Small businesses grow despite slow economy
tugene is nome to various programs
and resources designed to assist
small businesses in succeeding
By Caron Alarab
News Reporter
As the owner of a small business, University ac
counting graduate Kevin Cohen has mixed feel
ings about the advantages of starting out in the Eu
gene market.
"I think it's a very difficult market to start a busi
ness in, " Cohen said. "But for lifestyle reasons, it's
a great place to be,"
After opening Bene Gourmet Pizza with his
wife Erika in 2000, Cohen said his business has
grown to accommodate 33 current employees at
three different locations: 4 Oakway Center, 225 W.
Broadway and 2566 Willamette St
Although he admits the dwindling economy
made times tough the first few years, Cohen said
the premier pizza market has treated him well.
With his heart set on goals of developing a
strong regional brand in the Northwest and im
proving livable wages and health care benefits for
employees, Cohen said Bene Gourmet Pizza will
continue to flourish locally.
"We've taken very little of our profits out of the
business because it goes toward expansion and de
velopment," he said. "Essentially, I want the busi
ness to grow with my team."
Cohen's company is one of many small busi
nesses in Eugene that is aiming to succeed despite
the national economic slowdown.
According to the United States Small Business
Administration, small businesses are responsible
for 80 percent of net new jobs and represent 96
percent of all exporters of goods. Characterized by
an employee base of 500 or less, small businesses
also employ more than 56 percent of Oregon's pri
vate workforce, which accounts for 754,209 of the
1,332,403 workers in the state
Although businesses like Bene Gourmet Pizza
had rough starts in the Eugene economy, local em
ployees say the region's quality of life keeps them
going while owners say business is doing better.
"We're growing, so business just keeps pick
ing up," said Joshua Proudfoot, principal own
er of Good Company, a local research and con
sulting firm.
Located at 435 Lincoln St., the three-year-old
business helps government agencies, corporations
and institutions of higher education identify and
utilize systems and products that are sustainable
and better for the environment. In 2001, the Ore
gon University System recognized the "green" ef
forts of the company with a Business Alliances
group grant to help foster sustainable develop
ment for Oregon's colleges and universities.
According to its Web site, www.goodcompa
ny.com, the company currently employs five rep
resentatives, and Proudfoot said he hopes to add
to that number soon.
"We've made a conscious decision to grow
more as a company before we try to get rich," he
said. "Our goal for the next few years is to have
most of our Northwest and some national and in
ternational clients closer to sustainability, and I
think we will achieve that."
In an effort to help businesses like Good Com
pany expand into global markets, the Eugene Area
Chamber of Commerce offers various programs
and resources to local firms listed on its Web site at
www.eugenechamber.com.
Chris Nystrom, head of the Eugene Area Cham
ber of Commerce international program, said the
Chamber places emphasis on small business as
sistance because 1,000 of its 1,200 current mem
bers are businesses with 50 employees or less.
"Small businesses go out of business every day,"
she said. "We provide many services to help those
businesses be successful instead."
As part of her position, Nystrom organizes inter
national roundtable discussions for small business
es considering expansion into the global market .
"They're very willing to help us do what we
need to succeed as an international business," said
Val Hoyle international sales manager for Burley, a
wholesale manufacturer of bicycles, bicycle trail
ers and rain gear.
The worker-owned co-op has been doing in
ternational business for more than 13 years and
distributes to more than 3,000 retailers in the
U.S., four of which are located in Eugene, ac
cording to the company Web site,
www.burley.com. After starting out with fewer
than six employees, Hoyle said the 25-year-old
"big-small business" now has 85 worker-owners
with no current plans for expansion.
"We've been doing well, but the economy has
affected sales in the whole industry," she said.
"However, our prices are decreasing overseas be
cause the value of the dollar has gone down,
which is good for us."
Hoyle said Eugene is "excellent" for grow
ing a business because of the highly educated
workforce, loyal, supportive consumers and
Tim Bobosky Photographer
Bene Gourmet Pizza co-founder Kevin Cohen works the
lunch rush at the 4 Oakway Center restaurant.
attractive neighborhoods.
"For a cycling company, you really couldn't
find a better place," Hoyle said. "We wouldn't
choose to be anywhere else."
Contact the business/science/technology reporter
at caronalarab@daiiyemerald.com.
