A celebration of creativity Marketing matters How to reach potential customers..............................................................4
Home grown The valley is bountiful with local foods...................................................6
Enduring ideas Some local producers have been at it for years....................8
Liquid assets If you can drink it, someone here probably made it.....10 Photo by Sue Misao
elcome to the inaugural edition of Made in the Methow, a special supplement that we intend to publish annually. The Methow Valley is home to a growing variety of unique creative forces. Through imagination, inspiration, idealism, entrepreneurism, spiritual expression or some mixture of motivations, dozens of local individuals and small companies are specializing in products that are noteworthy for their quality and lasting appeal. Made in the Methow focuses on that remarkable range of distinct products, with the intent of helping to spread the word to a world of potential customers. It includes feature stories about local people, local ideas, local marketing efforts and local impacts of the made-here economy. Be sure to also check out our directory of lo-
cal providers – please use it as a resource, and as a means of pointing friends and visitors toward the valley’s products. Special thanks must go to our co-sponsors: TwispWorks, the Twisp Chamber of Commerce and the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce. Their partnership went a long way toward making Made in the Methow possible, and also toward establishing a consistent Methow “brand” that will benefit every aspect of the valley’s economy. We appreciate their willingness to join us in this initial effort to spotlight some of the things that make the Methow a promising place to do business. Made in the Methow illuminates the valley’s passion for originality, and we hope will help raise the profile of everyone who is part of that spirit. –Don Nelson
Rock solid Turning stones into works of art....................................................................12
Why here? How the Methow nurtures creativity.....................................................14
Help is available Assistance for entrepreneurs............................................................................16
Made in the Methow directory.........18 Cover photo by Laurelle Walsh: Agnes Almquist and her husband John have been creating signature pottery from their Winthrop studio since 1976.
mazama store 2012 Don Nelson, publisher/editor Sue Misao, design Robin Doggett, ad sales Callie Fink, ad sales Dana Sphar, ad design/production Linda Day, ad design Marilyn Bardin, office manager Janet Mehus, office assistant
A little bit of everything good... Featuring a variety of local foods and handmade goods exclusive to the Methow Valley
996-2855 Open Daily 7am - 6pm • 50 Lost River Road
Contributors Alison Gillette Mike Maltais Ann McCreary Don Nelson Rose Weagant Norton Marcy Stamper Laurelle Walsh A publication of the Methow Valley News PO Box 97, Twisp, WA 98856 509.997.7011 Fax 509.997.3277 editor@methowvalleynews.com www.methowvalleynews.com MADE IN THE METHOW 3