Clark County at Work: Premier Pump & Power

Business name: Premier Pump & Power.

President: Bill Scholtes.

Address: 2300 E. First St.

What the business does: Premier Pump & Power custom manufactures portable pumps for any reason, including removing water from a construction site, bypassing a dam and providing emergency flood control.

How has the economy affected your business: Before the economic collapse steel prices were rising uncontrollably and there were times where the company had a difficult time shipping into places like California due to higher cost of fuel, Bill Scholtes said. That all changed with the economic crisis, and shipping prices improved.

On the negative side, sales plummeted as larger customers cut their budgets and smaller customers held back as they waited to see how bad things would get. At first Scholtes said he had to sell product at low to no profit just to keep employees busy.

o Each week, The Columbian offers a brief snapshot of an interesting Clark County business. Send ideas to Mary Ricks: mary.ricks@columbian.com; fax 360-735-4598; phone 360-735-4550.

Greatest challenge: Scholtes said the greatest challenge has been making a name for his business despite being in an industry commanded by large competitors.

What’s ahead: Scholtes plans to keep the same focus he has in the past and to continue his strategy of growing slowly by building off of each success. The company is still small enough that he can change focus or tweak the business model as needed, often faster than the competition, he said.

Year established in Clark County: 2007.

Employees: 15.

Telephone: 360-574-4519.

Fax: 360-576-3967.

E-mail: info@premier-pump.net.

Website: http://www.premier-pump.net.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.