8 • The Southwest Portland Post
FEATURES
May 2014
Salon Dirk and Northwest Wools celebrate 25 years in business
ment,” Dirk said, “we’re planning
on something soon.”
When asked if she was retir-
ing anytime soon to spend more
time with her three grandchildren
and two great-grandchildren, she
laughed and said, “When I die; I
love my work.”
Across town at Northwest Wools,
long time owner, Linda Berning, is
retiring. Located across from Key
Bank, the wool shop recently hit the
25-year mark.
Northwest Wools is Portland’s
oldest yarn shop providing fiber,
yarn, accessories, and instruction
to local fiber artists. Portland has
18 yarn shops and has the largest
number of yarn shops per capita in
the world.
Northwest Wools has a large, loyal
customer-based following due to
Berning’s dedication to creating
a service-oriented environment.
Berning has always told her staff
that the shop is the ‘Les Schwab’ of
yarn shops.
“If someone walks in with a fiber
problem,” Berning said, “our aim
is to assist them whether they pur-
chased the yarn from us or not. We
even have a 100-year-old woman as
a customer. Men are coming in as
well working on projects for wives
or girlfriends.
“Much of the yarn comes from lo-
By Erik Vidstrand
The Southwest Portland Post
Jo-Anna Dirk, owner of Salon
Dirk in Hillsdale, and Linda Bern-
ing, of Northwest Wools located
in Multnomah Village, are both
marking milestones this month as
their businesses turn a quarter-of-
a-century.
Salon Dirk, located next to Sal-
vador Mollies, has been coifing
customers since Ronald Reagan
was just leaving the White House.
Dirk grew up in the New York City
metropolitan area knowing at a very
early age she wanted to take care of
people.
Since then, Dirk has trained and
mentored many students coming
right out of cosmetology school.
“I usually hire students,” Dirk
said. “But over the years, they come
and go, especially the young ones.”
Dirk was one of the first business
owners to help shape the Hillsdale
Business and Professional Associa-
tion by getting grants and creating
a business plan for the community.
Plans for the 25th anniversary
are delayed due to a car crashing
recently into the salon; no one was
hurt.
“We were planning a celebration
in April, but due to all the excite-
Jo-Anna Dirk, owner of Salon Dirk, is
an icon colorist with seven years as a
platform artist and educator for the Wella
Corporation, and 10 years as a national
educator for Paul Mitchell.
(Post photo by Erik Vidstrand)
Jackie Howard Kraybill, current owner,
and Linda Berning, retiring owner
of Northwest Wools will hold a 25th
anniversary party at First Friday in
Multnomah Village.
(Post photo by Erik Vidstrand)
cal Oregon artists and independent
dyers,” Berning continued. “We call
it ‘farm-to-needle’”.
Under the new ownership, Jackie
Howard Kraybill plans to carry the
shop forward for many years to
come. Her first order of business
is to hook the business into social
media and attract even more cus-
tomers.
Northwest Wools will be cel-
ebrating its 25th anniversary on
the upcoming First Friday in the
Village and honor Berning. Wine,
prizes, and a flamenco party will
be featured.
June is busting out all over!
Father’s Day, weddings, graduations, farmers markets,
sidewalk sales, outdoor concerts, al fresco dining,
summer vacation, the list goes on. June is a great time
to advertise in The Post as well.
To place your ad or for more
information call Don at 503-244-6933
or Harry at 503-244-4442.
Deadline is May 20.
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