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| Michael Smith of Zervas Group Architects said , upon looking back at his year, that completing the design work on the upcoming Bay View Tower was his greatest accomplishment, because it pushed him professionally and took almost 14 months to complete. |
Heidi Schiller
Now that the hangover is over, it’s that time of the year again for most of us to lose 10 pounds, read more books and do more community service.
But for these five business owners, New Year’s is also a time to reflect back on their professional successes and road bumps in 2006, as well as to make business resolutions and predictions for 2007.
Michael Smith, principal/partner of Zervas Group Architects
What were your greatest accomplishments in 2006?
“Finishing the design for Bay View Tower. It’s the first skyscraper I’ve done and professionally it’s a huge milestone. It took about 14 months. We started in August 2005 and got the permits in October 2006.
It feels great. The real test, of course, is the test of time. Once it gets built and is around for a few years, then my satisfaction will be fully realized. It was a challenge and I do believe it will be an icon in Bellingham.
Another was finishing the design and construction of Whatcom Educational Credit Union’s new loan center on Holly Street because it will be the first Gold L.E.E.D.-certified project in Bellingham. We’ve raised the bar for environmental responsibility and sustainable architecture in Whatcom County.”
What would you have done differently in 2006?
“Taken more vacation time if I could have possibly done it,” he chuckled.
What are your New Year’s resolutions for 2007?
“We’ve seen a lot of slow and steady growth in the firm in the last six years and want to maintain that pace. I can see the firm growing to a staff size of 20. I foresee adding one more staff person in the next year.
Also, we’ve added interior design to our services and need to market that well.
We also need to be very actively involved in local issues that impact the building environment, like the Georgia-Pacific waterfront site master planning.”
What are your business predictions for 2007?
“I think we’re going to continue to see moderate growth, even though there has been a lot of noise being made about a slowdown in home sales. We need to realize that the last two years have been meteoric in proportions. So we’re going to see a slowdown to a moderate growth level. We’ll continue to see an influx of people moving here from out of town.
Also, I think what’s happening out at Bellingham International Airport is probably the tip of the iceberg because getting in and out of SeaTac and even Vancouver is definitely a challenge. In other areas of the country you can see that small, surrounding airports are attractive to fliers. I think the airport will see a lot more growth.”
Steve DeMaria, co-owner of Archer Ale House
What were your greatest accomplishments in 2006?
“We had the same staff the entire year, which is good. We added one person, but there was no turnover at all. I think it’s because everyone knows each other here. It’s a small place and we have really good regular customers, so there’s just a lot of good people. It’s like a neighborhood pub feel where you can come in any day and talk to someone you know.
We also increased business a little bit — a steady increase.”
What would you have done differently in 2006?
“I might have done a different menu. We could have done it in the summer. It’s time for us to change the menu up a little. We’ve been doing a lot of specials and I would like to add some of those to the menu.”
What are your New Year’s resolutions for 2007?
“To get the new menu. To get a bit more self-sufficient down here. I am involved in everything and would like a little more time to work on things. I work a lot of shifts and I’d like to get to the point where I can get out of some of those shifts.”
What are your business predictions for 2007?
“Bellingham is always growing and there are so many new places opening, but it’s kind of started to even out and I think it’s going to slow down a little bit. But I think Fairhaven will have a pretty good year.”
Shelly Mears, owner of Import 12
What were your greatest accomplishments in 2006?
“The education we have done in the community about fair trade. Fair trade is the concept that artists, craftsmen or farmers get paid fair wages for their merchandise, crafts or artwork, according to their economic status. We networked with different organizations in Bellingham explaining what we do and why we’re doing it, and shared that with the Columbia Neighborhood Association and they helped explain that to residents. We also send out mailers once a month that invite people to the store for art events.”
What would you have done differently in 2006?
“I would have negotiated my printing in different mediums, such as brochures and greeting cards, and I also would have started a Web site right in the beginning.”
What are your New Year’s resolutions for 2007?
“Definitely to continue education about fair trade. My husband and I went on a trip to do humanitarian outreach work in Indonesia and Africa this year, and it has been so impressed in our hearts that people should know how to be a “pro-sumer,” instead of a consumer. A pro-sumer is a proactive consumer, meaning they are good stewards of the money they have been blessed with, meaning whatever money I have, I need to be proactive in how I spend it, just like I was when I earned it.
And to have a rockin’ Web site.”
What are your business predictions for 2007?
“I think that everyone is going to be holding their cards pretty close to themselves until the election when the interest rates are going to drop. Anyone that follows the trends knows that interest rates always drop during election years.
I also predict we’ll see more foreclosures of homes, so it’s going to be a buyer’s market for a while until the election, and then it will shift again.”
Harvey Stone, co-owner of Brenthaven
What were your greatest accomplishments in 2006?
“This was our best year ever, since 1987, in terms of sales. I think it has to do with the fact that we brought in some additional talent this year and we’ve executed a very successful marketing campaign.
We were also able to anticipate some new products on the market, like the new Apple MacBook, which we made cases for and then it came onto the market and you could only get MacBook cases at Brenthaven. They were really cool.”
What would you have done differently in 2006?
“I would have spent more time forecasting, trying to anticipate what demands for our products would be. With the MacBook, for example, we anticipated the need, but we ran out of the product too soon.”
What are your New Year’s resolutions for 2007?
“To continue to grow our business without forsaking our roots in Whatcom County, and to offer a variety of products besides just bags and backpacks. We’ve really expanded to a travel goods store.
And to continue growing with corporate businesses around the world.”
What are your business predictions for 2007?
“My prediction is that we will, as a company, continue to grow, and that if the global economy will stay as robust as it is, then the opportunity to sell to that marketplace will continue to grow, with Apple and our other corporate customers.
As we continue to be a melting pot for retirees and the demographics of our community show that we are more of a destination, I’m feeling excited that new visitors will see us as a great place to shop. At least I hope, I hope, I hope.”
Karl Freske, co-owner of Film Is Truth 24 Times A Second
What were your greatest accomplishments in 2006?
“We moved to a new location a few years ago and just finished paying off our loan from that move, so we’re debt-free at the end of the year. And we’re still here.”
What would you have done differently?
“I would have liked to have been more on top of everything. I would have liked to have kept up with follow-throughs on various things better.”
What are your New Year’s resolutions for 2007?
“I would like to stay in business another year and I would like to start to figure out what direction the store should go in as the industry moves more toward download services or through-the-mail (services). Since video stores will be completely obsolete in 10 years — at the most — we have to start figuring out where to go from here.”
What are your business predictions for 2007?
“I don’t know if I have any predictions, but I would like to see more places open up downtown. It felt like last year, places were closing up shop. I’d like more places to move in near us and I’d like to see a wider variety of restaurants downtown.”
