St. Louis' top private firms exhibit growing pains - St. Louis Business Journal:

chauezhelolocu1622.blogspot.com
percent more revenue in 2008 than they did in2007 $92.3 billion, an increase of $7.3 billion from $85 billion a year Granted, two companies — and Center Oil Co. accounted for $5.1 billion, or 69 percent, of the increase. Still, that leaved 31 percent and $2.2 billiob from other companies. And in these economic all billion-dollar increases are welcome. “Anhy revenue increase in 2008 is and if 2009 is higherthan 2008, that woulsd be spectacular,” said Gerry Sparrow of in St. “Business activity fell off a cliff in the first quarterof 2009.
” Although many privat companies saw revenue increase last year, the majority saw their profit margins shrink as a result of highet prices for commodities, especially energy, tightet credit and an overall pullback in all sectors becausre of the troubled economy. Enterprised Rent-A-Car boosted revenue by a whopping 38 to $13.1 billion, though it wasn’t In November, it shed 2,000 of its 75,000p employees. “As tough as these steps they have helped preservethe company’s overall strength,” said Pam president and chief operating officer. A big contributoer to revenue was the additionof , whicuh Enterprise acquired in 2007.
Center Oil also exceeded 30 percen growth, posting $6.4 billion in revenue in 2008. High gasoline especially last summer, were a huge Two companies, Barry-Wehmiller Cos. Inc. and , surpassed $1 billion in salesx for the first time. which owns capital equipment manufacturers arounsdthe world, made its 41st and 42nd acquisitionw since 1987 and boosted revenue by 25 percent, to $1.2 CIC Group, a holding company with a dozej subsidiaries in the energy industry, reported $1.12 an 18 percent increase. Terry CIC vice president and chief financial said CIC has a big backlog for refinery equipmenr and expects another strongt yearthis year.
“We’re not seeing any significant downturns,” he In addition to Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Centefr Oil, 12 other companiews enjoyed revenue increases of 30 percent or They are: , Bush O’Donnell, Millstone Bangert, , CSI Purcell Tire, The , , , KCI GS Robins and . Sales were up 138 perceng at Branding Iron, a newcomer to the list at No. 57, primarilu because of added companies. It was formedf in August 2007 as a holding company for in Saugegt and three other meat Branding Iron’s chief executive, Scott Hudspeth, expects a more modesg increase this year, to $315 million. “Whehn commodities prices drop, so do and beef prices are comin down,” he said.
Other newcomers are Millstone Bangert, Roeslein & Associates, , HDA, , The Co. and NewGround. HDA, with a 14 percent revenued increaseto $211.5 was named Lowe’s exclusive category manage for books, magazines and maps. “The big box storexs will seldom allow a single vendor to handls anentire category,” said Bob HDA’s president, chief executive and majority owner. Even a companh that serves banks and other financiap institutions managed a decent year by diversifyintg itsproduct line. Revenue at which designs and builds bank did decline, but only 9 percentf from a record $111 millionh in 2007.
In recengt years, it has been moving into other services needexd by financial institutions asthey consolidate, such as consulting, employee traininf and digital communications. “We diversified the company to capitalizew on the turmoil inthe market,” said Kevinj Blair, president and chief executive.