This article appeared in the December 1, 2006 issue of the Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal
20 UNDER 40: Scott Sanfilippo and Joe Palko; Managing extreme growth is biggest challenge
Joe Palko, 34, and Scott Sanfilippo, 35, have created thriving businesses. The Ferretstore.com and Solid Cactus are just two.
Beginning with one employee and working out of a closet, to a 20,000-square-foot distribution center and 250,000 customers at the ferret supply business, to the Web design business of Solid Cactus, the two entrepreneurshave succeeded through trig and error.
In 2001, Solid Cactus was created by spinning off The Ferret Store’s print and Web departments. “We now do for others what we did for The Ferret Store; we design Yahoo! stores, we do consulting, we help with marketing.” And because they have operated a large and successful e-commerce site for more than a decade, they help clients avoid making the same mistakes they made, Sanfilippo says.
Palko’s focus is on business development. “Since we feature products and services from Yahoo! Small Business, I act as a voice for our customers when I meet with Yahoo,” says Palko. Co-founder Sanfilippo is the face of Solid Cactus. “We’re a privately held corporation, so we don’t answer to a corporate office. We’re accountable to only one person-YOU,” he explains.
“Scott and I made every mistake you could make along the way,” Palko says, laughing. Solid Cactus doesn’t just design Web sites, we know about operating an online business. With us, it’s not theory, we’ve been there. We are there.”
Solid Cactus has grown to 75 employees with over 3,500 clients, and has designed 3,000 Web sites. “In five years, hopefully we’ll all be the same people,” Palko says adding. “I want to make Solid Cactus better, to keep it growing without over-growing; to make sure we continue to get great people who look after our clients.”
The main challenge the men face is managing the extreme growth rate they are experiencing. The staff of 32 has increased to 75 just since 2005.
“We’re constantly expanding our office space and all these growth issues are stressful, but we maintain a positive attitude by working with the exceptional team of individuals we have on our management team,” said Sanfilippo.
Palko is the son of Bill and Gertrude Palko, who instilled responsibility in him at an early age. He says he could never have done what he has done without them. Sanfilippo has three dogs: Baby, Peanut and Freckles – all Chihuahua’s – who mean the world to him.