SLCC

SHOP LOCAL COLUMBIA COUNTY

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY www.thechronicleonline.com

NOVEMBER 28, 2020 A PUBLICATION OF The Chronicle

Page 2

Small Business Saturday

November 25, 2020

Richardson’s: Still going strong MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Shop Local The Chronicle proudly presents the following special section, Shop Local, which features just a few of our community’s small businesses, highlights Small Business Saturday and provides insight into Columbia County’s Keep It Local campaign.

We are all in this together to help sustain and boost our local economy, support our small business and strengthen the livability of our community.

We encourage you to join us in shopping locally during Small Business Saturday on Nov. 28 and throughout the holidays.

Jeremy C. Ruark Publisher / Editor Monique Merrill General Assignment Reporter Amy Trull Marketing Consultant James Yang Creative Director Kelli Nicholson Office Manager Jon Lowrance Driver The Chronicle The Chief

Richardson’s Furniture Gallery in St. Helens has been around for over half of a century and is still going strong, providing a local option for mattresses, recliners and other home goods.

“We just celebrated our 61st anniversary, so we’ve definitely been here for a while,” owner Annie Davis said.

Annie and her husband Joe officially purchased the business from her parents two years ago, but Joe had been managing it for years prior to the sale.

They have had to adapt to the pandemic-related changes and restrictions on retailers, like changing sales around to

limit how many people can come in.

“Its definitely been a crazy year for I think everybody and we’ve been very lucky that the community has been very supportive of us since we’ve reopened,” Davis said.

The store has a website to showcase the catalog of what the store can order, but doesn’t offer online purchases. The best way to shop is in person, she said.

“Definitely come in, visiting our showroom is the best way to see what’s in stock and what we have available right now for purchase,” Davis said.

“Our floor is getting changed almost daily. We get new things in and things go out.”

Since the pandemic drove many people to begin working from home, Davis saw an

uptick in people buying home office goods. She also saw an increase in sales of comfortable couches, recliners and living room furniture.

“They’re spending a lot more time at home so it’s important to be comfortable there,” she said.

Shoppers should keep their eyes peeled for the store’s Christmas sales which will start soon and continue through the end of year.

“Recliners are usually a big gift-giving item for people,” Davis said. People also like to buy accessories like lamps and clocks to give as gifts.

Richardsons is located at 2015 Columbia Boulevard in St. Helens and can be reached at 503-397-1329.

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Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

Richardson’s offers a variety of home goods.

you’reaalover lover of ourour If Ifyou’re ofNoble NobleFirs Firs– -Come Comevisit visit farm and see the hand-pruning techniques farm and see the hand-pruning techniques we we usetotoretain retainthe theNatural NaturalBeauty Beautyofofthe the use Northwest Noble. We have a large Northwest Noble.

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Small Business Saturday

November 25, 2020

Keep it Local Columbia County

JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

In an effort to support local businesses, a campaign began in 2014 called Keep it Local Columbia County (KILCC).

KILCC representative Natasha Parvey shares insight about the campaign in the following conversation with The Chronicle.

The Chronicle: When and why did the Keep it Local Columbia County effort begin?

Natasha Parvey: Keep it Local CC began as a grassroots effort to promote shop local with the guidance and leadership support from the Ford Family Foundation in 2014. The mission was, and is, to support local businesses by implementing a “Shop Local” program.

KILCC worked with American Independent Business Alliance (AMBIA) to determine needs in our communities and it found people would shop locally if they knew where to shop. One of the solutions was to create an online website for local businesses and events, hence our website www.KeepItLocalCC.com was launched.

We had the website updated in January 2020 to make it easier to navigate.

Keep It Local CC is a project under Columbia County Business Alliance (CCBA), a 501(c)3, that was formed in 2017. Keep It Local CC works closely with Columbia County Economic Team (CCET).

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The Chronicle: How has the project evolved since its beginning and how is Small Business Saturday a key part of the campaign?

