Feature

How to Make Local Business Owners

What you didn’t know about local purchases

By Lisa Sipe

“CHA-CHING!”

Leela Morimoto’s phone exclaimed, pretending to be a cash register.

“What did you sell?” I asked when I saw the smile appear on her face, knowing the sound was a notification from Etsy telling her someone just made a purchase from her shop, Leemo Designs.

“A magnetic fridge white board,” said Morimoto. “That’s the third one this week.”

“They have good taste,” I giggled, since I use that same board to keep track of what groceries to buy.

That purchase made Morimoto feel good, but she says, “Knowing the majority of that income stays in our community instead of going to a huge corporation is a big plus.”

Other business owners echo the same sentiment.

“When you shop local, you’re actually supporting numerous small businesses in one transaction,” said Randi Holm, co-owner of local company Holm Made Toffee. “You’re not just buying toffee. You’re also supporting the local retailer that carries my product, the local purveyors I source ingredients from, the local vendors that provide services (printing, packaging, linen cleaning, equipment maintenance, plumbers, electricians, etc.). Because most in the small business community often choose to do business with other small businesses, you are unknowingly supporting dozens of other local businesses with your single purchase. Which is amazing to really stop and think about!”

Samantha Barsky, owner of Note•ify and Gift•ify, does the same.

“I take the money I make from selling to individuals locally to support local manufacturers to make my product, and then in turn those manufacturers are spending that money to buy things in the community,” said Barsky, “It’s a cycle.” But before Barsky can put that money back into the community she has to make it. “As a micro business owner who sells paper products, home goods and gifts, the holiday season is my make-it-orbreak-it time of year,” said Barsky, “I rely on holiday sales to help push me through slower times of year. Shopping small and local is what keeps all us going.”

Many Central Oregon businesses rely on local support financially and personally. “My business would not be what it is today without the support of our local community,” said Amber Coffey-Rankin, owner of Lotus Naturals, a clean beauty company. “I love to connect with my customers on a personal level to find the perfect product for whatever they are looking for. Shopping local nurtures a sense of community and keeps me feeling passionate about my small business!”

Adam Mendel, a custom ukulele builder and owner of Joyner Instruments feels similarly. “When I get to build an instrument for a local customer it’s extra special,” said Mendel. “Getting to share their excitement and enthusiasm firsthand is revitalizing and rewarding in a way that’s hard to get from a long-distance project.”

When you buy from a small business, an actual person does a little happy dance. I don’t know who originally said that but it’s more than a cute statement; it’s the truth.

The economic impacts of shopping local

396,925 – number of small businesses in Oregon 893,758 – number of Oregonians employed by a small business 2 out of every 3 – number of new jobs created by small business $20 billion – Amount consumers spend each year at small shops & restaurants 80% - Percent of Americans that make regular online purchases throughout the year

Amanda Long/Amanda Photographic

Randi Holm, of Holm Made Toffee, purchases fresh-baked goods at the downtown Bend Farmers Market from Miki Bekkari, owner of Blissful Spoon.

Shopping local for all your Christmas needs

By Trevor Bradford

Shopping local is a great way to support local businesses in the community. This holiday, find the perfect gift for a loved one at one of Central Oregon’s annual holiday markets. Local vendors, food, music and fun are guaranteed to heighten the holiday feels all season long.

FRIDAY 11/26 HOLIDAY MARKET @ THE GROVE

Local makers will be present selling holiday gifts. Plus, food and drinks will be for sale. Fri., Nov. 26, 11am-4pm. The Grove, 921 NW Mt. Washington Dr., Bend. Free.

SATURDAY

11/27, 12/12, 12/19 MAGICAL MARKET OF MERRIMENT

Somewhere That’s Green is offering three Maker’s Markets this holiday season within their plant shop! Merriment and rotating vendors will be plentiful, and the markets will include a trolley full of candy goods. Sat., Nov. 27, Dec. 12, Dec. 19, 11am-5pm. Somewhere That’s Green, 1017 NE 2nd St., Bend. Free.

