Hartsko_NN1 ,_, other_JJ lenders_NN2 fill_VV0 void_NN1 left_VVN by_II banks_NN2 In_II the_AT glory_NN1 days_NNT2 of_IO the_AT digital-photo-frame_JJ business_NN1 ,_, when_CS his_APPGE products_NN2 were_VBDR still_RR a_AT1 novelty_NN1 and_CC shoppers_NN2 were_VBDR flush_RR with_IW cash_NN1 ,_, getting_VVG a_AT1 bank_NN1 loan_NN1 to_TO manufacture_VVI them_PPHO2 was_VBDZ a_AT1 cinch_NN1 ,_, Michael_NP1 Levy_NP1 says_VVZ ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 would_VM say_VVI :_: 'We_NN1 got_VVD a_AT1 $1_NNU million_NNO order_NN1 from_II the_AT Sharper_JJR Image_NN1 ._. 
We_PPIS2 need_VV0 financing_NN1 ._. '_" 
With_IW a_AT1 snap_NN1 of_IO the_AT fingers_NN2 ,_, the_AT guy_NN1 drove_VVD down_RP to_II my_APPGE office_NN1 ,_, we_PPIS2 'd_VM sign_VVI a_AT1 document_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 'd_VM give_VVI us_PPIO2 the_AT money_NN1 ,_, "_" Levy_NP1 recalls_VVZ ,_, sitting_VVG in_II the_AT Deer_NN Park_NN1 ,_, Long_JJ Island_NNL1 ,_, office_NN1 of_IO the_AT Media_NP1 Street_NNL1 Group_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ he_PPHS1 runs_VVZ with_IW his_APPGE brother_NN1 ,_, Norm_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB like_II many_DA2 other_JJ business_NN1 owners_NN2 ,_, Levy_NP1 saw_VVD his_APPGE prospects_NN2 change_VVI drastically_RR in_II 2008_MC as_II the_AT financial_JJ crisis_NN1 unfolded_VVD ._. 
The_AT Sharper_JJR Image_NN1 and_CC several_DA2 other_JJ top_JJ customers_NN2 filed_VVN for_IF bankruptcy_NN1 ,_, and_CC Levy_NP1 found_VVD himself_PPX1 scrambling_VVG to_TO keep_VVI the_AT business_NN1 afloat_JJ ._. 
His_APPGE longtime_JJ bank_NN1 wanted_VVD nothing_PN1 to_TO do_VDI with_IW his_APPGE company_NN1 ,_, Levy_NP1 says_VVZ ,_, and_CC several_DA2 other_JJ banks_NN2 spurned_VVD his_APPGE loan_NN1 requests_NN2 ,_, too_RR ._. 
After_CS a_AT1 year_NNT1 of_IO hand-wringing_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 found_VVD an_AT1 unconventional_JJ lender_NN1 that_CST was_VBDZ still_RR making_VVG loans_NN2 --_NN1 lots_PN of_IO them_PPHO2 ._. 
It_PPH1 's_VBZ called_VVN Hartsko_NP1 Financial_NP1 Services_NN2 ,_, and_CC it_PPH1 provides_VVZ short-term_JJ credit_NN1 to_II small_JJ and_CC midsize_VV0 companies_NN2 that_CST sell_VV0 everything_PN1 from_II olive_JJ oil_NN1 to_II women_NN2 's_GE sandals_NN2 ._. 
In_II the_AT last_MD year_NNT1 or_CC so_RR ,_, companies_NN2 have_VH0 been_VBN beating_VVG a_AT1 path_NN1 to_II Hartsko_NP1 ,_, and_CC to_II other_JJ businesses_NN2 like_II it_PPH1 --_JJ even_CS21 if_CS22 the_AT loans_NN2 are_VBR vastly_RR more_RGR expensive_JJ than_CSN traditional_JJ ones_NN2 from_II banks_NN2 ._. 
Richard_NP1 Eitelberg_NP1 ,_, Hartsko_NP1 's_GE founder_NN1 and_CC president_NN1 ,_, said_VVD his_APPGE company_NN1 previously_RR fielded_VVN many_DA2 loan_NN1 requests_NN2 from_II companies_NN2 on_II the_AT financial_JJ brink_NN1 ._. 
