Snap Fitness … bursting at the seams

In case you’re not one of approximately 300 people who have signed up at the new Snap Fitness, you’ll have company when you do. My wife and I just signed up — they offer a nice joint package for a couple for $49.95 a month, so that’s $25 per person. A single is $34.95, and $59.95 covers a family of three (with $10 more for each additional person).

It’s a nice facility. Staffed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., it provides card-lock access to members at any other hour of the day. So, do you want to work off that extra pitcher of beer you know you shouldn’t have ordered at 1:30 a.m.? Head on over to Snap Fitness. On two feet (not driving, puh-leeze). On second thought, just go home. But you get the idea.

On my first day in, I saw several other refugees from Big Gym. I’ve been a customer there for several years, but the indifference of management (or maybe we should say “mismanagement”) finally got to me. They have a nice facility for weight training and cardio, but they offer little beyond that. As a certified personal trainer with the American Council on Exercise, I just cringed every time I’d see some newbie plunk down their money, come through the door and wander into an alien territory. Before long, people would be mirroring all the bad habits that others had learned before them.

A gym, at the very least, should show new customers how to use every piece of equipment. It’s basic safety, and it will help the customer achieve their objectives. Snap Fitness at least offered and I declined. Plus, the price is right. And one last thing — they don’t play that insanely torturous scrap metal music that had everyone at Big Gym wearing ear buds. Hell-o, is anyone paying attention?

Snap Fitness’s popularity may be its … upfall? The current space in the back of the Hood River Plaza mall is a bit tight. They may be looking at new digs before long. A sure sign of success. Stay tuned. Call 541-386-1267.

Joint

Radio Tierra seeks new digs

I wanted to pass along an appeal from Anne Key, development director for that marvelous low-power FM station, KZAS, otherwise known as Radio Tierra (they play a lot of Hispanic music, which is way cool, but also play other stuff. True community radio, in short).

“We have all this stuff, but we just need a little bit of a hand,” Anne says. Here’s her note.

A couple of people recommended that I talk to you to see if you might have any ideas. Radio Tierra, the Columbia Gorge Community Radio station, is at a cross-roads. We received a generous grant from the Oregon Community Foundation to purchase new equipment, which will make the radio much more user-friendly for DJ’s and will also greatly enhance the sound quality. However, we are looking for a place to house the station in the immediate future.

To house the station we need:

• One 10×10 room for the DJ booth (this room must be reasonably soundproof to keep exterior noises at a bare minimum)

• One closet or small room with climate control for the computer equipment

• Access to the space from 6:30am to 10:30 pm

• Access control for the DJ booth and computer room (keys, key-card, or something similar)

• DSL Internet (preferably donated)

• Electricity (preferably donated)

If you have any ideas as to a place in the Columbia Gorge (preferably Hood River, but not necessarily) that would see housing Radio Tierra as meeting their mission, please let me know.

Thank you for your time, and if you have any suggestions, please let me know.

Best regards –

Anne Key, Development Director

541.399.3731

Anne Key, DJ

Radio Tierra

KZAS 95.1 Hood River; 107.7 The Dalles; 95.9 Stevenson

http://radiotierra.org <http://radiotierra.org/>

anne@radiotierra.org

Upstream mess may pose downstream impacts

Just learned today about a key public hearing in Hood River on Tuesday. Haven’t had time to dig much into it, but from what I hear, it’s potential cause for concern by all.

If you’re concerned about cleanup efforts at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, and the potential downstream impacts on river users in and around Hood River (i.e. many of them tourists who bring vital dollars to the local economy), you may want to attend the …

Hood River Tank Closure & Waste Management  EIS Public Hearing

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Location:  Columbia Gorge Hotel
4000 Westcliff Drive
Hood River, OR, 97031 US

People who have read this massive document report that hidden inside it are plans to turn Hanford into a repository for nuclear waste shipments from all over the country. We haven’t confirmed this, but you may want to explore on your own. Meanwhile, we thought we should let you know of the opportunity to speak out on the issue.

Here are links to other key information sites.