SATURDAY 11/27

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

12/11 & 12/12 11TH ANNUAL CRAFT-O HOLIDAY BAZAAR!

More than 75 vendors will attend this annual holiday bazaar. Gifts, food, drinks, music and fun will fill this holiday weekend! Sat., Dec. 11 & Dec.12, 9am-5pm. Old Ironworks, 50 SE Scott St., Bend. $5.

SATURDAY

12/4 POWELL BUTTE ART & CRAFT SHOW

A holiday show featuring local artisans and unique handmade gifts like knitted hats, fleece blankets and more! Sat., Dec. 4, 10am-4pm. Powell Butte Community Center, 8404 SW Reif Rd., Bend. Free.

SATURDAY

12/4 3RD ANNUAL MAKER’S HOLIDAY MARKET

Support local and shop small with only local Central Oregon vendors to choose from at Tula Movement Arts’ holiday market. Sat., Dec. 4 & Dec. 5, 11am5pm. Tula Movement Arts, 2797 Northwest Clearwater Dr., Bend. Free.

SATURDAY 12/11 SATURDAY 11/27

BEND SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY OPEN MARKET

Enjoy tons of local maker and artisan booths as you sip mimosas and take in locally made items. Plus, take part in the silent auction and toy drive that benefits the Every Child Co. Sat., Nov. 27, 9am-5pm. Open Space Event Studios, 220 NE Lafayette Ave. Bend. Free.

SUNDAY 11/28

Courtesy Fawkes Confectionary

SAN SIMON – HOLIDAY BROCANTE

Pick up some beautiful chocolates from Fawkes Confectionary at this holiday-styled flea market. Sun., Nov. 28, 2-6pm. San Simõn, 845 NW Tin Pan Alley. Bend. Free.

SATURDAY 12/4

Courtesy Bend Brewing Co

HOLIDAY MARKET @ BEND BREWING CO.

Find the perfect holiday gift from local makers and vendors. Plus, enjoy festive beers and hot drinks at this BBC holiday market. Sat., Nov. 27, 11am-4pm. Bend Brewing Co., 1019 NW Brooks St., Bend. Free.

SATURDAY

12/4 SCHILLING’S MAKERS MARKET 2021

OUTDOOR MAKERS MARKET

Food, festivities and local vendors, crafters and makers are all gathering at Schilling’s Market for a European-style Christmas market. Sat., Dec. 4, 10-4pm. Schilling’s Garden Market, 64640 Old Bend Redmond Highway., Tumalo. $5.

SATURDAY

12/4 & 12/11 HOLIDAY POTTERY, ART AND CRAFTS SALE

Pottery, paintings, prints, jewelry, woodworking and more! The event is located on the patio and masks are required. Sat., Dec. 4 & Dec. 11, 1-4pm. Barbara Smiley, 443 NW Delaware Ave, Bend. Price TBD.

Courtesy Locavore

LOCAVORE - HOLIDAY GIFT FAIRE

Art, local honey and jewelry are all available as a perfectly unique gift for a loved one this holiday season courtesy of Central Oregon’s top-notch gift faire. Sat., Dec. 11, 10am-4pm. Unitarian Universalist Church, 61980 Skyline Ranch Rd., Bend. Free.

SATURDAY

12/18 MIDTOWN YACHT CLUB HOLIDAY MAKER’S MARKET

Get in some last-minute gift shopping via local artists and makers! Sun., Dec. 18, 2-6pm. Midtown Yacht Club, 1661 NE 4th St. Bend. Free.

The economic impacts of shopping local

13,000 – Number of Oregon businesses that closed during the spring of 2020

Source: Business Oregon/OregonLive

Courtesy Unsplash

FIRST BEND HOLIDAWG MARKET

This dog-themed market will host dog-approved artisans and creators that give owners the chance to spoil their best friends this holiday season! Sat., Dec. 4, 2-9pm. Spider City Brewing, 1177 SE 9th St. Bend. Free.