Now_RT ,_, he_PPHS1 says_VVZ ,_, Hartsko_NP1 also_RR can_VM pick_VVI from_II companies_NN2 with_IW solid_JJ financials_NN2 that_CST simply_RR ca_VM n't_XX get_VVI a_AT1 bank_NN1 loan_NN1 ._. 
"_" What_DDQ we_PPIS2 are_VBR seeing_VVG is_VBZ better_JJR deals_NN2 than_CSN we_PPIS2 did_VDD in_II the_AT past_NN1 ,_, "_" Eitelberg_NP1 says_VVZ ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 were_VBDR viable_JJ when_CS banks_NN2 were_VBDR lending_VVG ._. 
Now_RT we_PPIS2 are_VBR overwhelmed_VVN ._. "_" 
Hartsko_NP1 's_GE office_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ is_VBZ surrounded_VVN by_II Irish_JJ pubs_NN2 in_II the_AT Bayside_NN1 neighborhood_NN1 of_IO Queens_NP1 ,_, is_VBZ a_AT1 sharp_JJ departure_NN1 from_II the_AT sterile_JJ cubicles_NN2 and_CC prefabricated_JJ offices_NN2 of_IO most_DAT major_JJ bank_NN1 branches_NN2 ._. 
At_II Hartsko_NP1 ,_, nine_MC employees_NN2 vie_VV0 for_IF space_NN1 in_II three_MC modest_JJ rooms_NN2 jammed_VVN with_IW computers_NN2 ,_, printers_NN2 and_CC fax_VV0 machines_NN2 ._. 
The_AT floor_NN1 below_II Hartsko_NP1 was_VBDZ occupied_VVN by_II a_AT1 massage_NN1 parlor_NN1 until_CS about_RG a_AT1 year_NNT1 ago_RA ,_, when_CS it_PPH1 was_VBDZ closed_VVN by_II the_AT vice_JJ squad_NN1 ,_, Eitelberg_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
An_AT1 acupuncture_NN1 clinic_NN1 took_VVD over_II the_AT space_NN1 ._. 
Eitelberg_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 burly_JJ 47-year-old_JJ sports_NN2 fan_VV0 who_PNQS favors_VVZ untucked_JJ dress_NN1 shirts_NN2 and_CC open_JJ collars_NN2 ,_, decorates_VVZ his_APPGE office_NN1 with_IW trinkets_NN2 honoring_VVG New_NP1 York_NP1 sports_NN2 teams_NN2 ;_; a_AT1 full_JJ lineup_NN1 of_IO the_AT Mets_NN2 ,_, in_II miniature_JJ ,_, adorns_VVZ a_AT1 shelf_NN1 behind_II his_APPGE desk_NN1 ._. 
There_EX 's_VBZ also_RR a_AT1 poster_NN1 of_IO the_AT Three_MC Stooges_NP2 in_II golf_NN1 garb_NN1 and_CC a_AT1 framed_JJ homage_NN1 to_II Tiger_NN1 Woods_NP1 ,_, which_DDQ now_RT prompts_VVZ the_AT occasional_JJ ribald_JJ joke_NN1 from_II his_APPGE employees_NN2 ._. 
Just_RR as_CSA the_AT credit_NN1 squeeze_NN1 has_VHZ pushed_VVN some_DD consumers_NN2 to_II unconventional_JJ sources_NN2 of_IO funding_NN1 like_II pawn_NN1 shops_NN2 and_CC payday_NN1 lenders_NN2 ,_, a_AT1 constriction_NN1 in_II traditional_JJ bank_NN1 lending_VVG to_II businesses_NN2 has_VHZ benefited_VVN companies_NN2 like_II Hartsko_NP1 ._. 
Small-business_JJ owners_NN2 say_VV0 banks_NN2 routinely_RR reject_VV0 applications_NN2 for_IF loans_NN2 that_CST were_VBDR readily_RR available_JJ two_MC years_NNT2 ago_RA ._. 
