By Kimberly Gasuras
A summer job has turned into a thriving business for one local young couple.
Brad Willacker was 18 years old and getting ready to start college when he and his then-girlfriend, Shelby Cass, checked out Craigslist for lawn mowing jobs.
“We thought of it is a way to make some money before college,” said Shelby, who was a junior in high school at the time.
The advertisement for a lawn-mowing job that they found required them to attend a meeting in Mansfield first.
“It was a property services company and we started doing lawn mowing jobs for them,” Brad said. “Eventually, we started cleaning up properties for them too.”
Twenty-four-year-old Brad said he and Shelby, 22, soon realized that his family had the equipment they needed to start their own business working with banks on foreclosed houses.
The couple married and began to focus on their business ventures.
“Our business is called B and S Property Services, for Brad and Shelby,” Brad said with a smile.
While Brad earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and Shelby earned an associate’s degree, both from Ohio State University, Brad said hard work and determination is even more important than a college degree in creating successful businesses.
The couple also owns and manages three rental properties in Bucyrus and Galion and recently purchased a building at 833 Harding Way West in Galion.
“We are currently renovating the building to become the Caribbean Tan Boutique. We love the Caribbean so we wanted to go with that theme,” Shelby said. “I am excited to be able to shop as part of my job.”
The business will feature a clothing boutique along with tanning beds.
“Our plan is to be open by summer,” Shelby said.