HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 1/17/2023 - Memorandum From Tommy Meritt Re: 2022 Small Business Season Recap
Economic Health Office
222 LaPorte Avenue
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.2164
fcgov.com/business
MEMORANDUM
DATE: January 5, 2023
TO: Mayor and City Councilmembers
THROUGH: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Tyler Marr, Deputy City Manager
SeonAh Kendall, Economic Health Director
Shannon Hein, Economic Manager – Small Business
FROM: Tommy Meritt, Bilingual Business Connector
RE: 2022 Small Business Season Recap
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide City Council an informational recap of the 2022 Small
Business Season.
Each year the City celebrates Small Business Season, an event intended to bring more local holiday
shopping to different businesses that offer unique products, services, and experiences. Instead of a
focus on Small Business Saturday, which celebrates one day, the Economic Health Office (EHO),
encourages spreading shopping throughout the season (typically November and December). EHO hires a
local photographer to accompany staff to businesses to highlight the Season and local businesses’
contributions to the local economy. The features include several pictures of the owners and their
business. The feature is highlighted on social media (Facebook, Instagram) and the For Fort Collins
website. Business owners are given access to the photos and can create content with high quality
pictures to use however they like.
Businesses were selected by Council district, totaling 6, with a focus on experiences such as haircuts and
fitness classes, but not excluding shops that sold tangible goods such as coffee. Councilmembers were
invited to attend as their schedules permitted.
Benefits of Shopping Small & Local:
Contributes to the Fort Collins economy
Develops closer relationships with businesses
Keeps Fort Collins unique and innovative
Offers personalized service that large corporations cannot offer
Below is the list of businesses visited this season.
Vintage Marketplace
Date: 10/28/2022
District: 4, Shirley Peel
Special guests attending: Hope Hartman, Larimer Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
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Vintage Marketplace was opened by Kim Mary in 2018. It is home to over 80+ vendors who have a keen
eye for style, color, art and function. Kim enjoys creating space and opportunities for young
entrepreneurs and watching them thrive by selling their arts and crafts. With more than 8,000 square
feet of space, Vintage Marketplace is home to an expanding variety of local goods, makers and
antiques!
GOBI Heat & JAX Outdoor Gear
Date: 10/28/2022
District: 1, Susan Gutowsky
Jaye Genung, owner and creator of GOBI Heat is bringing the heat this winter. Disappointed by other
heated apparel and disliking cold weather, Jaye decided to make her own! Named after the Gobi Desert,
GOBI Heat was born and leads the charge in the heated apparel industry by delivering functional fits and
designs. Gobi Heat is a local woman-owned business that has been named and featured in Inc 5000 as
one of the fastest growing companies in America. JAX Outdoor Gear is one of their first wholesalers; one
can find their products at JAX and GOBI's website.
Studio Q Fitness
Date: 11/8/2022
District: 2, Julie Pignataro
Special guests attending: Julie Pignataro, Council Member & Hope Hartman, Larimer SBDC
Studio Q has more than 14 coaches who focus on inspiring health and growth in cycling and through
bootcamps, private training, running clubs and more. Studio Q stationary bikes made it to residents’
homes in Fort Collins when Quinha Mcbride, owner of Studio Q Fitness, rented out stationary bikes at
the height of the pandemic to make sure our community had safe access to the equipment they offer.
Konjo Coffee
Date: 11/09/2022
District: 3, Tricia Canonico
Special guests attending: Aikta Marcoulier, Regional Administrator & Frances Padilla, District Director,
SBA Colorado District Office.
Konjo means "beautiful, tasty, and good" in Amharic. They serve traditional Ethiopian coffee and host
coffee ceremonies weekly. For owner Hirut Crusan, coffee is a passion that is rooted in hard work from
her childhood. Hirut remembers late fall weekends at the family coffee farm, picking coffee berries to be
washed, and hauling bags for miles from the farm to her home. She started as a small cart and now
owns her own shop on Harmony at The Vibe Apartments.
Avilas Barbershop & School
Date: 11/10/2022
Districts: 5, Kelly Ohlson (Barbershop) and 2, Julie Pignataro (Barber School)
Special guest attending: Frances Padilla, District Director, SBA Colorado District Office
Family-owned Avila's Barber Shop started as a single, scrappy shop in California and has grown into a
successful regional hub over the last twenty years. Avila's now has shops in Greeley, Broomfield, and
Fort Collins. Even in growth, Avila is committed to keeping close and familial connections. They also own
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a barber school. Avila partnered with the Larimer County Economic & Workforce Development Office to
provide their barber school students access to funds for tuition. For customers, Avila's goal is to break
down the barriers between barber and client and truly connect through trust and reliability.
Allie Ogg
Date: 11/18/2022
District: 6, Emily Francis
Allie Ogg is a full-time artist and illustrator who has published three books: Goodnight Mermaid,
Goodnight Brew and Good Morning Brew. Known for her murals, she has brightened the sides of brick
buildings and even transformer cabinets in Fort Collins for years. A creative who studied ceramics and
printmaking, Allie also makes holiday ornaments, cards and other printed goods available for holiday
gifts throughout the year. As a member of Art Brand Alliance, which is a community for artists to
receive and give support, Allie works with her colleagues to overcome the challenges of creative
business ownership. She's also featured in Trimble Court Artisans, a cooperative gallery that resides in
the heart of Old Town which has created a home for items crafted by distinguished Colorado artists for
more than 40 years.
Next Steps
To become acquainted with the featured businesses and browse through Small Business Season 2022
pictures, please visit https://johnrobson.passgallery.com/-c6520/gallery.
More businesses will be highlighted and featured in 2023.
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