Businesses that wish to locate in Enterprise have nothing to fear but fear itself, according to the findings of a new retail and service marketing opportunities study by Stacy Green Marketing.

The study, the result of more than 35 interviews and meetings conducted with potential business owners, current business owners and leaders from key community organizations, indicated that there were already many opportunities for business to succeed in the city.

Several businesses that closed recently, including Radio Shack/Dollar Mart and Red Rocket Hobby Shop, did not succumb for economic reasons, consultant Stacy Green reported, and those business opportunities re-main. Interview subjects also expressed a desire for a family dining restaurant open in the evening and a clothing shop catering to a mature clientele.

In fact, Green found, ideas for new business abounded, but were often beaten back by negative talk.

The perception that business in Enterprise was doomed from the start was an erroneous one, Green discovered, and business owners needed to “change what we’re saying to each other, and especially to our children,” she said.

There were customers enough, she said, and what made a successful business in Enterprise was the same thing that made a successful business anywhere: professionalism.

“There are some business owners who believe they will be forgiven inconsistent hours, unfriendly service, poor quality, an unappealing or dirty storefront and a lack of marketing. This report confirms they won’t,” she said. The report also confirmed that businesses that focused on professionalism were successful.

Successful retailers went the extra mile and keep their customers focus by advertising regularly, emailing notices of new products and promotions, maintaining consistent hours, offering services such as gift wrapping, advising customers, taking credit cards, maintaining cleanliness of the windows, stores and sidewalks and properly training employees to greet customers, preferably by name. They and new businesses additionally would benefit by embracing the Internet and increasing their customer base by maintaining a virtual store, Green said.

Several business owners helped identify new business opportunities. Steve Lear, owner of Lear’s Main Street Pub and Grill, said Enterprise had four underused resources: the fairgrounds, the golf course, the ball fields and the OK Theatre. He reported that special events his business has hosted have added to his bottom line, and recommended active recruitment of new events. The recent increase in events at the fairgrounds and the potential for more suggested that an opening was available for an events planner.

Along the same lines, Darlene Johnson of Enterprise Flower Shop reported that she had handled flowers for eight destination weddings in 2009. This suggested an opening for a wedding planner.

Enterprise was also identified as a hub for housing for the chronically mentally ill, and employment for psychiatric nurses and possibly a part-time psychiatrist was identified.

In addition to conducting research, Green also encouraged business-to-business connections during the course of the study – local businesses supporting one another.

She reported that Bronson Lumber had agreed to carry the kind of paint used by Chrisman Development & Management, Inc., for its apartment buildings. As a result, CDMI agreed to move 100 percent of its Union and Wallowa County paint purchases to Bronson’s Enterprise and La Grande stores, adding thousands of dollars to Bronson’s coffers.

Mike Goss, owner of The Dollar Stretcher, has reported he is stretching his operation to include stocking more office supplies – an area of need identified by the study.

Since Wallowa County residents consistently cite retaining the next generation as a top concern, an effort to encourage young entre-preneurs to remain in the county was developed. The Youth Entrepreneur program is now in development. This innovative program involves hands-on experimentation with business ideas youth have and mentoring by qualified businesspeople. Funding for the program has been requested through Oregon Community Foundation and is expected in June, Green reported.

Full copies of the Green report are available at Enterprise City Hall.

businesses opened (Plush West, Pizza & More, Gypsy Java, Geniene’s Boutique & Tanning, Choppers Car Wash, and MoJo Marketing), both Heavenly’s Burgers and El Bajio Restaurant got approval for expansion, Maxville Heritage Museum opened, KWVR Radio and Treasures and Antiques and Newer both made plans to expand, Joseph businesswoman Devee Wolfe experimented with a ‘pop up’ store called Live Out Loud, several sandwich, dessert or produce stands flourished, and other potential businesses are either already in development or are investigating the area.

For a copy of the full report, contact Enterprise City Hall.