults in Ramona is officially unemployed and there are many storefronts up for lease.

But one Ramona businessman, Jim Piva of , told Patch recently that he thinks it is possible to survive the downturned economy if people think outside the box.

His ideas?

Lower overhead, consolidate locations, offer an expanded array of services and bring in the family to help.

Piva said he has applied these concepts himself in the past three years.

Business was hopping at his storefront recently when and everyone from Ramona Airport businesses to homeowners came in to rent . Piva's business is on Highway 78, just west of Main Street.

Visitors to the store may find Piva's wife, Melanie, or daughter, Sara, behind the counter or doing the accounting in an office. Both work part-time. Sara also helps with event planning.

"I'm hearing around town that business owners are putting in longer hours and more wives are helping to get through the time times," Piva said. "There are going to be some really tough times. I love my family and I love working with them."

Piva suggested, for example, that if a business offers delivery that perhaps the owners might do the delivery themselves now, rather than hiring someone to do it.

"I used to fix our own equipment, and now I'm fixing other people's equipment," he offered as another example. "Our business used to be called Piva Equipment Rental but we changed it to Piva Equipment Services.

Piva also said business owners might think about carrying items that augment their services.

"I've stated selling landscape supplies. I sell topsoil to go with renting rototillers," he said.

"People have to think outside the box. The ones who are surviving, it's not because they're doing the same thing they were doing five years ago. If they're doing the same thing, then they must have a niche market."

Three years ago, Piva had two locations but he cut overhead by closing the Poway operation.

"My clients were a lot of homeowners and contractors but there's no construction work and homeowners got scared," he said. "They were holding onto their money. Perception is everything."

Piva said there are always opportunities out there.

"But everything we hear out of Sacramento is so negative," he said.

Another service that Piva Equipment Services offers is clean up of foreclosed homes. Piva said he has been doing that since 2009.

"I was approached by a real estate agent who does work for Wells Fargo," he said. "I was asked if I could move some portable spas. They needed a forklift, and since we have the equipment. I said, 'Sure.'

"Then I was asked if I could do more, and I said, 'Yes.'"

Piva now cleans up foreclosed homes throughout San Diego county.