Information eradicator | A conversation with Neal Meltzer, executive director of Secure Records Management Systems in Sanford
Photo/Robert M. Cook
Neal Meltzer
Secure Records Management Systems
5 Dunaway Drive, Sanford
Founded: January 2010
Employees: 7
Startup costs: $470,000
Projected revenue, year one: $272,500
Projected revenue, year two: $330,900
Contact: 459-2610
www.securerms.com
What is Secure Records Management Systems?
We’re a confidential information destruction business. SecureRMS is a social enterprise of Waban Projects, a nonprofit social services agency also in Sanford that provides services for children and adults with developmental disabilities. We provide service to businesses and organizations in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, with services including paper shredding, media destruction, hard disk destruction and, in the near future, digital imaging. We provide locked security bins in various sizes and styles at no charge, and our 32-point “Chain of Custody” system ensures that from the time confidential materials are placed in the security bins to when the shredded paper is baled and recycled by a domestic vendor into tissue and other paper products, materials stay secure and confidential. Our policies, processes and procedures meet or exceed national, third-party certification requirements for the confidential information destruction industry.
Why did you start the company?
To provide jobs to people with disabilities. With these economic times, it’s difficult for people with disabilities to get a job, so we decided we would create opportunities instead of waiting for it to happen. Our primary mission is to support deserving members of our communities who are often overlooked. Waban has successfully provided services to children and adults with developmental disabilities for more than 40 years. Every year, Waban provides help for more than 1,000 adults and children with special needs, like funding a preschool and community support program for 235 children with autism, developmental disabilities and emotional issues. Public funds to support them are always scarce and are often disappearing. Rather than reducing crucial services, SecureRMS was created to support Waban and its clients.
How do you market your business?
We’re connected with national organizations with nationwide customers. We do a lot of international marketing and presentations at community gatherings, like the Kiwanis Club. We speak about what it is and why a nonprofit would get involved. Erin, our sales representative, reaches out to companies that need the service.
How do you finance this business?
We applied for an interest-free loan, which we used for basic startup costs.
What has been the biggest challenge running this business?
Getting the word out and finding customers who don’t know about Waban. Since most of our potential customers already have document destruction services, it has been challenging to get them to give us a few minutes to tell them our story and help them understand how we can promote their bottom line and in doing so help support their community. We’re trying to find the right customers who are willing to make a commitment, and not just out of pocket.
What has been successful about your business strategy?
The feedback we’ve received has been wonderful. We have created three full-time jobs for people and are on our way to create four more part-time jobs. We have attracted many customers who have recognized the value-added component of our business. Our facility, policies and procedures have been recognized by two independent national organizations as meeting and exceeding standards for the confidential information destruction industry. We’ve met our timeframes for the startup schedule and have successfully developed marketing materials and framed out our marketing strategy.
What are your goals for the future of this business?
To provide high-quality, confidential information destruction services in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont at a competitive price, with the value added of creating jobs for people with disabilities and using the business proceeds to support programs that provide services to children and adults with special needs.
Interview by Kayla Collins
New Ventures profiles young businesses, 6-18 months old. Send your suggestions and contact information to editorial@mainebiz.biz.
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