Business

With the opening of one of the country’s most popular sporting goods retail chains,

Prescott Valley business leaders say the community has scored an economic home run. Dick’s Sporting Goods, at the Crossroads Shopping Center next to Sam’s Club, celebrated its grand opening on Oct. 11.

Specializing in a comprehensive array of sporting goods, athletic apparel and shoes, fitness equipment and bicycles, the store is part of one of the largest sporting goods retailers in the world, with more than 535 stores operating in 42 states.

“It is thrilling to celebrate the opening of a Dick’s Sporting Goods store in our community, representing the seventh store location in Arizona,” said President and CEO of the Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce Marnie Uhl. “This provides a major economic boost to our area since 50 full- and part-time employees will work at the store, in addition to the retail sales tax generated.”

Daniel Villanueva, formerly employed at the Deer Valley store, is the new Prescott Valley store manager.

“The Prescott area represents a growing marketplace with a great customer base particularly in organized youth athletics and outdoors sports enthusiasts,” said Community Marketing Manager Philip Birkbeck. “But our objective is to serve the sporting goods and equipment needs of athletes in the entire local community.”

Birkbeck explained that local athletic participation at the youth level – ages three to 14 – is particularly strong in major team sports including baseball, football, basketball and soccer. Additionally, hunting, fishing, camping, and mountain and hybrid bicycling are popular in the area.

Prior to the opening of the Prescott Valley location, the closest Dick’s Sporting Goods store was in north Phoenix. Other Arizona locations include Glendale, Tempe, Mesa, Gilbert and Oro Valley.

A quintessential American success story, Dick’s Sporting Goods traces it modest beginnings to a bait and tackle supply store started by 18-year-old Richard “Dick” Stack in Binghamton, N.Y., in 1948. Within several years, the product line was expanded to include more sporting gear and a second store was opened in nearby Vestal, N.Y.

The Prescott Valley location represents the 537th store opening in the United States. The $5 billion industry, headquartered near Pittsburgh, has 25,000 employees nationwide. Store locations are primarily in the eastern states but include multiple store locations in California, Oregon, Arizona and Texas.

Corporate subsidiaries include Golf Galaxy, Golfworks, Field & Stream, True Runner and Blue Sombrero. QCBN

By Frederick Michaels

Quad Cities Business News

US Digital Media, a leader in licensed mobile accessories, is teaming up with Susan G. Komen, the world’s leading breast cancer organization, to raise at least $25,000 through the sale of officially licensed pink mobile accessories. US Digital Media is releasing an exclusive line of iconic pink earbuds, BudBag earbud cases, and USB mobile chargers featuring the Komen logo and iconic “Running Ribbon.”

Families, friends and everyone touched by breast cancer can show support with fashionable and functional mobile accessories that are used every day.

US Digital Media will donate 10 percent from the sales price of each product to Susan G. Komen in 2013, with a minimum guaranteed donation of $25,000.

“Our line of mobile accessories featuring the Komen logo is doing more than bringing awareness to breast cancer and its effects, it is about raising critical funds,” explained Christopher Pignotti, CEO of US Digital Media. “Earbuds and flash drives are something we all have and use.” He continued, “Through this vital partnership, these iconic pink earbuds and mobile accessories are an individual’s way of showing support and bringing awareness.”

US Digital Media has dedicated a great deal to breast cancer research through years of contributions and participation in Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Phoenix. This new partnership continues the commitment to the cause.

“US Digital’s support will help us continue to fund more research than any other non-profit, as we serve women and men who are facing this disease today, and we are grateful for US Digital’s support,” said Dorothy Jones, vice president of marketing at Komen. QCBN

Pink mobile accessories, including earbuds, Budbag earbud cases, mobile charger and USB flash drives are available at www.mobilemars.com/susan-g-komen.

“Getting a massage is not like getting your brakes done,” said Mark Love.

So true!

Love, the owner of the Massage Envy in Prescott, knows of what he speaks.

“It’s a very rewarding service because I get to see the best of everyone after each service,” he said. “When they come in, they are full of vinegar. When they come out, they have a different perspective.”

