When Karl Azizi relocated his printing shop to Brooklyn in 2016, he took advantage of the opportunity to rebrand it with his passion for jazz music. The result was Jazz’n Print, a full service print shop with a distinctive ambiance that’s much loved by its clientele. “We have a piano in the shop, and we have monthly performances here,” explains Karl. “Music’s always playing. The staff and customers love it.”
After the shop relocated, Karl needed funds quickly to get it running again. He researched options that included small loans and cash advances at high interest rates. Fortunately, Karl also contacted Pursuit which he learned about as a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. With Pursuit’s online application, he had $35,000 in a matter of days.
“The quick loan was exactly what we needed then,” says Karl. “Later, Pursuit prepared us for a larger loan for $135,000, with a great rate and terms through the SBA 7(a) loan program. We paid off the first loan and had enough for equipment and working capital.” Pursuit also provided free consulting on marketing and financial statements.
Karl continued, “Banks typically look at collateral, cash flow and credit history. Pursuit goes a lot further. They came here, saw what we do, and got to know our vision. It made all the difference.”