In_RR21 addition_RR22 ,_, many_DA2 say_VV0 the_AT limits_NN2 on_II their_APPGE credit_NN1 cards_NN2 have_VH0 been_VBN cut_VVN as_CSA banks_NN2 seek_VV0 to_TO limit_VVI their_APPGE risk_NN1 amid_II the_AT economic_JJ turmoil_NN1 ._. 
To_TO help_VVI ease_VVI the_AT situation_NN1 ,_, President_NNB Obama_NP1 ,_, in_II his_APPGE State_NN1 of_IO the_AT Union_NN1 address_NN1 ,_, proposed_VVD giving_VVG $30_NNU billion_NNO to_II community_NN1 banks_NN2 to_TO make_VVI loans_NN2 to_II small_JJ business_NN1 ._. 
Recently_RR ,_, the_AT Treasury_NN1 Department_NN1 began_VVD tracking_JJ lending_NN1 by_II the_AT 22_MC largest_JJT bank_NN1 recipients_NN2 of_IO federal-bailout_JJ money_NN1 ,_, and_CC it_PPH1 found_VVD a_AT1 sizable_JJ decrease_NN1 in_II small-business_JJ lending_NN1 ._. 
During_II a_AT1 seven-month_JJ period_NN1 ending_VVG in_II November_NPM1 ,_, the_AT banks_NN2 reduced_VVD their_APPGE small-business_JJ lending_NN1 by_II $12.5_NNU billion_NNO ,_, an_AT1 overall_JJ decline_NN1 of_IO 4.6_MC percent_NNU ,_, the_AT data_NN show_VV0 ._. 
Wells_NP1 Fargo_NP1 and_CC Bank_NN1 of_IO America_NP1 ,_, the_AT two_MC biggest_JJT small-business_JJ lenders_NN2 ,_, cut_VV0 their_APPGE lending_NN1 by_II 4.4_MC percent_NNU and_CC 6.2_MC percent_NNU ,_, respectively_RR ,_, during_II that_DD1 time_NNT1 ._. 
John_NP1 Durrant_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 senior_JJ vice_JJ president_NN1 at_II Bank_NN1 of_IO America_NP1 who_PNQS oversees_VVZ small-business_JJ loans_NN2 ,_, said_VVD that_CST roughly_RR half_DB of_IO the_AT decline_NN1 in_II lending_VVG to_II small_JJ businesses_NN2 was_VBDZ attributable_JJ to_II decreased_JJ demand_NN1 ._. 
In_RR21 addition_RR22 ,_, he_PPHS1 said_VVD a_AT1 decline_NN1 in_II sales_NN and_CC creditworthiness_NN1 among_II small_JJ businesses_NN2 had_VHD contributed_VVN to_II the_AT slowdown_NN1 ._. 
Bank_NN1 of_IO America_NP1 lent_VVD $16_NNU billion_NNO to_II small_JJ and_CC midsize_VV0 businesses_NN2 in_II 2009_MC and_CC plans_VVZ to_TO increase_VVI its_APPGE lending_NN1 by_II $5_NNU billion_NNO this_DD1 year_NNT1 ,_, he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
Banks_NN2 ,_, of_RR21 course_RR22 ,_, are_VBR now_RT more_RGR reluctant_JJ to_II hand_NN1 over_II money_NN1 to_II small_JJ and_CC midsize_VV0 companies_NN2 partly_RR because_CS the_AT practice_NN1 is_VBZ riskier_JJR than_CSN it_PPH1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 few_DA2 years_NNT2 ago_RA ,_, when_CS consumers_NN2 were_VBDR spending_VVG freely_RR ._. 
Banks_NN2 are_VBR writing_VVG off_RP record_NN1 numbers_NN2 of_IO bad_JJ loans_NN2 and_CC have_VH0 tightened_VVN their_APPGE underwriting_NN1 standards_NN2 to_TO limit_VVI their_APPGE losses_NN2 ._. 