Department of Energy:
http://www.gc.energy.gov/NEPA/calendar.htm

Heart of America Northwest
http://www.hoanw.org/events/index.cfm?Fuseaction=events

Columbia Riverkeeper
http://www.columbiariverkeeper.org/

FDIC closes Columbia River Bank

Federal regulators have take over assets of the once-thriving Gorge financial institution, Columbia River Bank. Based in The Dalles and with a major branch in Hood River, the bank has been on the ropes for more than a year and was operating under Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. guidance to boost cash reserves. Assets will assumed by Columbia State Bank of Tacoma, Wash.

Columbia River Bank skated out on thin ice along with dozens of other lenders during the euphoric funny-money days of the real estate boom during the middle part of the last decade. Some if its ill-advised lending was chronicled in this story about Desert Sun, a central Oregon housing developer, by The Oregonian. Deposits up to $250,000 are protected.

Blue Collar takes new meaning at new web design firm

If you’ve been paying attention to people like Richard Florida (great brand), the “creative class” has found cities like Portland — and, by overflow, Hood River. Hey, that’s what brought my wife and me to the Hood. Got a wire? Got a computer? You’re in.

Well, welcome another such enterprise, Blue Collar interactive. Uh, what’s that “interactive” word mean? Isn’t that what every business does with its customers?

It’s OK to ask, and if you do, it’s probably because your own enterprise is more bricks ‘n’ mortar than Flash ‘n’ dash. In the new school argot, “interactive” is the intermediation of interaction with the customer — in short, the Web, and all its potential to engage .. and exasperate.

Dig a bit below the surface of the Blue Collar site (go to “Mechanics” and wait for the interactivity to load, and then try to read around the floating name tags .. argh!), and you can trace some of the genealogy of the new firm back to the Hood River granddaddy of interactive design, Summit Projects. Partners Rob McCready and Jim Kimball both spent time there. Now they’re flying under a new flag.

The team includes Rob McCready, partner and account director; Jim Kimball, partner and CFO; Mike Hansen, partner and design director; Tom Lehmann, partner and creative director; and April Donovan, partner and creative director.

They join a coterie of other creatives working similar turf in the Hood, including Web Rock Design, Blue Marble Creative (White Salmon) and Locus Interactive. Not to mention a bunch of sole proprietors tilling similar soil. The creative class has landed, because technology says they can.

Welcome, Blue Collar, and good luck.

New HR fitness center? It’s a … Snap

Are we looking at a fitness center explosion in the Hood? For years, it’s been the Sports Club, Big Gym and Curves, each with its own market niche. Coming soon to the west side, a Snap Fitness franchise store where Isthmus Sailboards used to be, at the north end of the Hood River Square mini-mall just west of Walmart (and there’s a Cross-Fit sign up near the Armory; no time yet to explore what’s going on there).

Portlanders Mike Kehoe and his wife Lorri, who bought the Hood River Square three years ago, were looking for tenants to fill out the space. Idea! Start another business and do it themselves. They bought the Hood River franchise, one of about 1,100 around the country.

The idea here is around-the-clock access, for you fitness buffs who want to get … buff … at three in the morning. Or whenever. 24/7 card lock access with daytime staffing offer convenience to fit busy lifestyles, Kehoe says.

He’s hired Mike Kern to manage the place. Rates are a work in progress. No contracts or membership fees, just monthly rates in the neighborhood of $39. Details soon. He’s hoping to have build-out finished, equipment installed and doors open by Jan. 8. Stay tuned.

No tenant yet for remodeled Paris Fair space

The rumor mill has been churning with regard to who might be setting up house in the Paris Fair building (the former Annz Panz) at 4th and Oak. We’ve been in regular contact with owner North Cheatham. Here’s the latest word from him about progress on finding a tenant:

“Much has been happening since we last talked. The onerous requirements
of Hood River’s building dept pushed project costs so high on the
remodel that the previous prospective tenant decided to bail instead
of incurring their portion of the costs to partition the floor. To
avoid these costs, the entire space will need to be leased to one
business. In addition to a great looking classic storefront, the 1st
floor and mezzanine are way more energy efficient, and fire sprinklers
have been added, reducing future utility and insurance costs.

“The wraps will be coming off the storefront by month’s end to dazzle
residents. Unfortunately, the routed woodwork may not last, since the
improvements exceed those approved by the historic building
authorities in Salem. Its removal may be required to preserve the
building’s favorable tax status.

“The Paris Fair space is once again being actively marketed, and
several parties have expressed interest. No commitments to date,
however.”

