Family Businesses: Keeping it Local
My name is Phil Morton; I’m the Member Relations and Event Coordinator with the Springfield Chamber. I’ve worked for the Chamber for just over a year and I wanted to share with you why I‘m shopping small this holiday season; and specifically why I like to support family-owned businesses.
For context, I’ve lived in the Willamette Valley all my life. Specifically, I grew up in Independence- a small town about an hour and a half north of Eugene/Springfield. While I’ve visited big cities, I’ve always felt more comfortable in rural areas: there’s something about that ‘small town feel’ that I appreciate. I greatly admire when a family goes to school, raises a family and works in the same community. It’s good people wanting to devote their lives to their neighbors and invest in the success of the local economy.
I was lucky enough to grow up in a household that taught the value of community investment and the strength of family. My mom was on city council and my dad was an active member of the Masonic Lodge and Shriners. Needless to say, I’ve always been community minded and familiar with locally run businesses. The combination of those values is regularly supporting family-owned businesses. (Often defined as any business in which two or more members of the same family are involved and control over 51% of the company’s assets.)
The family-owned business invokes imagery of ‘mom and pop shops’ and is a cliché attribute of small town America; often embodying the ‘American Dream’. Heck, Wal-Mart, one of the biggest corporations in America is a family owned business. The Walton family, way back in 1962 opened their first store in Rogers, Arkansas and have been growing their empire ever since. Textbook American Dream.
But by no means does one mega-successful case study mean that running a family owned business is easy. Personally, being tuned into a small community from a young age, I know how hard it can be. Some statistics says that 70 percent of family-owned businesses fail. There are so many common pitfalls, like: family conflict, succession planning, lack of trusted advisers and different visions between generations. Any by no means is the danger a one way street: there are countless ways a business can wreak havoc on the inner workings of a family. Despite all these potential issues there are still over 5.5 million family owned businesses in the United States.
And because of everything you’ve just read: I believe in shopping small, but equally important, supporting those family-owned businesses. I do this in a wide variety of ways and would encourage you to do the same. I want to share with you some ways I show support for a few of my local favorites.
When I’m on the go and need to quickly grab something, I always choose Dari Mart. Right there on the sign, “Our family’s best.” Started by the Gibson family, just north of Junction City, way back in 1941, this family business success story has expanded all over the Willamette Valley and become our cornerstone- corner store.
Another local cornerstone family owned business in our community is Rexius. Commercial and residential landscaping- you see Rexius trucks all over town and they do stellar work to help keep Eugene/Springfield green. Owned by Arlen and Rusty Rexius, this family not only helps keep our community looking sharp, but creates many good paying jobs and contributes to the sustainability of Eugene; as they are in their 9th decade of recycling and processing organic waste.
When I get asked for recommendations on a place to stay locally, I love suggesting one of the many ALKO Hotels in our community. Owned and operated by the Patel family, ALKO Hotels has shown tremendous investment in our community, most recently helping revitalize the Glenwood area by building the Candlewood Suites as well as the brand new TRU Hotel.
Seneca is probably the most well-known family owned business in our community. They have been giving back, investing in community programs and providing good, living wage jobs since 1954. If a community partner is needed for a local initiative, I always think Seneca.
When people say that family owned businesses have a distinct ‘feeling’, I think they’re talking about Roaring Rapids Pizza. This place, beyond having an incredible location right on the river, has such a hometown feel. It’s fun and comfortable, smells incredible and always has friendly faces behind the counter. Cannot recommend it enough.
One family-owned business I’ve gotten to know through attending the Springfield Greeters group is Todd’s Auto Body. Todd Fortier, (the Todd in Todd’s auto Body) is one of the most genuinely nice ‘car guys’ I’ve ever met. Todd has gotten his shop involved with the Chamber in a number of ways- through our #WorkReady program, engaging students to help stregnthen our local workforce, and even sharpened the giant scissors we use in ribbon cuttings. His son now runs the shop, but Todd is still around. If you find yourself in need to auto body work, make sure to give them a call.
Another connection I made at the Greeters group was Shannon Nill of Guaranty. This guy shows up every week with an open heart, a big smile and often a song. Located in Junction City they’ve been growing their family business ever since 1966 when Herb Nill purchased a small-town Chevrolet-Oldsmobile dealership. If you’re looking for an RV- you better head to Guaranty.
I hope this little journey through some of my favorite family-run businesses in our community was informative. This year, with all the challenges our community has faced, shopping small this holiday season is more important than ever. To that end, the Springfield Chamber of Commerce has started collecting local holiday hours and specials on our: Shop Small page. Check it out for other local suggestions and special holiday deals. Thanks for reading, take care of each other and be well.