"_" After_CS Chase_NN1 said_VVD no_UH ,_, I_PPIS1 went_VVD to_II Citibank_NP1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 went_VVD to_II Capital_NN1 One_MC1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ n't_XX going_VVGK to_TO sit_VVI around_RP waiting_VVG ,_, "_" says_VVZ Levy_NP1 ,_, explaining_VVG that_CST he_PPHS1 needed_VVD to_TO borrow_VVI $1_NNU million_NNO last_MD year_NNT1 for_IF $1.5_NNU million_NNO in_II purchase_NN1 orders_NN2 for_IF new_JJ products_NN2 ,_, including_II frames_NN2 with_IW Wi-Fi_NP1 access_NN1 ._. 
"_" All_DB of_IO them_PPHO2 said_VVD the_AT same_DA thing_NN1 :_: 'the_VV0 underwriters_NN2 ,_, the_AT underwriters_NN2 ._. '_" 
They_PPHS2 just_RR tightened_VVD and_CC ,_, boom_NN1 ,_, they_PPHS2 just_RR shut_VV0 it_PPH1 off_RP ._. "_" 
When_CS small_JJ businesses_NN2 face_VV0 funding_NN1 squeezes_VVZ ,_, Eitelberg_NP1 and_CC others_NN2 like_II him_PPHO1 offer_VV0 an_AT1 enticing_JJ ,_, if_CS expensive_JJ ,_, pitch_NN1 for_IF desperate_JJ entrepreneurs_NN2 ._. 
He_PPHS1 peddles_VVZ what_DDQ is_VBZ known_VVN as_II purchase-order_JJ financing_NN1 to_II companies_NN2 that_CST sell_VV0 goods_NN2 but_CCB often_RR manufacture_VV0 them_PPHO2 in_II factories_NN2 abroad_RL ._. 
It_PPH1 is_VBZ a_AT1 relatively_RR new_JJ line_NN1 of_IO business_NN1 --_NN1 he_PPHS1 estimates_VVZ it_PPH1 's_VBZ about_RG 20_MC years_NNT2 old_JJ --_NN1 and_CC a_AT1 twist_NN1 on_II the_AT ancient_JJ and_CC much_RR larger_JJR practice_NN1 of_IO factoring_VVG ,_, in_II which_DDQ a_AT1 business_NN1 sells_VVZ an_AT1 invoice_NN1 at_II a_AT1 discount_NN1 to_TO get_VVI its_APPGE money_NN1 faster_RRR ,_, providing_VVG the_AT factoring_NN1 company_NN1 with_IW a_AT1 hefty_JJ fee_NN1 ._. 
Purchase-order_JJ financing_NN1 ,_, though_CS similar_JJ to_II factoring_VVG ,_, is_VBZ further_JJR up_II the_AT financial_JJ food_NN1 chain_NN1 ._. 
Purchase_VV0 orders_NN2 are_VBR written_VVN guarantees_NN2 from_II a_AT1 buyer_NN1 who_PNQS it_PPH1 is_VBZ committed_VVN to_II purchasing_VVG a_AT1 product_NN1 ._. 
By_II financing_VVG purchase_NN1 orders_NN2 ,_, Eitelberg_NP1 essentially_RR pays_VVZ the_AT factory_NN1 to_TO manufacture_VVI the_AT goods_NN2 ._. 
Hartsko_NN1 also_RR pays_VVZ to_TO have_VHI the_AT finished_JJ products_NN2 shipped_VVN from_II the_AT factory_NN1 ._. 
Once_CS Hartsko_NP1 is_VBZ paid_VVN for_IF the_AT merchandise_NN1 ,_, it_PPH1 takes_VVZ its_APPGE cut_NN1 and_CC hands_NN2 over_II the_AT rest_NN1 to_II its_APPGE customer_NN1 ._. 
There_EX are_VBR only_RR a_AT1 half-dozen_NNO or_CC so_RG major_JJ purchase-order_JJ financing_NN1 companies_NN2 in_II the_AT country_NN1 ,_, and_CC overall_JJ numbers_NN2 on_II their_APPGE business_NN1 are_VBR hard_JJ to_TO find_VVI ._. 