Snips, snacks and finger foods of biz news …

Here’s a clip and paste of the e-news sent Dec. 13 to the downtown Hood River business community. In case you don’t belong. In case you missed it. Just in case …

New board members elected to HRDBC; Colt resigns — Because of other board commitments and the time crunch, longtime Hood River Downtown Business Council board president Greg Colt has resigned effective Dec. 31.

That opened a fourth board position, in addition to the three announced openings for the recent online election process. The fourth-place finisher will be seated to replace Colt.

Please welcome new HRDBC board members: Michael Barthmus, Libby Taylor, Sue Collins (incumbent), and Vanessa Lalli Dittenhofer. They will take their positions at the Jan. 6 board meeting.

And please also thank outgoing board members (in addition to Colt), Jon Davies and Andrew McElderry (recently elected to the Chamber Board). Without their hours of time and labor, the HRDBC (and before its mid-year merger with the Chamber, what was known as the Hood River Downtown Business Association) would not have been able to accomplish all it has — Hops Fest, First Fridays, Hood River Holidays, Downtown Safe Halloween, Girls Night Out, shopping directories, Downtown Walking Maps and an organized working relationship with the City of Hood River.

Parking poll shows support for continued free customer parking — In recent online poll, 32 out of 186 members (17%) of the downtown business community responded to an invitation to share their views on whether the city should continue its offer of free customer parking through Dec. 26.

Of them, 24 said “yes” (75%), and 8 said “no” (25%). The results have been shared with the city and HRDBC.

Until further notice, downtown parking will remain unmetered. Please remind employees that the intent of the offer is to make parking easier for customers. Employees, of course, are welcome to use close-in parking spaces when shopping. Otherwise, they should park as they normally would, and keep spaces available for other shoppers.

Party hearty — if you’re an employee of downtown business — Michael Barthmus, proprietor of Doppio, is hosting a get-together for people who seldom have a chance to get together, largely because they’re all working at the same time. It’s an after-work social for downtown workers, from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, at Doppio.

Doppio will offer drink specials all night long (yes, that includes wine and cerveza). If you’re coming, you’re encouraged to bring finger food. And cans of food, for the FISH Food Bank. Each can of food will exchange for a raffle ticket. During the evening, prizes donated by downtown businesses will be raffled off.

Downtown businesses, that would be YOU! You’ve got five days to cough up something for the raffle — as a catalyst for food donations and fun times. Call Michael at 386-3000 with any questions.

Doug’s offers special shopping opp for downtown businesses, too — Lori Duffy at Doug’s reminds us that Doug’s is again putting on a special sale for downtown business members only, from 6 to 8 p.m. the night of Wednesday, Dec. 16. In addition to deals on merchandise, wine and light snacks will be provided.

Link it up with new business promotion web site — Stan Aaberg at Salon Vision tells us that there’s a new web site promoting the businesses in the 310 Oak St. building. That would include the salon, home of “deals on Aveda, Bumble and bumble and customized gift card gift sets,” and neighbors Doppio, Silverado and Plenty.  The web address is http://www.310oak.com/ It’s a portal page only at this point. Aaberg says the partners would like to include links to other businesses in town. Submit yours to Stan salonvisio@mac.com

The Pines 1852 hosts caroling event to benefit Oregon Food Bank — Sierra Wright tells us The Pines Tasting Room at State and 2nd would love to see your smiling face the night of Saturday, Dec. 19, to celebrate the holiday season with a night of Christmas caroling to benefit the Oregon Food Bank. Kerry Williams will lead the singing with special appearances by some other favorite local musicians.

The event starts at 5 p.m. and will run until about 9 p.m. All ages welcome. Admission is two cans of food or $5 to benefit the Oregon Food Bank

Mark your calendars for Girls Night Out in 2010 — The Holiday season isn’t over yet, but please take a second to look just beyond the horizon into early 2010. The HRDBC will sponsor three after-hours promotions in the first quarter — one a month, on the third Wednesday. It’s called Girls Night Out, and it’s a chance to offer a good time to your female  customers of all ages. Dates are …

• Jan. 20
• Feb. 17
• March 17
  

Think about what sort of special activities, merchandise promotions, speakers, music, food and beverage you would like to host to make it a fun and attractive event. Someone from the HRDBC will be contacting you shortly with window posters, event guidelines, and passports to help shoppers sign up for prize drawings.