Love says everyone should consider getting regular massages. He says some of the benefits include the reduction of blood pressure and levels of stress. Cortisone levels can be reduced and mobility is better after a massage.

He explains that we damage ourselves by doing things such as sitting in front of our computers all day or doing the same repetitive motion over and over at our jobs.

And day-to-day stress takes its toll on our bodies as well.

“You need to unlock and loosen up and train those muscles to do something different,” he said.

The Prescott Massage Envy opened in May 2013.

“We’ve been going four or five months and business is great. We have been well received by the local community,” he said.

Love cites three reasons why the business has taken off so soon. It is convenient. It is open seven days a week. Staff members are all certified professional therapists. And, the cost is reasonable. Massages cost between $30 and $50.

Right now the business employs 24 people, 16 of whom are therapists and six of whom work at the front desk. In addition, there are two estheticians who use Murad products for their healthy skin facials.

“The majority of what we are doing is massage, but we are seeing our facial business growing because people realize the need to maintain their skin through hydration,” he said. “There is no Botox, no abrasion, just a facial aimed toward hydration and keeping the skin glowing and with more elasticity.”

Love cannot emphasize enough the value of taking better care of ourselves. “I would say, ‘Don’t hesitate in waiting for the right time to look after yourself because the time is now,’” he said. “You can feel better and have a better perspective. You need to decompress. You need to reset.”

Opening his business in Prescott has made Love feel at home right away. “I adore being part of the local community,” he said. “Every time we do anything, it is tied to the community,” he said. “We do Big Brothers and Sisters, The United Way and Red Cross.”

Although Love is very modest about it and does not want to shine a spotlight on the event, the business offered free massages to firefighters after the tragedy in Yarnell that claimed the life of 19 Hotshots from the Prescott area.

The business is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

“It lends itself to get a massage on anyone’s schedule,” Love said. QCBN

Massage Envy is located at 120 E. Sheldon Street, Suite 100 in Prescott. For more information, call 928-778-3689.

Love is also part owner of the Massage Envy in Flagstaff.

Written by Patty McCormac

Quad Cities Business News

Arizona is continuing to grow following the recession, but the greater Quad Cities area is lagging compared to more populous areas of the state. Research Professor Lee McPheters, Ph.D., gave a presentation in Prescott recently, discussing the region’s recovery. As director of the JPMorgan Chase Economic Outlook Center at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, McPheters has been studying the state’s economy for more than 30 years. “If you define recovery as returning back to something in the range of 2.6 million jobs for Arizona, we still have a ways to go. We lost 300,000 plus jobs and we got about half of those back,” explained McPheters, who notes Arizona’s job growth is about 60,000 a year. “Prescott lost about 10,000 jobs and at the pace of recovery, it is going to be several years until Prescott returns to the level of strong growth we saw in 2006.”

Prescott Chamber of Commerce CEO David Maurer called some of McPheters statistics sobering. The presentation titled, “Are We There Yet? On the Road to Recovery,” showed Prescott, employment dropped by two percent between August 2012 and 2013, with a loss of 1,000 jobs. In contrast, Flagstaff gained 1,300 jobs during that timeframe and Phoenix added 42,200. And while growth statewide is on the slow upswing, statistics also show Arizona regained just 47 percent of its jobs lost since the start of the recession, with 53 percent still to be recovered.

When McPheters crunched the numbers for Prescott a year ago, his statistics were relatively optimistic, but the region lost some momentum. “I think the important parts of the Prescott economy have to do with visitors: accommodations, hotels and food service.” Growth in those sectors fell during the past 12 months.” Arizona follows national trends in consumer spending, which is down. “Typically, we ought to be growing somewhere around 3.5 percent over a year, and it is growing at about half that; consumers are very cautious right now and they account for 70 percent of the economy, and when you have 70 percent of the economy that is at half speed, then the whole economy is affected,” McPheters said. Consumer confidence has taken a further hit since the federal government shutdown began Oct. 1.