A_AT1 Hartsko_NN1 competitor_NN1 ,_, Edward_NP1 P._NP1 King_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS founded_VVD the_AT Dallas-based_JJ King_NNB Trade_NP1 Capital_NN1 17_MC years_NNT2 ago_RA ,_, said_VVD his_APPGE business_NN1 grew_VVD about_RG 10_MC percent_NNU in_II 2009_MC ._. 
He_PPHS1 said_VVD he_PPHS1 could_VM have_VHI done_VDN two_MC or_CC three_MC times_NNT2 as_RG much_DA1 business_NN1 but_CCB was_VBDZ cautious_JJ ,_, given_VVN the_AT uncertainty_NN1 of_IO the_AT economy_NN1 ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 risky_JJ year_NNT1 ,_, "_" King_NN1 says_VVZ ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 could_VM have_VHI grown_VVN an_AT1 enormous_JJ amount_NN1 ,_, but_CCB I_PPIS1 'm_VBM not_XX sure_JJ we_PPIS2 would_VM n't_XX be_VBI fighting_VVG some_DD battles_NN2 right_RR now_RT ._. "_" 
(_( Banks_NN2 may_VM dabble_VVI in_II purchase-order_JJ financing_NN1 ,_, but_CCB usually_RR only_RR for_IF existing_JJ clients_NN2 ._. 
One_MC1 big_JJ bank_NN1 that_CST that_DD1 has_VHZ a_AT1 separate_JJ unit_NN1 for_IF such_DA lending_NN1 ,_, Wells_NP1 Fargo_NP1 ,_, says_VVZ that_CST this_DD1 business_NN1 has_VHZ increased_VVN ,_, even_RR while_CS its_APPGE traditional_JJ small-business_JJ lending_NN1 has_VHZ dropped_VVN ._. )_) 
Eitelberg_NP1 says_VVZ he_PPHS1 does_VDZ n't_XX care_VVI much_RR about_II his_APPGE customers_NN2 '_GE credit_NN1 scores_NN2 or_CC their_APPGE past_JJ financial_JJ problems_NN2 ._. 
He_PPHS1 simply_RR wants_VVZ to_TO know_VVI that_CST they_PPHS2 have_VH0 a_AT1 solid_JJ deal_NN1 in_II the_AT works_NN and_CC a_AT1 purchase_NN1 order_NN1 to_TO prove_VVI it_PPH1 ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 look_VV0 for_IF a_AT1 viable_JJ transaction_NN1 when_CS we_PPIS2 do_VD0 business_NN1 ,_, not_XX the_AT net_JJ worth_NN1 of_IO the_AT company_NN1 or_CC the_AT balance_NN1 sheet_NN1 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 says_VVZ ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 say_VV0 we_PPIS2 look_VV0 past_II the_AT balance_NN1 sheet_NN1 ._. "_" 
Eitelberg_NP1 estimates_VVZ that_CST his_APPGE business_NN1 increased_VVD 80_MC percent_NNU in_II 2009_MC ,_, but_CCB his_APPGE money_NN1 does_VDZ n't_XX come_VVI cheap_JJ ._. 
It_PPH1 's_VBZ typically_RR 3.5_MC percent_NNU for_IF the_AT first_MD 30_MC days_NNT2 ,_, and_CC 1.25_MC percent_NNU for_IF every_AT1 10_MC days_NNT2 after_II that_DD1 ,_, an_AT1 annualized_JJ percentage_NN1 north_ND1 of_IO 40_MC percent_NNU ._. 
Most_DAT loans_NN2 ,_, he_PPHS1 says_VVZ ,_, are_VBR repaid_VVN within_II 60_MC days_NNT2 ._. 
"_" For_IF lack_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 better_JJR word_NN1 ,_, it_PPH1 's_VBZ almost_RR like_II loan_NN1 sharking_VVG ,_, "_" says_VVZ Levy_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS said_VVD his_APPGE bank_NN1 loans_NN2 were_VBDR at_II 6_MC or_CC 7_MC percent_NNU annualized_JJ interest_NN1 ._. 
