T H E M O N T H LY B U S I N E S S S E C T I O N F O R L I N N A N D B E N T O N C O U N T I E S A N D T H E M I D - W I L L A M E T T E VA L L E Y
www.democratherald.com/business • www.gazettetimes.com/business
October 2013
O U T LO O K : R E TA I L
Merchants launch holiday campaigns Retailers optimistic as key shopping season looms By REBECCA BARRETT
ill a shorter-than-usual shopping season and the drag of a slow economic recovery affect retailers’ all-important holiday sales? Or will predictions of a modest increase in holiday sales ring true this year? Mid-valley merchants are approaching the busiest time of year with a sense of optimism and excitement. And many are preparing to get a jump on the traditional start of the blitz — Black Friday — with promotions and events to attract shoppers early. Betsy Penson, general manager of Heritage Mall in Albany, predicts stores there will out-perform last year’s sales. “It’s going to be a very different year because we have so much going on that wasn’t last year,” Penson said. Those changes include filling the long-vacant 13,000 square feet of space near the Target entrance as Old Navy moves inside the mall, along with several other new smaller merchants and food vendors. “We’re now going to have a bright, beautiful new energized store,” Penson said. “We want to be a cool, hip, happening place.” In addition to moving up the arrival of Santa at the mall by one week to Nov. 23, Penson said the mall will be installing three giant televisions in the food court in time for shoppers to watch the annual Civil War football game between the Oregon State Beavers and the University of Oregon Ducks, which happens to fall on Black Friday this year. DAVID PATTON | MID-VALLEY INBUSINESS After a successful opening of stores at midnight after Owner Kat Mondale shows a table top air hockey game, one of the most popular at Go! Calendars & Games in the Heritage Mall in Albany. Thanksgiving last year, many mall merchants will again open early on Black Friday, Penson said. of retailers expected to launch their holiday campaigns Mondale said. before Halloween. Mondale said sales have been a little slow so far, but Getting a jump Kat Mondale,owner of Go! Calendars & Games,a holiday she expects the pace to pick up after Halloween. Many retailers ring up the bulk of their sales during store in the Heritage Mall for the past three years,opened the In Benton County, Downtown Corvallis Association the holiday shopping season. This year is a shorterstore in September with shelves full of calendars representExecutive Director Joan Wessell is meeting with store than-usual holiday season, with 26 days between ing more than 250 breeds of dogs and toys such as a table-top owners to encourage them to extend hours during the Thanksgiving and Christmas. So while most people are size air hockey game and a traditional favorite of cat owners, holiday season to accommodate evening shoppers. still getting ready for trick-or-treating, retailers are althe Weazel Ball,with its never-ceasing floppy tail. ready thinking holiday shopping. “We’ll just have to work as hard as we can to encourAccording to Experian Marketing Services, which “We see people standing outside in the mall watching age people to shop locally,” Wessell said. conducted a survey about holiday strategies, nearly half the Weazel Ball, and they have to come in and see it,” SEE RETAIL | A6
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Burst’s LOCATION: 353 S.W. Madison Ave., Corvallis PHONE NUMBER: 541-753-2864 WEBSITE: www.burstschocolates.com KEY LEADERS: Owner, Patrick Magee; store manager, Erin Rainey NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: Magee and Rainey are full-time; in addition, the business has five part-time workers. WHAT IT DOES: Burst’s makes candies — and has now for 75 years. WHY IT’S WORTH WATCHING: Burst’s, a longtime fixture in Corvallis, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this month, and owner (and chocolatier) Patrick Magee lists two main reasons for the longevity. The first reason: “Really good product,” he says. The second reason: “We’re committed to building relationships with the community.” The store was founded in 1938 by Rhea and Charlie Burst; Magee took over from former owner Don Burck in 1996. Now, even after nearly two decades at the helm of Burst’s, Magee says he’s still having fun at the store: “I’m still young enough to show up every day.”
AMANDA COWAN | CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES
Patrick Magee, right, owner of Burst’s, pauses for a photo with manager Erin Rainey.
And, he says, he’s still learning new tricks,“especially with the social media.” With Halloween and the holidays right around the corner, this is the heart of the busy season for Burst’s: “We kind of keep rolling right through Easter,” Magee says. — Mike McInally, for Mid-Valley InBusiness
B US I N ESS STAT O F T H E M O N T H Oregon initial unemployment claims
Initial unemployment claims
6,644
July
7,225
6,860
June
8,108
Source: University of Oregon Index of Economic Indicators
6,700
May
7,455
6,662
April
2012 2013
7,408
6,362
March
7,683
6,820
9,000 8,500 8,000 7,500 7,000 6,500 6,000 5,500 5,000
8,261
If you need some evidence that Oregon’s unemployment picture slowly is improving, you won’t find it in a month-to-month comparison of a statistic like the number of initial unemployment claims filed each month in the state. But take a broader view — compare the number of claims filed in any given month to the number filed a year ago — and you see some evidence to support the position that our employment picture is a little brighter than it was a year ago.