Parvey: We started as a group of community leaders and business owners to formalize to a nonprofit CCBA partnered with CCET. Keep It Local CC is a project of CCBA. In 2016, we started a campaign to promote local businesses across Columbia County called “Catch The Holiday Spirit Campaign.”

The Clatskanie Chamber had been doing this campaign for many years and it was tested in 2015 with Rainier Chamber before taken countywide the following year. We tracked $26,000 in the first year for local spending during a four-week marketing campaign to $96,000 in the fourth year in 2019. This year we have added a digital catalog called “Holiday Gift Guide” to showcase local products

as ideas to purchase for the holiday.

We promote Shop Small Saturday as a collective. It helps remind locals to keep their dollars in their community.

The Chronicle: What have been the successes of this campaign?

Parvey: In our fifth year for Catch the Holiday Spirit Across Columbia County Campaign, we have a recordbreaking number of businesses participating at 86. We tracked $96,000 spent locally during our four-week campaign in 2019. The success comes in when local businesses promote the campaign and shoppers spend locally first.

The Chronicle: Given the current challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, why do you believe it is even more important for Columbia County residents to shop locally?

The Chronicle: What have been the challenges of moving the overall campaign and the Catch the Holiday Spirit Across Columbia County effort online and what have been the rewards?

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Parvey: This campaign has always listed businesses on our website and we can drive potential customers to their business using social media and the power of advertising the event as a group.

This year we are adding a digital catalog that will feature products that can be purchased right from the business in the catalog or you can go to that business to inquire about the item. It puts many businesses all in one spot to support with gift ideas.

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Parvey: According to AMBIA, for every $1.00 spent at a local business, it is re-spent six times. Local businesses employ local people. It makes sense to put your money back into your community by shopping local. You can shop local, dine or take out local food, hire local professionals, explore local and give local. If you want to see a vibrant community, you have to put your money where your home is.

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Small Business Saturday

November 25, 2020

Shop local economics

JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net

The effort to encourage locals to shop local in Columbia County isn’t just about sustaining local businesses, it is also about quality of life and building communities, according to Paul Vogel, Columbia County Economic Team (CCET) executive director.

Vogel shares his insight in the following conversation with The Chronicle.

The Chronicle: Given the current pandemic, shopping locally (following the current health and safety guidelines

and requirements) certainly seems more important now. If so, why is that?

Paul Vogel: It does seem more important, for a number of reasons.

First, underlying the Oregon freeze now in effect is reducing or avoiding travel – especially – to or from urban or more populous areas with higher COVID counts.

Reducing exposure means staying closer to home. Home is local. Do your business locally.

Second, most of us live where we live for the quality of life. Quality of life includes the merchants and makers, suppliers and service companies – that live here with us. They’re part of what makes a community. Most businesses are struggling to adapt to the effect on foot traffic and mobility from the pandemic. People can go out of their way to think local first; support local businesses – before just automatically

getting online to shop. That’s easy and convenient. Shopping locally takes a little more effort, but our neighbors and communities are better for it, and that makes it better for us, too.

And the businesses need to keep using their best common sense and practices in cleaning, using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), arranging for physical distancing, protecting employees, customers and their own businesses.

The Chronicle: Should there be more opportunities for Small Business Saturday, (SBS) giving employers more reach and locals more options? If so, how could that work, and could it involve specific products for specific days of the week?

Vogel: At CCET, we tend to think “local,” so Small Business Saturday means go visit – even online local small businesses. SBS was origi-

nated to create awareness and help counter the Black Friday phenomenon. Even Black Friday is going to look different in 2020 (like everything else), and “holiday shopping – or rather “marketing” – began in early October. So anything to highlight SBS in this environment is welcome.

That could be employers, especially mid to larger ones, adopting the shop/keep it local culture and encouraging employees through communication, encouragement - and policy/practice - where they buy their company goods.

