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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2019)
B Wednesday, November 6, 2019 The Observer & Baker City Herald Small-business & Ag HAPPENINGS Get your holiday marketing plan in order LA GRANDE — Local business owners and managers are invited to attend “Spruce Up Your Holiday Marketing Plan,” a free Google webinar, from noon to 1 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Ignite E-Center, 104 Depot St., La Grande. Topics will include: Google My Business listings, online advertising and email marketing. According to organizers, the workshop will be “jam-packed with good information. Come ready to take notes.” The holiday marketing workshop is hosted by La Grande Main Street Down- town, Ignite and the Northeast Oregon Economic Development District. There is no cost to attend, but reservations are ap- preciated. For more information, go to www. ignitemybusiness.org. Oregon Farm Bureau comments on Walden’s retirement SALEM — The Oregon Farm Bureau released a statement on Oct. 28 follow- ing the announcement that Congressman Greg Walden will not seek a new term in Congress in the 2020 election. “It goes without saying, and as many in the Farm Bureau family already know, Greg has been a stalwart champion for Oregon agriculture,” the OFB statement said. “For us, Congressman Walden will be forever synonymous with Congressional District 2. We applaud and thank Greg for his tireless years in public service and wish him the very best in his next chapter.” Holiday open house includes snow safety and snowshoe clinic LA GRANDE — Blue Mountain Outfi tters, 1124 Adams Ave., La Grande, is having holiday open house beginning at 6 p.m. Nov. 13. The event will include drinks from Side A Brewing, food from JaxDog Cafe, special deals and giveaways. In addition, the Wallowa Avalanche Center will give a free a snow safety and snowshoe clinic. Northwest Farm Credit Services reports third-quarter earnings SPOKANE, Washington — Northwest Farm Credit Services, an agricultural lending cooperative, announced 2019 third- quarter earnings of $73.4 million, compared to $76.0 million for the same quarter of 2018. Total capital increased 4.1% during the fi rst nine months of the year to $2.6 billion. “Our fi nancial performance in 2019 remains strong and on track with our ex- pectations,” said Phil DiPofi , president and CEO. “The majority of our customers across the Pacifi c Northwest are experiencing a reasonable year despite pockets of continu- ing trade, political and weather-related challenges.” Earnings for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2019, were $206.7 million compared to $220.5 million for the same period of the prior year. The nine months ended Sept. 30, 2018, included an ad- ditional patronage distribution from CoBank and a larger refund of premiums previously paid to the Farm Credit Sys- tem Insurance Corporation, which were the primary contributors to the change in net income. Northwest FCS is a $12 billion fi nancial cooperative providing fi nancing and related services to farmers, ranchers, agribusiness- es, commercial fi shermen, timber produc- ers, rural homeowners and crop insurance customers in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Alaska. Northwest FCS is a member of the nationwide Farm Credit System that supports agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and fi nancial services. For more informa- tion, go to www.northwestfcs.com. List of Oregon’s top 20 agricultural commodities released SALEM — The Oregon Department of Agriculture announced a list of the state’s top 20 agricultural commodities in 2018. Greenhouse and nursery products remain Oregon’s leading agricultural commodity with an annual value of nearly $1 billion based on data collected by ODA. Sources of data include USDA National Agricultural Statistic Service, Oregon State University, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Oregon Wine Board. This is an increase for Oregon’s greenhouse and nursery industry up from $94.7 million last See Happenings / Page 3B Sabrina Thompson/EO Media Group The La Grande Growing Wise storefront is open for business on the corner of Adams Avenue and Chestnut Street while construction continues in the back to build a workshop for people to create their own bath and soap products. Where’s Growing Wise? By Sabrina Thompson EO Media Group Growing Wise has had several homes since it opened nearly six years ago. What was once a home-based business now has two locations, one in Union and in a new storefront on the corner of Adams Avenue and Chestnut Street in La Grande at 1019 Adams Ave. Owned and oper- ated by husband and wife duo Aaron and Jennifer Wise, the business specializes in natural handcrafted soap and skin care products. The business came about due to allergies to chemicals for Jennifer and her children, she said. To prevent them from breaking out with rashes and blisters, Jennifer wanted to fi nd safe alternatives for lotions and bath products. As she gathered recipes from friends and family, she found she had a passion and a knack for making these products. “It