FRIDAY

11/26-12/18 THREE SISTERS LIONS CLUB HOLIDAY FAIRE

A great selection of handmade and high-quality items from several local vendors. Fri., Nov. 26 through Dec. 18, 10am-5pm. 142 E Main Ave. Sisters. Free.

Shopping and Shipping Local

More local small businesses are offering products online

By Jack Harvel

The season of giving is coming up and before that comes the dreaded season of shopping. A lot of people’s Amazon carts are probably filling up with all the gifts they plan to give to friends and families this holiday season, but local retailers believe there’s a better way.

"The brick-and-mortar store was keeping me busy enough that it was kind of a pipe dream, I just didn’t have time to do. And then when COVID happened, it was sort of like, okay, this is the time.”

—April Lawyer

Life may be a jungle, but that doesn’t mean you have to support Amazon.

Local businesses are cashing in on home delivery of their products, setting up alternatives to online shopping goliaths. Some shops have been offering home delivery for years, while others pivoted during COVID shutdowns that shut down a lot of retail stores in 2020.

“The brick-and-mortar store was keeping me busy enough that it was kind of a pipe dream, I just didn’t have time to do. And then when COVID happened, it was sort of like, OK, this is the time,” said April Lawyer, owner of Vanilla Urban Threads, a boutique in Bend that offers fashionable streetwear inspired by surf, skate and snow culture. “We quickly kind of pulled a website together and started trying to service the community with it, it wasn’t originally to ship as much as it was more offering something to the community.”

During the pandemic, most of the online orders were local, but now Lawyer said she gets a lot of orders

from around the state. Most of Lawyer’s business still comes into the store, but the online shopping can serve as a great entry point for people who don’t know what to expect in the store.

“Our website is just a small cross section of what we actually have in the store, I’d say it probably only represents, 5 to 10%, but it’s a good cross section, and it allows people to see what we’re all about,” Lawyer said. “Then for tourists that come to visit us they can shop remotely and be able to get a little piece of Vanilla.”

Getting the online store up and running did have its challenges, mostly learning how to manage inventory between the online and brick-andmortar stores. Other stores, like Powder House Ski & Snowboard, will ship to meet customer needs but doesn’t have an online shop.

“Most of our shopping is pretty much done locally. However, being that it’s skiing and snowboarding, winter sports, we have a lot of parents and grandparents who buy for their children,” said Shanda McGee, owner of Powder House. “If it’s something they’re wanting to order, we can have it shipped directly from

Jack Harvel

Vanilla Urban Threads will soon hold its 16th anniversary. Its owner, April Lawyer, said she’s wanted to open an online shop for years and finally had the opportunity to when COVID shut down retail.

Elvert Barnes via Flickr our manufacturers to the customer. So, it kind of takes out that extra step of shipping to us and then getting to the customer itself.”

Skiers and snowboarders can be particular about their gear, so a lot of special orders are finding the perfect fit for the individual.

“We do a lot of custom boot fitting, and on that end of it, where we’re doing a lot of special orders for customers for specific boots that maybe we don’t stock but we know the right boot for a customer,” McGee said. “The store is only so big; we can only carry so much, you can’t have everything.”

Powder House also utilizes shipping for gift cards, especially for outof-state buyers to local recipients.

“We do have people trying to buy gifts for other people a lot of times and instead of just grabbing something they get a gift card,” McGee said. “If family members on the East Coast want to buy something for someone local, they can call up and just get a gift card; the person can pick it up in our shop or we can just mail a little card to that person, whether they be in Bend or out of city.”

There’s never been a better time to be a shut-in shopper, especially for people who prefer to shop local. So before you hit the checkout button on Amazon, make sure you check in with local stores.