A nationally recognized “day” is useful for attracting attention and awareness, but every day needs to be small business day. We need to stay focused, and increase that focus – everyday.

There’s never been a more important time to be doing everything possible to stay “open” in a functional way, and it’s even more important to be making sure that people know you’re open.

Picking days, collaboratively, even down to three businesses in the same block, is a worthwhile collaboration to celebrate and promote.

Going larger with promotion is productive too. Pool resources and work together to remind people “we’re here,” creatively hook them, and give them a great customer experience to bring them back again and again.

The Chronicle: From your vantage point, how can businesses collectively collaborate to make shopping locally more effective and profitable?

Vogel: To some extent, by doing what we see businesses doing: collaborating, copromoting, pooling resources and sharing customers.

There’s help in that regard: The South County Chamber has their “pop-ups” going. Keep It Local has the Holiday Campaign underway – which benefits sponsors,

participating businesses, and customers. All the chambers continue to meet, collaborate, and look out for each other.

Being creative can be one business or a couple-three businesses; find ways to share or help each other draw customers. Promote your block, promote products or services that compliment each other.

Look around and fill gaps.

Now is a critical time for being opportunistic, rather than trying to make things like they were.

CCET is helping provide grants, PPE, and business training and tactics.

We’ve partnered all across the county on these things.

Partnership works. Collaboration works. Taking care of each other works – and builds long-term business and customer relationships.

To reach the Columbia County Economic Team, call 503-805-5139, or visit paulvogel@columbiacountyoregon.com.

Merry Christmas

1620 Columbia Blvd, St Helens, OR 97051 | (503) 397-0123

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Small Business Saturday

November 25, 2020

A taste of festival life

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

Feathers & Leathers is located at 295 S First St. in St. Helens.

MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net

For everyone yearning for a taste of rodeo and festival life, look no further than Feathers & Leathers, a boutique that’s equal measures country, rock and roll, and bohemian.

Married couple Heidi Cuthbert and Craig Jenkins own the shop, which started as a traveling booth that would

hit up the festival and rodeo scene in the summers. About two years ago the two decided to open up a brick-and-mortar retail location on First Street in St. Helens after Cuthbert noticed the vacant space for rent on while on a jog.

Jenkins said he’s watched as new businesses and restaurants have revitalized the downtown area over the years.

“It’s come alive compared to four years ago,” he said.

In a normal year, the two usually take their goods on the road to seven or eight festivals, but this year is anything but normal. Still, Jenkins said the last three months at the retail location were the best yet.

“We’re great,” he said.

“There’s a lot of local support.”

He anticipates business may slow down a touch until holiday shopping picks up due to less travelers coming through the area for Halloweentown and summer getaways, but is constantly bringing in new products to draw buyers’ interests.

In addition to frequentlyupdated inventory, the shop has a new online presence.

It has long had an Instagram presence, where Jenkins said people can message the page to place an order, but now there is an online buying option at its website, feathersandleathersbyheidi-style.com.

The store may have started as a traveling boutique set up at festivals, but the products

All About Pets LLC

have settled into more practical and everyday apparel. Clothes that women can wear from the barn to the town, Jenkins said.

They also sell clothes and accessories for men, home goods (including soaps made in St. Helens) and handmade leather bags— Jenkins himself does the leatherwork and can

create custom bags and purses.

“About four years ago I made the first one and just started tweaking the styles until we figured it out,” Jenkins said. “We try to be unique.”

People looking for custom gifts can seek out a leather good, or take advantage of the store’s printing machine that

creates personalized trucker hats. Any image or text can be printed on the hats, which makes for unique gifts, Jenkins said.

Feathers & Leathers is located at 295 S First St. in St. Helens and may be reached at 503-943-0208.

We’re grateful for our community.

Happy Thanksgiving.

This Holiday Season We Can Make a Difference.

Your holiday donation will help provide Christmas food, toys, and clothing to local Scappoose and Warren families in need.

Please fill in the donation ticket below and send it with your special gift today. Thank you!