NEWS BRIEF
Ellerbe Becketto help plan
new basketball arena
University officials announced at Thursday's
Athletic Department Finance Committee meet
ing that Ellerbe Becket, the architectural firm
that designed Autzen Stadium, was contracted
by the University on Sunday to help plan the
new basketball arena. Previously, HKS was con
traded for the projed.
With new architects and a contrador on
board, the projed has "reached critical mass,"
Associate Athletic Diredor Steve McBride said.
McBride said three ADFC members had met
with HKS representatives over the summer to
develop a "projed document' for the arena,
which describes all spaces in the facility and its
relationship to surrounding spaces. Ellerbe
Becket will continue to work with the same
document.
Vice President for Administration Dan
Williams' office is currendy overseeing most of
the planning, although student government
feedback will be solicited later.
The ADFC also discussed ticket discrepancies at
the Oct. 25 football game against Stanford. Stadi
um workers collected approximately 4,000 stu
dent tickets, although newly elected ADFC chair
man Kevin Day estimates nearly 6,000 students
were present.
McBride said ticket discrepancies are a recur
ring problem and may be due to ticket printing
technology or tickets lost after collection. He
added that the Athletics Department has consid
ered installing turnstiles or bar code scanners at
Autzen, but these technologies are cost-prohibi
tive. The ADFC will continue to discuss possible
solutions to this problem.
The group also ratified this year's University Stu
dent Ticket Agreement. Only minor wording
changes were made
— Parker Howell
RAMADAN
continued from page 1A
at the University Counseling and Testing Cen
ter, said giving to others during Ramadan is
one of the five pillars of Islam and is like get
ting extra hugs from Allah. The other four pil
lars are declaring that Allah is the only god,
praying five times per day, fasting during Ra
madan and making the pilgrimage to Mecca.
Year-round, Muslims are called upon to pray
at a nearby mosque, with men going five times
a day and women going when possible. Dur
ing the holy month they also have evening
group prayers, called Tarawih.
MSA members pray at the Abubakr Islamic
Center in Eugene.
There is a set of prayers Muslims are sup
posed to recite, Hutchinson said, but at the
end of the prayer they can also speak to Allah
from their own heart.
Pala estimated there are probably around 50
Muslims at the University.
"1 think there's a great number of Muslims
here," he said. "Especially compared to the
population."
Hutchinson added that it's difficult to tell
exactly how many there are because college
students live very nomadic lives. She said that
when Muslim students get together she always
meets somebody new.
MSA will be meeting every Thursday
evening until Ramadan ends on Nov. 24, when
Muslims will break their fasts and pray togeth
er. The month is a very important time for
Muslims around the world, Pala explained,
adding that it's their most blessed month.
"Heaven's doors are open for prayer much
more than usual," he said.
Contact the peopie/culture/faHh reporter
at jaredpaben@daHyemerald.com.
CAMPUS
Tuesday
UO Cultural Forum Ramadan exhibit, 7:30 a.m.
11:30 p.m. (weekdays) and 10:30a.m.-ll:30
p.m. (Saturday and Sunday), EMU International
Lounge. Exhibit will appear Nov. 3 through Nov.
28. For more information, contact the Cultural Fo
rum at 3464373.
r
017449
JET PR OG R A M
Japan Exchange and Teaching Program
Live in Japan for a year or more and participate in the Japan Exchange and Teaching
(JET) Program! Every year the Japanese Government invites people from around the
world to participate in this unique program, to serve as Assistant language Teachers or
Coordinators for International Relations. Currently, there are over 6,200 participants in
the Program from 40 different countries. Benefits include round trip airfare, salary, paid
vacation, subsidized housing, and a professional work environment.
Applicants must:
• Have U.S. Citizenship
Or hold citizenship of one of the other 40 participating countries. You must also apply in your
home country.
• Hold a Bachelor's Degree by July 2004
No Japanese language ability required for the Assistant Language Teacher position.
The Consulate-General of Japan in Portland, Oregon will be at University of
Oregon for an informational orientation on the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program on
the following day:
Date: 11/5/03
Time: 3:00 - 4:30
Building: Erb Memorial Union (EMU)
Room: Umpqua Room
For an application or more information call I -800-infojet or the Consulate-General of Japan in
Portland at f503) 221-1811, or visit our website at www.embjapan.org
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