6 June 21 - July 18, 2008
Community
www.SanTanSun.com
Business from Page 1
James Smith, retail economic development workshops for small business owners, such as
specialist for the City of Chandler, says timing and the “Workforce Development on a Shoestring Budget”
housing market were risk factors in many of the now- July 17 and “Managing Your Virtual Teams” Aug. 21.
defunct businesses’ demise. Additionally, owners of small businesses, whether
“Southeast Chandler is the last frontier of Chandler facing hardships, going through transition or just
as far as housing development. The old saying in retail getting started can schedule a free appointment with a
is that ‘retail follows rooftops,’ so the slowing in the SCORE counselor at the Chamber. SCORE is staffed by
housing market is defi nitely having an impact on some retired business professionals, and businesses need
of these small businesses,” he explains. “There’s not not be Chamber members.
the number of residents that some of these businesses Whatever might happen, opening a business is a
probably hoped for when they decided to open.” leap of faith, says Hodel. “Everything’s a risk, whenever
One such slower than expected project is the you consider going into business.”
520-acre Fulton Ranch, he adds. Besides timing She believes that now’s as good a time as any to
issues, small business owners might be prone to other start a business, provided the prospective business
missteps in an economic crunch, too. owner does their homework. Important factors
“When things get a little more stressful, businesses include knowing the competition, fi guring out which
tend to cut off areas that might be critical to their type of services or products to offer, along with timing
business success,” says Charlotte Hodel, vice the market. Familiarity with target market size and
president of business and economic development for accessibility is also key.
the Chandler Chamber of Commerce.
A primary example is marketing. Commercial development
“When they trim things like reinforcing their has its ups and downs
branding in the market and remove themselves from The small business realm is not the only segment
where their competitors are by not having visibility or
STSN photo by Gordon Murray
facing economic challenges. Christine Mackay,
networking, it’s almost like they’re cutting themselves
NEW BIZ: Velvet Boutique is a new women’s store now open in
acting economic development director for the City of
off at the knees,” she explains. The Falls at Ocotillo after Poochie’s Patisserie closed and went to Chandler, reports that efforts to attract new industrial
Another reason businesses fail is lack of planning
an online store.
and offi ce businesses to Chandler are yielding 25
and cash fl ow issues, according to Jerry Bustamonte, percent fewer results in recent months.
president of the Chandler Chamber of Commerce.
building another location at Fulton Ranch.
“My concern really isn’t for right now because
“During downturns in economy, cash moves a little
“Obviously, that was part of their business plan.
we have so much in the pipeline that’s still moving
bit slower than it normally does,” he says, adding
They’re taking their growth as it comes to them, which
forward. I always worry a little further in advance. If
that access to capital and a lack of reserve capital are
of course makes a lot of sense,” states Katie Stringham,
these companies take two to four years to locate and
common snafus.
director of public relations at the Chandler Chamber
we’re down 25 percent now, it’ll really start to affect
A business plan that does not include enough
of Commerce.
us more a couple years from now as opposed to right
discretionary money to allow for slower economic
Flexibility is also important in tough economic
now,” she says.
times or for constant reinvestment will also contribute
times, Stringham says. One example is Kokopelli
For some companies such as contractors and
to fi nancial disaster, adds Hodel.
Fresh Mexican Grill, where the focus has shifted
architects, she believes their reluctance to sign on
from traditional walk-in traffi c to developing a strong
Chandler’s dotted line is because of homebuilding
Other businesses fi nd success
sideline catering service.
sector sluggishness. With other business genres,
Some local small businesses and franchises,
“What I’m hearing is they’re surviving on their
Mackay says reluctance to move forward with contracts
however, are successfully facing the present economy.
catering business right now. They’re really focusing
refl ects self-fulfi lling prophecy.
An airtight business plan is essential to success, says
on that.”
“What we’re hearing from companies that we’re
Hodel.
Hodel says that many small businesses are following
working with is, ‘You know, the economy really hasn’t
Carebear Preschool started in a home basement,
suit, shifting their focus slightly to capitalize on sideline
affected us at all, but maybe we should wait and see
then expanded to The Falls at Ocotillo and is now
avenues to carry them through.
because we’re hearing that things are bad and that the
“I think that’s what companies have to
economy’s slipping.’”
do. And it still makes sense for their core
On the other hand, efforts to attract new hotels to
business, but they’re being creative in how
Chandler have proven “stable,” according to Smith,
they’re working it.”
with 14 hotels presently in planning or development.
Chandler’s current 1,768 hotel rooms will increase
Resources, advice available
by an additional 1,740 in the next three to fi ve years.
One reason that video editing business AVE
He attributes the hotel market’s stability to
in The Falls at Ocotillo is faring well at its one-
Chandler’s steady employment base. “It helps that
year anniversary is that the company actively
we have some strong employers already like Intel,
participates in Chamber networking events,
Countrywide and Freescale,” he says. “I think that
according to Stringham. The Chamber’s three
hotel developers have taken note.
monthly mixers include Wake Up Chandler,
Networking at Nine, and Business After
STSN photo by Gordon Murray
Sharon Schnakenburg is a freelance reporter who can be
Business, among many other events.
STILL BUILDING: Construction continues along the Price Corridor in Chandler,
reached at
Sharon@SanTanSun.com.
where this multi-use offi ce and retail complex is expected in 2009.
The Chamber also offers educational
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