Success Stories
Sociologists, linguists and biologists say that our ability to laugh and desire to do so isn’t all fun and games, but actually serves two essential life functions: to bond members of our “tribe,” and to lessen tension and anxiety.
Michael Gusmus created a business that can bring amusement to others. Fun Slurp encourages people to release their inner prankster and just have fun. Michael Gusmus turned his enjoyment for shenanigans into a funny business. It all started 15 years ago, in his freshman dorm room. He simply wanted money for a beer fund. Little did he realize, horseplay would become a way to fund life, while enjoying business. After College, Michael worked in the financial service industry. He continued to run his novelty business on the side. It soon became apparent, he would have to give up either his fun side business or his career in financial services. He quit his job in finance and Fun Slurp was born.
The business, which began in his garage, soon outgrew the space. He looked across the street, saw a larger house, purchased it and built a much larger garage. As often is the case, the fun could not be contained and he had to continue to move to larger locations in order to grow his business. Bell Properties entered the picture when he was in a situation that forced him to find a new location quickly. Michael called Bell Properties for an available space and stressed the urgency of his situation. He needed to tour the space, have a lease drawn up, processed and everything in place for him to actually complete the move in ONE day! Michael said, “Bell Properties made it happen for me! They took what I felt was a difficult situation and made the transition as smooth as possible. My appreciation for what they did cannot be overstated.”
This business owner finds the fact that in this age of technology, he can pick up the phone, call Bell Properties and reach a live person, to be simply incredible. Michael mentioned that one can often call a business, almost any business, and find ourselves directed by an automated voice prompt instructing the caller to press #1, #2 or #3, then we are often required to enter the extension we are trying to reach. If we aren’t sure of the extension we are trying to reach, it can be a little frustrating. When Michael calls Bell Properties, he said, “I know I will speak to a live person, the attention to service is what sets them apart.” “I have changed locations three times in the past six years, each time I called Bill Bell and he has found the perfect space to meet my needs. They have even gone above and beyond to make things happen for me. I can remember when Wallace Bell took his time to change a flat tire for one of my employees! I even needed to borrow a forklift and they made that happen. I feel like they are not just landlords, but almost family.”