Beaverton teamwork pulls businesses out of downturn

City and Chamber open up their pool of resources to help more businesses in need of a lift

By Christina Lent

The Beaverton Valley Times, Apr 2, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (8 Reader comments)

Jonathan House / The Beaverton Valley Times

MOVING PRODUCT– Souvenir Cosmetics founder Kate Kristiansen turned to other entrepreneurs for advice to boost sales after the blush of an exciting September launch began to fade.

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When Souvenir Cosmetics’ sales were down at Christmas and the newly launched Beaverton company’s bank seized by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in February, Kate Kristiansen used a lifeline by phoning a friend.

“I made a phone call to the Beaverton chamber and told them, ‘I need help — I’m in danger of drowning here,’” Kristiansen said. “Their immediate response was, ‘What can we do?’”

Lorraine Clarno, president of the Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce, met with the Beaverton entrepreneur and connected her with other successful chamber members to talk strategy.

Kristiansen also tapped into resources offered for free to local businesses through the city’s Economic Gardening program to learn more about building her business.

With a new direction and personal focus to reach her ideal clients, Souvenir Cosmetics’ products are finding their way into customers’ hands.

“I’m making connections,” Kristiansen said. “The tipping point is right there — it’s close. I can feel it coming.

“I’m going to make it through this tough time, and I’m so thankful that the chamber is there for me. It’s like having a village.”

In light of dozens of businesses closing their doors, the chamber and city are stepping up efforts to offer services to struggling businesses, new ventures and companies in positions to expand but finding it difficult to find the right financing.

“Last fall, we saw the reality that businesses were really starting to hurt, and recognized that we needed to turn up the burner and figure out tangible ways to help them get through these really tough times,” Clarno said.

Of the 57 businesses that dropped chamber memberships in January, more than 53 percent had closed their doors to clients and the remaining 47 percent had to make the choice between funding payroll, lights or chamber dues, Clarno said.

Civic leaders decided it was time to create a “chamber stimulus package” and shift limited resources to get chamber members through this recession.

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