August
High-poverty hotspots are defined as a census tract or contiguous group of tracts with a combined poverty rate of 20 percent or more. Poverty rates were measured using the Census Bureau’s 2006-2010 five-year American Community Survey. In Benton County, 19 percent of residents were defined as living in poverty – although the inclusion of Oregon State University students certainly skewed that number. In Linn and Lincoln counties, 16 percent of residents fall underneath the poverty standard. The state average is 14 percent. Here are the high-poverty hotspots in Benton and Linn counties: • South Corvallis, the area bounded by the Marys and Willamette rivers, the railroad tracks, the West Fork of the Bonneville Channel and Airport Road. • The portion of northwest Corvallis that lies north of Beca and Cornell, south of Conifer, east of Highland and mostly west of Highway 99W. • Southwest Albany extending from the Willamette River south to Highway 34, an area bounded on the west by Bryant Park, Pacific Boulevard and the Calapooia River and on the east by Cox Creek, Geary Street, Columbus Street and Interstate 5. • The north side of Lebanon, extending north along Highway 20 and west along Highway 34.
A6 DAT E B O O K Today: Lebanon Toastmasters meeting, 7:45 a.m., Laticrete, 100 Entek Way. Membership fees apply. Info: Shelly Garrett, 541258-7164. Today: Pharmacy Technician Program pre-application information session, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Linn-Benton Community College Lebanon Center, 44 Industrial Way, Lebanon. Attendance at this session or one to be held Nov. 12 is mandatory in order to take the program, which starts in February. This session is free. Information: LBCC Business, Healthcare and Workforce, 541-917-4923, or www.linnbenton.edu/go/forms. Tuesday: “Lighten Up With LEDs” presentation, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., North Coast Electric, 3130 Kathryn St. N.E., Albany. Free. Info: Matt Kord, North Coast Electric at 206-367-4765 or mkord@ncelec.com. Wednesday: AlbanyArea Chamber of Commerce Membership Forum Luncheon: “The Path to Prosperity,” 11:30 a.m.to 1 p.m., Linn County Fair & Expo Center, 3700 Knox Butte Road N.E.,Albany. Speaker: John Pascone,Albany Millersburg Development Corp. Cost: $13 members registered; $20 guests.Info: 541-926-1517. Thursday: Downtown Trick or Treat, 1 to 5 p.m., downtown Corvallis. Information: 541-754-6624. Thursday: Trunk or Treat, 3 to 5 p.m., Main Street between 12th and 14th streets, downtown Philomath. Children from birth to age 11 can trick or treat from trunks of cars parked along Main Street. Information: 541-929-2203. Saturday: “Remodeling 101,” 10 a.m. to noon, showroom, Corvallis Custom Kitchens & Baths, 602 N.W. Fourth St. Registration: 541-758-6141 or www.ckb.biz. Saturday: Lebanon Crafters Market & Home Based Expo HolidayEdition,9 a.m.to 4 p.m.,Santiam Place Event Hall,139 Main St., Lebanon.Free to public.Info: santiam place@centurytel.net. Monday, Nov. 4: Lebanon Toastmasters meeting, 7:45 a.m., Laticrete, 100 Entek Way. Membership fees apply. Info: Shelly Garrett, 541-258-7164. Thursday,Nov.7: Pesticide applicator class,8 a.m.to noon,Room CC-213,Calapooia Center,Linn-Benton Community College,6500 Pacific Blvd.S.W.,Albany.Cost: $99.Registration: 541-917-4929. Tuesday,Nov.12: Linn Benton Employer Council Seminar: “Understanding Oregon’s Unemployment Insurance Program,” 9 a.m., Central Willamette Community Credit Union Headquarters, 7101 Supra Drive S.W.,Albany. Cost: $60 chamber members; $65 nonmembers. Info: 541-812-8662 or email Jill.A.Weissbeck@state.or.us.
MID-VALLEY InBusiness
Retail Continued from page A5 Downtown Corvallis has several new stores, such as The Blvd Fashion Inc., which recently opened at Third Street and Madison Avenue. Shopping local is not only convenient for shoppers, Wessell said, but also critical to independent businesses. “This is the time that carries folks through the rest of the year,” Wessell said.