"_" But_CCB there_EX 's_VBZ a_AT1 need_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 had_VHD no_AT choice_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 's_VBZ the_AT only_JJ way_NN1 I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ going_VVGK to_TO get_VVI the_AT business_NN1 ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 know_VV0 I_PPIS1 paid_VVD them_PPHO2 a_RR21 lot_RR22 ,_, but_CCB without_IW them_PPHO2 ,_, I_PPIS1 would_VM have_VHI been_VBN home_RL watching_VVG cartoons_NN2 ._. "_" 
Eitelberg_NP1 bristles_NN2 at_II such_DA comments_NN2 ,_, saying_VVG that_DD1 purchase-order_JJ lending_NN1 is_VBZ ultimately_RR a_AT1 risky_JJ business_NN1 and_CC that_CST his_APPGE fees_NN2 are_VBR more_DAR than_CSN justified_JJ ._. 
He_PPHS1 says_VVZ he_PPHS1 bases_VVZ his_APPGE fees_NN2 on_II industry_NN1 averages_NN2 and_CC the_AT cost_NN1 for_IF Hartsko_NN1 to_TO borrow_VVI money_NN1 from_II a_AT1 bank_NN1 ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 're_VBR just_RR saying_VVG that_CST for_IF the_AT period_NN1 of_IO time_NNT1 when_RRQ you_PPY are_VBR using_VVG our_APPGE bank_NN1 lines_NN2 and_CC our_APPGE cash_NN1 to_TO run_VVI your_APPGE business_NN1 ,_, that_CST you_PPY pay_VV0 us_PPIO2 a_AT1 fee_NN1 for_IF what_DDQ that_DD1 's_VBZ worth_NN1 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 says_VVZ ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 believe_VV0 it_PPH1 's_VBZ a_AT1 rate_NN1 that_CST is_VBZ fair_JJ ._. "_" 
Eitelberg_NP1 began_VVD Hartsko_NP1 in_II 2004_MC after_II working_VVG for_IF years_NNT2 on_II the_AT financial_JJ side_NN1 of_IO the_AT garment_NN1 industry_NN1 ,_, following_VVG in_II the_AT footsteps_NN2 of_IO his_APPGE father_NN1 ,_, who_PNQS ran_VVD a_AT1 women_NN2 's_GE swimwear_NN1 company_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 says_VVZ he_PPHS1 worked_VVD for_IF several_DA2 garment_NN1 companies_NN2 that_CST struggled_VVD to_TO stay_VVI afloat_JJ and_CC had_VHD to_TO seek_VVI purchase-order_JJ financing_NN1 ,_, often_RR called_VVN PO_NN1 financing_NN1 ._. 
Eitelberg_NP1 said_VVD he_PPHS1 had_VHD an_AT1 epiphany_NN1 one_MC1 day_NNT1 that_CST he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ in_II the_AT wrong_JJ business_NN1 ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 said_VVD :_: 'It_NN1 's_GE amazing_JJ ,_, the_AT only_JJ person_NN1 that_CST came_VVD out_II21 of_II22 this_DD1 thing_NN1 was_VBDZ the_AT PO_NN1 financing_NN1 company_NN1 ._. 
They_PPHS2 made_VVD a_AT1 ton_NNU1 of_IO money_NN1 and_CC these_DD2 companies_NN2 died_VVD ,_, '_" "_" he_PPHS1 recalls_VVZ ._. 
"_" 'So_NN1 why_RRQ am_VBM I_PPIS1 doing_VDG this_DD1 ?_? 
Why_RRQ do_VD0 n't_XX I_PPIS1 do_VDI that_DD1 ?_? '_" 
"_" He_PPHS1 started_VVD Hartsko_NP1 with_IW a_AT1 loan_NN1 from_II several_DA2 investors_NN2 and_CC a_AT1 $1_NNU million_NNO credit_NN1 line_NN1 from_II a_AT1 bank_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 lent_VVD his_APPGE first_MD customer_NN1 $200,000_NNU to_TO make_VVI throws_NN2 and_CC pillows_NN2 ,_, and_CC his_APPGE business_NN1 has_VHZ grown_VVN every_AT1 year_NNT1 since_II then_RT ,_, by_II networking_VVG at_II trade_NN1 shows_NN2 and_CC word_NN1 of_IO mouth_NN1 ._. 
