The Holidays are such an important time of year for small businesses. For many, especially in retail, the Holidays may make or break the entire financial year. Craft fairs and holiday markets have become popular among both consumers and small businesses during this time. But are businesses doing all they can to maximize their retail sales from holiday markets?

After spending 30 years in the banking and financial services industry, SBDC Advisor and Instructor Terry Long shares his expertise to help small business owners set up, understand and utilize their financial information to build a successful business. Here is his story. . .  

Why do you teach & advise? I get great fulfillment when working with Small Business Owners in assisting them with their passion and dreams of taking on this exciting adventure in achieving a successful and profitable business.

Sasha Scamarone is a board-certified acupuncturist licensed in the state of Oregon and is a graduate of the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. Sasha runs an acupuncture practice out of the Therapeutic Associates Physical Therapy office in Lake Oswego, Oregon.  In 2017 she participated in the PCC SBDC Small Business Builders Program.

What inspired you to start your business? I have a strong desire to make a professional living doing what I love – helping people overcome health challenges and achieve optimal health with acupuncture and other Chinese medicine therapies. I had already gained significant clinical experience working in a variety of clinical settings as an intern, employee and independent contractor, but I increasingly wanted to create a business that was uniquely my own. My business coach at the SBDC has been a steadfast and encouraging inspiration in helping me to realize this dream.

Global Trade Liaison, David Kohl, enjoys working with a wide range of businesses to assist them in understanding the opportunities and challenges related to global trade. He feels gratified when facilitating an increased perspective that leads to business success both domestically AND internationally. Here is his story. . . 

businessJackie Babicky Peterson is a strategic adviser to small businesses at Portland Community College’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Her clients are interested in making a living doing what they love. Her most recent project is a book titled, "Age is Opportunity," and capitalizes on her energetic approach to equip SBDC clients with the ability to combine their small business ideas with decades of professional experience into a plan to become successful business owners later in life. 

Courtney Freed runs a production company in the Portland area and is a graduate of the PCC SBDC Solo Business Builders program. She is launching a production company that helps solo performers take their show on the road. Her current project is a one-woman show called Mercury Rising.

What is Mercury Rising? It’s a Freddie Mercury jazz tribute show and it celebrates his music. It’s a 1930s cabaret event, and it's super fun! We're doing a tour in the fall of 2018, going to Chicago in October and hopefully Los Angeles in the winter and we'll hopefully do another run of it here in Portland.

Orientations offered by PCC’s Small Business Development Center (at no cost!) are a great way to learn about the opportunities we offer to help you turn your business idea into action. A typical orientation includes a small group of future entrepreneurs – but may also include sole-proprietors and small business owners seeking to find efficient, practical and effective solutions to common business-related challenges. You’ll leave our 2-hour orientation having identified new resources, and with an action plan to guide your next steps.

There is little that is more "iconic Portland" than owning a coffee shop, but even with all of the competition, Susan Thomas is operating a successful business . . . with a little help from her friends at the PCC SBDC. 

Business description: Coffee Shop
Business start-date: 1994 (Susan purchased the business in May 2014)

What inspired you to start your business?  I’ve always enjoyed working hard and seeing a business grow and evolve. At the time I bought Coffee Time I had been managing for Starbucks and realized that as much as I enjoyed working for a great company, I would rather be putting that energy into building my own business. Coffee Time was only 2 blocks from my house and it was a shop that I had frequented for 2-3 years. I began dreaming of ways to keep its unique vibe but re-build it into something that could sustain Portland’s changing customer base. With the help of a great staff and business partner, we have been able to do that.

After 3 years of planning and preparing, Capital Access Team (CAT Team) client Float North can say, "we did it!"

Float North registered as an LLC in 2015, but it took 3 years to get funding, find a location, design the interior, complete the build out, and install float tanks. On July 21st, 2018 they opened their doors to the public for the first time. Owner, Dana Highfil, says that couldn't have done it without help from the Small Business Development Center's Capital Access Team. Here is their story.

With 22 years as a retail store manager and 17 years in Apparel Product Management at Adidas, Betsy Walton knows her way around a store. About a decade ago she decided to leave all of that behind and strike out on her own in the food production business. For 8 years she was the owner of "Our Favorite Foods LLC" -- a local pickle maker. Today she teaches and advises other food entrepreneurs through the Getting Your Recipe to Market class for the PCC Small Business Development Center.