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We are a 501C3 non-profit thru the Scappoose Volunteer Firefighters Association

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Small Business Saturday

November 25, 2020

Tail wagging adventure at Wiggle Butz MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net

Amidst the madness of shopping for holiday hams, pies and sides, one may easily forget to pick up a special treat for their pets at home. That’s where Wiggle Butz comes in.

This “dog bakery” makes a variety of baked dog treats fit for any occasion. It also sells treats, toys and food for all kinds of pets, but the homemade dog treats are how it began.

Donna LeBleu was inspired to start the business over a decade ago when she was a stay-at-home mom looking to bring in extra income and saw the idea online.

“I love baking, I love dogs

and I gave it a shot,” LeBleu said.

She has been baking the treats for a while, but didn’t have a retail location until 2018. Before that it was just an at-home side business and LeBleu would sell the treats to local pet stores and online through her website and Etsy account.

Now people and their pets alike can stop by the bakery to pick up treats and toys. All the dog treats are made from scratch using safe and simple ingredients, but the store also sells treats and food for other animals that are purchased, LeBleu said.

“I would do cats, I love cats, but they’re so finicky.

It’s just kind of hit or miss for them,” she said. “Right now

Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle

Toys for your furry friends line the shelves at Wiggle Butz.

it’s just dogs.”

Her two dogs (a chocolate Labrador named Betty and a blue Chihuahua named Olive)

Feathers & Leathers Boutique & Leatherworks was EST. in 2012. Started out and continues as a mobile boutique attending Country Music Festivals and Rodeo’s. Now has a brick & mortar on the downtown waterfront in St Helens on 1st Street. Western & Boho fashion.

My style....HeidiStyle.

are in charge of quality control and the first to try new recipes.

Over the summer LeBleu experimented with making gummy dog treats for older dogs with teeth problems, and tested them on her dogs.

“My dogs didn’t like them, it was a consistency thing, but after a few she grew to love them,” she said. “It was a texture thing.”

When LeBleu can get a refrigerator for the shop, she will start to sell the gummy treats.

LeBleu has a full-time store manager and a baker to help handle the day-to-day operations so she can focus on her day job and come in to help with the specialty orders and online sales.

Orders from the Wiggle Butz Etsy store have picked up

lately, she said.

“It’s actually a lot of East Coast— New Jersey, New York, Chicago,” she said.

“Most of our stuff goes that far.”

LeBleu is encouraging preorders this year due to keep up with the holiday demand.

“Hopefully everyone will get what they want, and we’ll know where we’re at and everyone will be happy” she said. “For the Christmas cookies for sure.”

Each holiday has its own set of themed dog treats: turkey leg- and potato-shaped and decorated cookies for Thanksgiving; candy caneand gingerbread man-shaped for Christmas. The store also has a year round variety of fun themed dog cookies, like

Happy Holidays from

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MONGILLO’s Rideshare Services, LLC. Owner/operator Renee Thayer: 971-328-2440•De’ Scorpian Broaddus: 503-396-7572

Happy Holidays from Mongillo’s Rideshare Services LLC. Please schedule your ride to go to the store or do your holiday shopping. We’ll take $5.00 off your Get $5 off ride if you bring an unwrapped toy with you. The toy will be donated to the local Les Schwab Toy drive.

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pumpkin biscotti, cranberry hearts and cinnamon trees.

They also sell in bulk for single-ingredient treats, which are made from outside producers.

Visitors to the shop over the holiday season will also have an opportunity to support the humane society. A Christmas tree is set up with tags on it describing the products needed at the local shelter, and shoppers can purchase and donate the items in a bin beneath the tree.

“They love it, and it’s nice for the dogs at Christmas,” LeBleu said.

Wiggle Butz is located at 1945 Columbia Boulevard in St. Helens and can be reached at 503-410-5752.

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Small Business Saturday

November 25, 2020

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Small Business Saturday

November 25, 2020