We’re looking for a few good Santa Clauses — Remember how your English teacher went on and on about dependent and independent clauses? Well, we won’t — because we want to focus on SANTA Clauses. We’ve got one more weekend for Santa Claus to welcome and listen to the gentle wishes of young people at Santaland — 416 Oak Ave. Santa presides from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 19-20, in a lovely setting prepared by Holiday committee volunteers, and donated generously by property owner Chuck Beardsley. If you’d like to play Santa, or know someone who would, call Greg Colt at 490-1175.

Annual fire truck parade is coming up — Get the full routes and schedule at the Hood River Holidays blog site — http://hoodriverholidays.wordpress.com/ The site also includes a full calendar of other holiday related activities.

Reminder — first Hood River Holidays Downtown Throwdown is Dec. 19 — That’s right, a rail jam (snow boarders hopping their rides up onto a horizontal metal rail, skidding along it, doing tricks off it, etc.) will be conducted the evening of Dec. 19, along 4th Street between State and Oak. Organizers Pepi Gerald of 2nd Wind Sports and Wally Inouye of IPS Skate are hoping favorable weather and fresh snow in the high country (which they will bring down to cover the street) make this a killer event for shoppers to enjoy after a day in the stores.

Ever thought you could act? Here’s your opportunity — Two plays planned for 2010 at the Columbia Center for the Arts are conducting auditions. For its return appearance, “The Vagina Monologues” will hold auditions at 2 p.m. Jan. 16 and 5 p.m. Jan. 17 at the CAST Theater. Auditions for “The Laramie Project” will be held at 2 p.m. Feb. 21 and 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22. Call Columbia Arts at 387-8877 with questions. Or visit its web site at www.columbiaarts.org/about/who.html

Roundup of downtown news

This is a copy of the newsletter I send to downtown businesses. More eyes, better.

The HRDBC is seeking candidates …

This is the committee that considers and recommends policy, programs and expenditures affecting downtown, to the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce board. It is a nine-member board. Current members whose terms expire Dec. 31 include Jon Davies of Columbia River Insurance, Sue Collins of Cascade Travel, and Andrew McElderry of Andrew’s Pizza (Andrew was just elected to the Chamber board). We have received expressions of interest from three candidates. Each position is a three-year term. Commitment involves attending monthly meetings of 60 to 90 minutes, and work (as your life allows) on subcommittees, such as promotions, Hood River Holidays, Hops Fest, etc. If you would like your name to be placed on an electronic ballot in early December, please notify Stu Watson by Nov. 27. Call him at 386-8860, or write to swatson@hoodriver.org/

City and PP&L crews …

will be installing Christmas wreaths on Sunday morning, Nov. 15. Beginning the same day and continuing until done, city crews will start hanging garlands and tree lights on trees along Oak Street. According to Dave Smock, of city public works, garlands and banners will go up on the classic light poles from Front Street to 5th Street, and along Second Street from State Street to the North side of the Second Street bridge (Exit 63 interchange). Huge thanks to the city and Pacific Power for making this annual explosion of festive color happen. If you see these guys out there doing their thing, thank them — with a hot cup of cocoa, if you have it.

 

Gorge Music Series …

presents Rio Con Brio at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14, at Riverside Community Church, 4th and State St., Hood River. The concert features Tim Connell on mandolin and Mike Burdett on guitar. Cost is $12 adults, $8 kids, tickets in advance at Oak Street Hotel, 610 Oak St. Get more info at http://gorgemusicseries.com/ or listen to a sound clip now at http://www.myspace.com/rioconbrio

Naked Winery offers live …

music several nights a week. This week it features Lucky Friday, 11/13, “Blue Day” Jazz standards from 7-10 p.m.; Saturday 11/14, “The Connelly Bros,” rock and country 7-10 p.m.; Sunday 11/15, “Henry Schifter,” mellows your afternoon 5-7 p.m.; Monday, 11/16, open mic/jam hosted by Les Vaughn 7-10 p.m.

Authors to read at library …

Waucoma Bookstore and the Hood River County Library are hosting two authors for readings during the next week at the meeting room of the Hood River County Library Hood River main branch. At 7 p.m. tonight (Nov. 12), author Ken Scholes will read from his new book, “Canticle”, the second book in “The Psalms of Issak” series.