Fred Meyer store, the 50th anniversary of the Albanyheadquartered Coastal Farm & Ranch stores, and to thriving local shops, such as the Albany Antique Mall, as examples of a strengthening local economy. Linn County gets more of a bump in its employment numbers during the holidays as retailers hire additional help to deal with the crowds Positive trends of shoppers, said work force Janet Steele, president of analyst Will Summers with the Albany Area Chamber of the Oregon Employment Commerce, said things are Department. looking up compared to “We do expect to see some 2009-2010. hiring going on during the fall “I think things have imwith retail,” Summers said. proved,” Steele said. In Linn County, there’s Unemployment is lower, typically 100 to 150 more and as people get back to people employed in retail work, they are able to do this time of year, he said. more of the things they did While large national rebefore the recession, includ- tailers, such as Wal-Mart, ing shopping. say they are hiring additional “The indicators are holiday workers this year, showing positive improveother stores, including Tarment,” she said. “Right now get and Kohl’s, are reporting the housing market is good.” they’ll add hours for permaLocal industries report nent employees instead of that they expect hiring to temporary jobs. pick up during the next one “Our local numbers are to three years, Steele said, reflecting what you see on a and people are focused on national level,” Summers long-term growth strategies. said. “Folks are getting more hours, but there’s not a lot of She pointed out the rehiring.” cent remodel of the Albany
October 2013
MOVERS&SHAKERS News & Notes C&K sells pharmacies: By mid-November, C&K Market Inc., will sell its pharmacies, the company has announced. C&K owns 15 pharmacies that operate as Pharmacy Express, Tiffany’s Drugs, and Chetco Pharmacy & Gifts in communities in Oregon and Northern California. C&K Market Inc. is a familyowned company based in Brookings. The company operates 60 grocery stores under the banners of Ray’s Food Place, Shop Smart, C&K Market and LoBuck$. More information can be found at www.ckmarket.com. ■ Nonprofit stewards: The Center for Nonprofit Stewardship, headquartered in Philomath, recently elected board officers for 2013-14. They are Grady Goodall, Goodall president; Mike Corwin, president-elect; David Gazeley, vice
president; Dennis Schultz, secretary; and Ketty Herb-Kalberer, treasurer. Directors continuing on the board include Robert Poole, Susan Poole, Paul Smith, Dick Thompson and Mavis Tuten. Bret Scott recently was elected to the board. The Center for Nonprofit Stewardship, formerly known as Financial Stewardship Resources, is a nonprofit organization that provides training services for board members of nonprofit agencies. Further information is available at 541-929-9320 or www.nonprofitsteward.org. ■ Spies joins RE/MAX: Liz Spies has joined RE/MAX Integrity as a broker in the office at 2175 N.W. Professional Drive in Corvallis. Before beginning her career Spies in real estate, Spies worked in animal training with the dolphins at Sea World. She has lived in
Corvallis for 18 months and is fluent in Spanish. She can be reached at 541-9185029. ■ Vanpool honored: The Valley Vanpool program was honored Oct. 8 with the Transportation Options Group of Oregon (ToGo) Outstanding Program of the Year Award for 2013. The award recognizes achievements made by individuals and agencies that contribute to the reduction of single-occupant vehicle miles. Valley Vanpool promotes transportation options by helping commuters share the ride. There are more than 30 vanpool routes throughout the region, helping commuters save money and reduce stress. Valley Vanpool is a partnership involving the Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments in Albany, the Salem-Keizer Transit District and Lane Transit District in Eugene. Representatives of the three agencies were on hand to accept the award at the Oregon Transit Association conference in Bend.
October 2013
MID-VALLEY InBusiness
A7
Halloween spending in U.S. expected to reach $6.9 billion By Janet Moore STAR TRIBUNE (MINNEAPOLIS) (MCT)
As temperatures drop and the economy sputters along, many Americans aren’t exactly in the mood to get their ghoul on this Halloween. Anna Harris of St. Paul, Minn., is among those cutting back this Halloween. “Because I have less
money,” she explained. Still, Harris plans on celebrating by dressing up as Catwoman for two parties. At the St. Paul Wal-Mart store last week, she debated between a black-satin sequined cat mask vs. a leopard-festooned mask (with matching kitty tail). Both bore a price tag of about $5, and she plans on spending another $5 on makeup to complete her feline party look.
For retailers, Halloween is an important revenue bridge between the crucial back-to-school and Christmas buying seasons. And, despite early indications of shopper gloominess, 158 million consumers plan to celebrate Halloween in some manner this year — the most popular activity, of course, will be doling out candy. “Halloween is one of the most
popular holidays of the year, and while we are expecting people to cut back on their spending a bit this Halloween, there’s no sense it will be a bust,” said Kathy Grannis, a spokeswoman for the National Retail Federation. A survey distributed recently by the NRF indicates that nearly 9 in 10 people plan to spend less on candy, costumes and decorations
this Halloween season compared with last year. Total spending on the holiday is expected to reach the $6.9 billion mark nationwide this year — that’s about $75.03 a person, on average, down from $79.82 last year. About a quarter of the 5,200plus consumers surveyed cited the economy as the main reason for the decline.