These_DD2 days_NNT2 ,_, he_PPHS1 says_VVZ ,_, Hartsko_NP1 's_GE customers_NN2 fall_VV0 into_II three_MC categories_NN2 :_: startups_VVZ that_CST have_VH0 little_DA1 or_CC no_AT collateral_NN1 ,_, growth_NN1 companies_NN2 that_CST might_VM be_VBI profitable_JJ but_CCB ca_VM n't_XX get_VVI enough_DD financing_NN1 from_II banks_NN2 ,_, and_CC troubled_JJ companies_NN2 that_CST nonetheless_RR have_VH0 viable_JJ purchase_NN1 orders_NN2 ._. 
Last_MD year_NNT1 ,_, Hartsko_NP1 lent_VVD roughly_RR $150_NNU million_NNO ,_, compared_VVN with_IW $84_NNU million_NNO in_II 2008_MC and_CC $60_NNU million_NNO the_AT year_NNT1 before_II that_DD1 ,_, he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
He_PPHS1 estimates_VVZ that_CST the_AT company_NN1 will_VM lend_VVI about_RG $240_NNU million_NNO this_DD1 year_NNT1 ._. 
Profit_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 says_VVZ ,_, was_VBDZ in_II the_AT "_" high_JJ six_MC figures_NN2 "_" in_II 2009_MC ._. 
Eitelberg_NP1 oversees_VVZ Hartsko_NP1 's_GE operation_NN1 from_II a_AT1 corner_NN1 desk_NN1 ,_, with_IW two_MC of_IO his_APPGE employees_NN2 close_VV0 at_II hand_NN1 :_: his_APPGE father_NN1 ,_, Lenny_NP1 Eitelberg_NP1 ,_, the_AT former_DA swimwear_NN1 merchant_NN1 ,_, and_CC Nelson_NP1 Goldberg_NP1 ,_, another_DD1 garment-industry_JJ veteran_NN1 ._. 
The_AT three_MC carry_VV0 on_RP a_AT1 nearly_RR constant_JJ banter_NN1 about_II potential_JJ deals_NN2 ,_, loans_NN2 that_CST are_VBR under_RR21 way_RR22 and_CC potential_JJ problems_NN2 with_IW existing_JJ clients_NN2 ._. 
"_" Nothing_PN1 surprises_VVZ us_PPIO2 here_RL ,_, "_" Lenny_NP1 says_VVZ ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 've_VH0 seen_VVN it_PPH1 all_DB ._. "_" 
Eitelberg_NP1 says_VVZ he_PPHS1 learned_VVD the_AT hard_JJ way_NN1 about_II the_AT importance_NN1 of_IO background_NN1 checks_VVZ for_IF his_APPGE customers_NN2 ._. 
Because_CS Hartsko_NP1 finances_NN2 the_AT production_NN1 of_IO goods_NN2 --_NN1 rather_II21 than_II22 lending_VVG money_NN1 directly_RR to_II its_APPGE customers_NN2 --_NN1 it_PPH1 ends_VVZ up_RP owning_VVG the_AT inventory_NN1 if_CS a_AT1 deal_NN1 collapses_NN2 ._. 
So_RR Hartsko_NP1 has_VHZ been_VBN stuck_VVN with_IW auto_NN1 parts_NN2 ,_, media_NN players_NN2 and_CC women_NN2 's_GE sandals_NN2 ,_, which_DDQ Eitelberg_NP1 tries_VVZ to_TO sell_VVI for_IF whatever_DDQV he_PPHS1 can_VM get_VVI ._. 
But_CCB 49_MC boxes_NN2 of_IO the_AT sandals_NN2 remain_VV0 stacked_VVN outside_II the_AT office_NN1 door_NN1 ,_, alongside_II the_AT staircase_NN1 ._. 
