Mr. Rubin is one of the newest and most successful individuals who have taken part in the Reach Independence Through Self-Employment (RISE) Program, operated by the Maryland State Department of Education's Division of Rehabilitation Services. It is designed for individuals with disabilities who have a marketable product or service, a sound business plan and the drive to succeed. Maryland Hydroponics is one of only a few businesses in the state that carry the products and technology needed for gardening with water instead of dirt. Mr. Rubin, who reports having problems fitting into typical workplaces in the past because of his disability, has thrived. These days, in addition to nurturing a growing business, Mr. Rubin finds himself writing ad copy, expanding his Internet presence, educating local school children about hydroponics, researching new products and gathering the data he needs to plan possible franchising. He thinks the market is ripe. "There are very few plants on this planet that you can't grow hydroponically," he says. His light-filled store on Route 1 in Laurel is packed with the evidence – a banana tree and a mandarin orange tree here, grow lights there, hanging plants and flowers above. Stacks of nutrients, pumps and growing mediums line the walls. Maryland Hydroponics also serves mail order and Internet business customers.
Like most beginning business owners, Mr. Rubin was not without his initial concerns: "I was really nervous, but I stuck with my plan and created a need. I've had the luxury of turning a personal interest into a successful business." Visit Brian at Maryland Hydroponics, Located on Route 1, 10051 N. 2nd. St., Laurel, Maryland 20723, 301-490-9236, www.mdhydro.com |
In his first 24 months as a new business owner, Brian Rubin of 
"Gardening is the #1 hobby in Maryland," he says. "With hydroponics, you can grow a tropical rain forest in the house." The 100-hour work weeks have paid off in rapid growth. Mr. Rubin says that he has moved from a 700-square-foot business space to one that measures 4,900 square feet. His profits, at about 600 percent of what he originally anticipated, are "growing through the roof."