grew into this curiosity of what I can make and what oth- ers want me to make,” Jennifer said. Jennifer took her products to the La Grande Farmers Market for a few years to sell and gain feedback on the products. When she saw there was enough of a local demand, she and her hus- band opened up the initial loca- tion for Growing Wise at 1012 Adams Ave. Within a few years, the store moved to Second and Adams before relocating to the Foley Building. After temporar- Sabrina Thompson/EO Media Group Wife and husband duo Jennifer and Aaron Wise own and operate Growing Wise. ily taking over 208 Chestnut St., the store moved into its current location at the corner of Adams and Chestnut. In mid-May 2019, Jennifer and Aaron also opened up a store in Union, which includes a restaurant, Union Fountain. “The good news is (our cus- tomers) have found us no matter where we have gone,” Jennifer said. “We’ve kind of turned into a joke at this point. It’s like ‘Where’s Waldo?’ but it’s ‘Where’s Growing Wise?’ But it is a bless- ing to see that support.” Having two spaces has been the biggest challenge, according to Jennifer. While she tends to the store in La Grande, Aaron runs the restaurant in Union. Both are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday to allow them to have time to be with their children and focus on their family in addition to run- ning their business. The couple is adding new members to their team with the addition of three employees to help keep things running smoothly. However, Jen- nifer said, they are very selective and the person who joins needs to be the right fi t. “We want someone who understands it is more than just creating,” Jennifer said. “There are so many small details that go into running a business. Like things with the computer and customer service. It is like trying to fi nd a unicorn. But the people we have now are really great.” The store in La Grande is currently open while the back goes through construction to build a workshop space. Once completed, Jennifer said, Grow- ing Wise will be partnering with Art Center East to host classes and house products for people to make their own soaps, bath bombs, fragrances and other items. The couple hopes the workshop will be completed by the end of the month. Growing Wise also works to support local artists, selling their handmade items such as cards and accessories like jewelry and purses. “Small-town people appreciate See Wise / Page 3B Employers and employees: Be a problem solver By Greg Smith Every customer who comes into your busi- ness has a problem and is looking for you to help solve it. Perhaps they need a dress for their daughter’s wedding or a special gift. They have a fl at tire or need a specifi c tool for a project. Their faucet is dripping, their pickup’s engine Smith light came on, their septic tank needs pumped, they need a loan to buy a house, or they are being sued. What problem does your business solve and how do you accomplish this more ef- fectively than your competitors? Have you thought about this and do you need to make any adjustments? Here are some basic things you many want to consider: Are you open when your customer needs you? (I know of a hairstylist who works only in the evenings and on Saturday and Sunday because that’s when her clients are available and it is something her competi- tors won’t do.) Do you offer quality products or services at the right price point? Is your website complicated? (Remember, if it takes more than three “clicks” to fi nd the in- formation customers want to know, they will leave your site — and likely won’t return.) When a customer calls is there a complex automated system they must navigate? In short, is it a hassle to do business with you or are you the fi rst business they turn to when seeking an answer to their problem? The answers to these questions sound simple yet are often the root cause for slow — or no — business. On the other side of the equation, employ- ers want employees who are problem solv- ers, not problem creators. The importance of “soft skills” cannot be overstated. Employees, regardless of their skill set, are not employed long if they create problems. The No. 1 complaint (i.e., problem) I consistently hear about from employers is they cannot fi nd people who want to work and who will show up to work on time — or at all. Perhaps you don’t consider yourself a problem creator, but take a moment and ask yourself these questions: Are you dependable? Do you cause strife in the workplace? Are you busy texting instead of looking around to see what needs to be done — and doing it? Do you complete your work on time? Does your boss have to come behind you and double-check to make sure the task has been done correctly? Do you access resources to answer the questions you might have, or do you consis- tently interrupt the workfl ow of others? Identifying a need whether as a business owner or employee and utilizing your unique skill set is one of the most important keys to success, profi tability and longevity in the workplace. Being a creative problem solver is not just something benefi cial in the work- place, but in society as well.