Amy Foster, author of “When Autumn Leaves,” will read at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, at the Hood River County Library Meeting Room, 502 State St., Hood River. She also will sign copies of her new book, described as “a touching and truly magical tale about friends, family, community, and finding ourselves.” For more information, contact Jenny at Waucoma Bookstore, 541-386-5353, or write to her at books@waucomabookstore.com

 

Give a coat, get a discount …

on the new book by Jess Walter, at The Book Stop’s “One Warm Coat” Coat Drive Kick-Off at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21. Bring a new or gently used coat in clean condition, and get 20 percent off Walter’s new book, “The Financial Lives of the Poets,” or any other purchase that evening. Walter, a National Book Award finalist, will be on hand. Learn more about him and his writing at http://www.gorgebookstop.com/walter/index.html

Sparking Creations is having a sale …

starting Thursday, Nov. 12, and running through Nov. 16, at its downtown store. It’s the third annual “Make Your Own Christmas Presents” sale. Everything in the store (except consignments) is ond sale, at savings up to 30 percent. In addition, the store will host a free Basic Beading Class from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14.

Hood River reDesign organizes clothing swap …

From 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at the Alliance Church Youth Center, 2650 Montello, women of all ages are invited to attend the “Frugal Fashionista — Style on a Budget” event. Women and teen girls are invited “to clean out their closets and bring their no longer needed gently used clothing & accessories (jewelry, purses, scarves, shoes, hats, and belts too)!” If you want to shop – that is, take what you want — you pay $5 for admission. You can take what you want. Donating is free. There’s no one-for-one ratio, so if you bring a decent sweater, you can take some thong underwear and a stole and a skort and a quilted Nepalese Army sherpa jacket and a … well, you get the idea. What you bring goes on display for others to eyeball. If you want to shop, too, you pay $5. So, you can take home new-to-you stuff, or simply donate what you no longer need for use by those who do (need it, that is). All clothing seasons, styles & sizes welcome. Leftover items go to charity. Get details at http://hoodriverredesign.com

Speaking of customer service and word of mouth and …

Every retailer loves word of mouth, especially when it’s good. There’s an old maxim that says a customer who has a poor experience will tell a lot more people than someone who has a positive experience. The message? Eliminate all negative experiences.

The advance of social media, of course, takes word of mouth to a new level. When everyone is a reviewer or critic or potential raving fan, then the pressure is really on us to make sure everyone has a great experience. We can’t let a few people slip through the cracks.

Impossible? Well, perhaps 100% success is more than any fallible human can expect when dealing with other fallible humans (employees) and walk-in fallible humans (customers). But we can strive for 100%. The weird thing is, from what I’m sure has been a common experience, so many businesses seem to pay little or no regard to customer service training. That’s inexcusable, because the people you hire and put out on the floor BECOME the face of your store when you can’t be there. Do you want to trust your investment to someone who clearly doesn’t give a rip? Who is rude, uninformed or indifferent to customers?

Well, if you answered the obvious answer (duh-uh … it’s “NO!”), then what are you doing about it? Shouldn’t our little business community collectively swear itself to an oath of absolute maximum stellar customer service? Sure, the product or service has to be good, too, but the human connection is often what makes the difference (hey, anybody can stock Levis).

If you want to learn more about the customer experience and how it can negatively affect your business, this is a great overview article at the Wharton School of Business web site.

And after reading that, if you decide you want to do something positive, here’s a good place to get some free customer service training. The Travel Oregon web site developed this a couple of years ago, primarily for people working in the tourism business, but the ideas carry across all businesses. It’s called Oregon Q Care, and is available to all your employees online.

Not every type of business has found its way into the virtual world yet. Restaurants and hotels were early candidates, driven by the desire of travelers to have a good experience. See what the world says about Hood River’s dining scene, for instance, at Trip Advisor.

You’ve heard (or maybe you haven’t) about Angie’s List, which lets customers post their experiences with everything from auto mechanics to physicians. There’s not a lot of activity in there for Hood River yet — they’ve got a Portland page but once you register, your search focuses on businesses within a radius of your home. For instance, I did a recent search on car repair places, and got three business names in Hood River (I know there are a lot more), and none of them had reviews.

So let me finish with this idea: Let’s use Angie’s List to help us all (as businesses and as customers) create better word of mouth for ourselves. Just do it.