And_CC he_PPHS1 says_VVZ he_PPHS1 's_VBZ still_RR fighting_VVG to_TO recover_VVI his_APPGE biggest_JJT loan_NN1 loss_NN1 --_NN1 $500,000_NNU that_CST he_PPHS1 lent_VVD to_II a_AT1 company_NN1 that_CST says_VVZ it_PPH1 was_VBDZ making_VVG olive_JJ oil_NN1 in_II Italy_NP1 ,_, though_CS the_AT shipment_NN1 did_VDD n't_XX arrive_VVI ._. 
He_PPHS1 estimates_VVZ that_CST roughly_RR 5_MC percent_NNU of_IO his_APPGE deals_NN2 go_VV0 sour_JJ ._. 
As_II a_AT1 result_NN1 ,_, Eitelberg_NP1 now_RT uses_VVZ private_JJ detectives_NN2 to_TO help_VVI with_IW background_NN1 checks_NN2 ._. 
In_RR21 addition_RR22 ,_, he_PPHS1 makes_VVZ sure_JJ that_CST merchandise_NN1 is_VBZ inspected_VVN before_CS it_PPH1 leaves_VVZ the_AT factory_NN1 ._. 
On_II a_AT1 recent_JJ weekday_NNT1 afternoon_NNT1 ,_, two_MC of_IO Hartsko_NP1 's_GE customers_NN2 stopped_VVN at_II the_AT office_NN1 to_TO meet_VVI Eitelberg_NP1 and_CC to_TO map_VVI out_RP financing_VVG needs_NN2 in_II the_AT coming_JJ year_NNT1 ._. 
The_AT customers_NN2 ,_, Erik_NP1 Searles_NP2 and_CC Mark_NP1 Cardinale_NP1 ,_, said_VVD they_PPHS2 had_VHD bought_VVN a_AT1 children_NN2 's_GE clothing_NN1 brand_NN1 called_VVN Sprockets_NN2 and_CC were_VBDR hoping_VVG to_TO sell_VVI the_AT clothing_NN1 nationwide_RL ._. 
Eitelberg_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS already_RR had_VHD provided_VVN Sprockets_NN2 with_IW one_MC1 loan_NN1 ,_, offered_VVD to_TO continue_VVI financing_VVG the_AT company_NN1 until_CS it_PPH1 was_VBDZ established_VVN enough_RR to_TO qualify_VVI for_IF less_RGR expensive_JJ credit_NN1 ._. 
Like_II several_DA2 other_JJ Hartsko_NN1 customers_NN2 ,_, Searles_NP2 said_VVD he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ grateful_JJ ,_, despite_II the_AT cost_NN1 of_IO the_AT loans_NN2 ._. 
Instead_RR ,_, customers_NN2 reserved_VVD their_APPGE ire_NN1 for_IF the_AT federal_JJ government_NN1 and_CC the_AT banks_NN2 ,_, saying_VVG the_AT billions_NNO2 of_IO bailout_NN1 money_NN1 larded_VVD on_II Wall_NP1 Street_NNL1 had_VHD done_VDN nothing_PN1 to_TO help_VVI them_PPHO2 ._. 
"_" The_AT money_NN1 is_VBZ n't_XX going_VVG to_II the_AT people_NN who_PNQS actually_RR need_VV0 it_PPH1 ,_, "_" Cardinale_NP1 says_VVZ ._. 
James_NP1 LaBarber_NP1 ,_, another_DD1 Hartsko_NN1 customer_NN1 ,_, whose_DDQGE company_NN1 sells_VVZ vinyl_NN1 flooring_NN1 ,_, says_VVZ he_PPHS1 has_VHZ been_VBN a_AT1 customer_NN1 at_II Bank_NN1 of_IO America_NP1 for_IF 29_MC years_NNT2 ._. 
He_PPHS1 said_VVD bank_NN1 officials_NN2 told_VVD him_PPHO1 that_CST it_PPH1 would_VM take_VVI 6_MC to_II 12_MC months_NNT2 to_TO get_VVI a_AT1 loan_NN1 ._. 
