Nestled on 60 acres of pristine forest land, with nearby access to spectacular Lake Superior and the beautiful Porcupine Mountains State Park, sits Sunshine Motel. This family-owned and operated business found its way into the hearts of Bruce and Kay Perkins in 2010.
Exceptional customer service and outdoor adventure have been part of their lives for decades. The couple has been involved with hospitality and service to others, in one way or another, since they began dating in college and led scout groups on outdoor adventures. Their passion for serving others and embracing the outdoors has made their second career a successful one.
Shortly after purchasing the Sunshine Motel Bruce was attending a local tourism association meeting when he began to overhear others discussing Northern Initiatives and the work they were doing with regional tourism in the area. At that time Bruce and Kay had been seeking lending help for the land contract as well as operating costs for their new business. When traditional financing opportunities appeared limited Bruce contacted NI and learned that through categorized SBA loans, NI could help Sunshine with both funding for the land contract and operational costs. He was delighted to learn complementary business development services were also available as part of the loan offer.
Since the beginning of the relationship Sunshine has taken full advantage of the services available to them with NI. Bruce completed a Profit Mastery course that has helped him understand the complex financial aspects that are involved in running a small business. NI’s Business Advancement Center also has aided Sunshine Motel by developing and creating a website that highlights the business and all of the offerings at Sunshine and in the surrounding area. The website expands Sunshine’s market reach and elevates its profile among visitors. Today, Sunshine Motel has seen a complete turnaround in their 2 1/2 years of ownership. Customers are highly satisfied and community members have complimented them on the impact their business is having on the local economy. In less than three short years, they have taken this once struggling business and turned a significant profit.
