Hal Stigler, owner of medium size business, Hal's Pal's, is feeling a little left out of the current political banter over our Nation's troubled economy. The Monee, IL entrepreneur has gainfully employed 102 local residents for the past 5 years, disqualifying his company from being classified as a small business, while bringing Hal's Pal's no where close to the same league as their big business cousins. "It's just not fair," said Mr. Stigler. "Corporations are rewarded with tax loop holes and bail outs and small businesses are constantly being heralded as job creators. Where are my loop holes? Where's my recognition for creating 102 jobs?"
Mr. Stigler conceived the idea for Hal's Pal's while working to sooth his beagle's separation anxiety. Mr. Stigler's canine friend, also coincidentally named Hal, would chew his 6-year old daughter's dolls until the family returned home in the evening. The family tried everything to get their pet to stop. They bought him chew toy after chew toy. Then a curious thing happened. After a pre-Christmas trip to the American Girl doll store, which netted then 6-year old Holly a Marie-Gracie doll with all the accessories, the family learned that Hal (the Beagle) had no interest in the new-fangled doll. "He just kept chewing on the same old, ratted dolls," explained Hal (of Homo sapien origin). Mr. Stigler then came up with the idea of making pre-ratted dolls for dogs. His methods and materials are proprietary, but ingenious, nonetheless. The demand for Hal's Pal's quickly grew to unsustainable proportions for his basement one-man workshop. He soon found himself leading a medium-size business that has stably employed 102 Illinois workers for the last 5 years. And although the company's growth has hit a plateau, there is certainly no slowing in sales.
"People love their dogs. Even in a tough economy. Plain and simple," said Hal. "Who wants to come home to a hyperactive dog who's been alone all day, when you can come home to one all tuckered out from chewing on ratted dolls?" But while his company is thriving and his employees have been loyal and happy, the mid-sized business owner is certainly not feeling the love from politicians. Hal noticed small business owners getting praise from politicians on the stump trail, yet when he told the same politicians that his company employs 102 people, the reception was not so warm. "It was more or less, 'Oh, well, that's nice,' and then they went on to the next guy." At the same time, corporations are making record profits, undoubtedly due, in part, to the massive tax breaks they enjoy. "I don't fall into either of these categories. I'm happy where I'm at, but still, it kind of hurts." The plight of Mr. Stigler and others like him will be chronicled in an upcoming HBO documentary "Medium Size Me," due to premier sometime in November. Until then, Hal's Pal's remains part of the unseen, unheard, and seemingly unloved, medium sized businesses of America.
Mr. Stigler conceived the idea for Hal's Pal's while working to sooth his beagle's separation anxiety. Mr. Stigler's canine friend, also coincidentally named Hal, would chew his 6-year old daughter's dolls until the family returned home in the evening. The family tried everything to get their pet to stop. They bought him chew toy after chew toy. Then a curious thing happened. After a pre-Christmas trip to the American Girl doll store, which netted then 6-year old Holly a Marie-Gracie doll with all the accessories, the family learned that Hal (the Beagle) had no interest in the new-fangled doll. "He just kept chewing on the same old, ratted dolls," explained Hal (of Homo sapien origin). Mr. Stigler then came up with the idea of making pre-ratted dolls for dogs. His methods and materials are proprietary, but ingenious, nonetheless. The demand for Hal's Pal's quickly grew to unsustainable proportions for his basement one-man workshop. He soon found himself leading a medium-size business that has stably employed 102 Illinois workers for the last 5 years. And although the company's growth has hit a plateau, there is certainly no slowing in sales.
"People love their dogs. Even in a tough economy. Plain and simple," said Hal. "Who wants to come home to a hyperactive dog who's been alone all day, when you can come home to one all tuckered out from chewing on ratted dolls?" But while his company is thriving and his employees have been loyal and happy, the mid-sized business owner is certainly not feeling the love from politicians. Hal noticed small business owners getting praise from politicians on the stump trail, yet when he told the same politicians that his company employs 102 people, the reception was not so warm. "It was more or less, 'Oh, well, that's nice,' and then they went on to the next guy." At the same time, corporations are making record profits, undoubtedly due, in part, to the massive tax breaks they enjoy. "I don't fall into either of these categories. I'm happy where I'm at, but still, it kind of hurts." The plight of Mr. Stigler and others like him will be chronicled in an upcoming HBO documentary "Medium Size Me," due to premier sometime in November. Until then, Hal's Pal's remains part of the unseen, unheard, and seemingly unloved, medium sized businesses of America.
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