Great ideas, great service and hard work

Photography by Matthew Wood

They found a problem, figured out a solution and created a successful business. Mix in plenty of hard work and determination and you’ll never know how a simple idea of creating a better lab test can become a multi-million dollar, worldwide industry.

Infolab, located in Clarksdale, began as an idea to sell supplies to local labs at a lower cost and now has six facilities across the U.S. that supplies the world with medical supplies. And it all started with an idea to improve a lab test in a Clarksdale Hospital.

“My dad was the lab director at the hospital here in Clarksdale and he was very progressive in the newest and latest technologies,” Scott Spradling says of his late dad, Dean. “Tests like blood glucose were done manually and it took 30 minutes to get a result. Today it takes 10 seconds.”

Dean Spradling bought technology with the blessing of hospital administrator William Ray and began to put the hospital on the map.

“They had one of the first automated chemistry systems in the entire country,” Scott says. “He started making his own re-agents, which were very expensive to buy and determined that if he could make it there then other labs around the Delta could probably use the same re-agents to do their manual tests.”

Spradling started selling to other hospitals in North Mississippi and in 1968 began Infolab. He had some great products to sell but the forty plus year success of the company has been hinged on four things.

“You know, we were just in the right place at the right time,” Scott explains.  And the other three keys to success. “Try not to owe anybody anything and work hard – work extremely hard and efficiently. Get sound employees and let them do their job.”

Infolab employs 250 workers across its six locations and the family owned business is now run by elder brother Sumner (56) and Scott (52). Sumner handles business negotiations while Scott makes sure the “money comes in when it’s supposed to and the money goes out when it’s supposed to.”

What Momma Wants—Makes a Great Company in the End

Fred Karl was building a home for his family in the 1980s and asked his wife what she would like in her new kitchen. She described the stove she learned to cook on, and Karl had a mission. He couldn’t find it. So he built it.

That idea became Viking Range with its home in Greenwood and about 20 employees to now filling a whole city block in downtown and 1,200 employees and a world wide Reputation. Six name brand divisions including a professional line, designer products, outdoor, cabinetry, commercial and culinary school all make up Viking.

“Lending” a Hand—Planter’s Bank

With roots in Ruleville, Planter’s Bank began in 1920, according to bank president Randy Randall. “We have over 160 employees in the Mississippi Delta and I can’t tell you how rewarding that’s been.”

With only $268,000 in assets in 1920 the bank has grown to 14 full service offices in nine Delta communities with now $526 million in 2008 and headquartered in Indianola. Randall attributes that growth to the bank’s employees and their “service first” attitudes. The bank has had seven presidents and is wholly owned by Planters Holding Company, which operates out of the banks headquarters building.

“They come to work each day and I think they really believe in where they work,” Randall says. “And I think when you come to work and believe in the place you work and the products you put out that carryovers in your correlation and your relationship with the customer, and I think that is so important.”

Though still a “local” bank, Randall notes that Planters competes with larger regional banks due to its using cutting-edge technology that offers Internet banking and many innovative products. But all in all, Randall knows that it comes down to doing what’s right for your customers that lead to success.

“I look in my own career and just think about the gratification and the success and satisfaction, and I think it basically just comes down to, do you care about your people? Do you want to serve your people and do you want to give your best to your customers? That’s been a real focal point of Planter’s Bank. It’s what we’re about and I hope we never lose sight of that.” DBJ