“When you manufacture something, quality is of paramount importance. And whatever you manufacture, it’s your
responsibility to be sustainable.
– Dhu Thompson
Like the farmers his company serves, Dhu Thompson is a planter.
Through continued support of the Arkansas Governor’s Cup collegiate business-plan competition, he helps plants seeds that could one day grow to become the next Arkansas success story. And as a transplanted Arkie who raised three boys here and roots for the Hogs when they’re not playing LSU, he’s well aware of the state’s track record when it comes to launching entrepreneurs.
Still a leading proponent of the competition and in fact, this year’s title sponsor, Thompson has been involved with the Governor’s Cup since 2004. His own “startup,” Delta Plastics, took on sponsorship status in 2011. After selling controlling interest to a New York private equity firm last year, Thompson’s role switched from owner to chairman but his support of entrepreneurs continues on.
Delta Plastics and its spinoff Revolution Bag, ofcourse, together represent a true Arkansas success story. But Thompson doesn’t fit the mold of tech-savvy hipster who stumbled upon the right app at the right time. Thompson was into his 40s and a successful banker in Monroe, La., when he recognized an opportunity to buy and relaunch a failing plastics startup in, of all places, Stuttgart.
Before long, growth necessitated relocation, and Thompson and his wife, Mary Ellen, planted roots in Arkansas with no local connections — just their commitment to the company. Most entrepreneurs share that commitment, and most enter the startup arena to make a profit. But these days — perhaps more than ever — they strive to make the world a better place while doing so. Thompson did both.
“When you manufacture something, quality is of paramount importance,” he said. “And whatever you manufacture, it’s your responsibility to be sustainable.”
Today, Delta is the world’s largest manufacturer of flexible irrigation pipe for farmers. In 2005, it spawned Revolution Bag, which manufactures eco-friendly industrial trash-can liners using a unique closed-loop recycling process. The corporate umbrella now includes Command Packaging, which makes eco-friendly take-out bags for restaurants and fast-food joints (think Chick-fil-A, Wendy’s) that suddenly became such a big part of our lives in March.
(The Little Rock plants produces pipe and liners; a Stuttgart facility is devoted to recycling; plants in southern California and Kilgore, Texas, produce Command’s paper bags; and another location in Mesquite, Texas, manufactures sheeting for the construction industry.)
Innovation is at the core of the Governor’s Cup, and Thompson knows something about innovation. The approach to growing Revolution required some innovative thinking. “We went after folks who wanted LEED tax credits,” he said. Striking deals with distributors helped Revolution land an impressive client list — New York City schools, Ford Motor Co., Las Vegas casinos and even NFL stadiums.
Working with university researchers in the Mississippi Delta states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri (with the bootheel as its ticket to the club), Delta Plastics developed a software package called Pipe Planner to help row-crop farmers use water more efficiently. Thompson envisions the potential to save 1.3 trillion gallons a year. He wants to help the teams of budding entrepreneurs in the Governor’s Cup realize their own shared vision.
“It’s such a huge opportunity,” Thompson said. “It’s great to see these kids come together in groups — one may be finance, one is marketing, one is personnel, one is management — and create a business plan.”
Entrepreneurship requires its practitioners to be multitaskers. Growing his business, Thompson was innovator, salesman, manager. His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs in this year’s “virtual” Governor’s Cup? Be a sponge; say thank you (the little things go a long way, he says), and never be afraid to fail.
Paraphrasing the great Babe Ruth, Thompson advises aspiring entrepreneurs not to let fear of striking out keep them from swinging the bat.
“You can’t let fear paralyze you,” he said. “You will feel fear, but you have to have faith.”