John Dunham is president of John Dunham and Associates, an economic research firm in Brooklyn, N.Y. He tells Quad Cities Business News that the economy is not destined to boom in the next 24 months. “We’re growing, which is better than shrinking, but we are not growing at any rapid rate in the country,” said Dunham, who shared some of McPheters’s outlooks, predicting a slow, steady growth pattern. Dunham, who specializes in the effects of public policy issues on products and services, says the Grand Canyon state has some advantages. “Arizona is just now opening up to a lot of new gas developments, in particular. That’s a good thing. The bad thing is, the state is so dependent on retirees, housing and immigration,” which Dunham says is beginning to run its course. He thinks the increase in interest rates and a slowdown of the state’s population growth will prevent another housing boom.

One of McPheters’s presentation slides shows Arizona remained in the top 10 states for population growth, according to U.S. Census statistics; and while it may not be defined as a housing boom, the ASU economist reports single family home permits in the state are expected to reach 27,340 in 2014.

Development does seem to be picking up, say some Arizonans. Larry Sullins is a contractor with a background building single-family homes. As the owner of North Sky Development, he is observing a shift in the economy. Not too long ago, Sullins says developers were unable to make a profit. “Now, if you watch your Ps and Qs and get your dirt at a good price, you can actually start to see margins come out,” he said, referring to a positive bottom line. “The more people that are building, the more plumbers and electricians are going back to work and the more that is going to trigger other things in the economy improving.”

McPheters summarized his recent report on the economy. “I think the main takeaway is our growth right now in Arizona is below normal but we are still doing better than most places. The national economy is growing at about half speed, and the Arizona economy follows the national business cycle,” said McPheters. “When the national economy picks up, and we are expected to see that in 2014 on to 2015, that is when I think you’ll see stronger growth in Arizona, maybe back to the four percent job growth that is really just normal for us. QCBN

The study quoted in the article can be accessed at

http://www.asufoundation.org/s/1469/foundation/PEP/index.aspx?sid=1469&gid=2&pgid=2856

By Theresa Bierer

Quad Cities Business News

Whether you want to add volume and length with extensions, decorate the whole softball team in hot pink streaks or go with a smooth stacked A-line, Codi Dodge and Drey Duran are ready to quench your thirsty Arizona hair with leave-in conditioner and spoil you in style.

Dodge grew up in Prescott Valley. Duran grew up in Prescott. Their paths crossed and their lives changed when they met in a Prescott beauty college 13 years ago. The two became fast friends as they clipped, permed, dyed and curled their way into their first jobs in the same Prescott salon. Their bond grew even stronger as these young moms raised their children together.

“We are opposites in a lot of ways, but we balance each other out,” said Duran. “Codi is very thoughtful and caring.”

“I’m the hyper one,” said Dodge. “Drey can be hyper, too, but she mellows me out. She’s also very organized and patient, and can think outside the box.”

The large salon where they were working moved to Prescott Valley. Soon, the two women saw an opportunity as the salon changed owners.

“Bigger isn’t necessarily better,” said Dodge. “We wanted to create a warm, cozy environment where clients feel comfortable to walk around, laugh and drink tea.”

“We opened the salon so that we could choose our own hours and have more family time,” added Duran.

But more family time did not happen right away. When they say they “built” their business, they mean it. Four years ago, Dodge and Duran were hammering, hanging dry wall and painting in the evenings after they styled hair all day. On June 27, 2009, when small businesses all around them were going under, the two friends opened Amadora Salon & Boutique at 6455 N. Viewpoint Dr., on the backside of Prescott Valley.

To outsiders, it looked as though these young women were making two very big, basic mistakes: opening a small business during a recession and going into business with a good friend.

For the first six months, 10 hour days were common as Dodge and Duran handled everything from the shampoo bowl to the balance sheet. But through the challenges of designing and building the business, the two seemed to agree on everything.

“We’ve always had similar tastes,” said Dodge. “Sometimes we’ll come to work wearing the same shirts or shoes! We’re like the perfect marriage.”

Soon the women hired three more stylists.

“When we hire, we make sure we all mesh well. That’s why our clients like it here, they feel comfortable, we know each other and each other’s clients, and many of our clients we’ve known for a long time,” said Duran.

Both women cite customer loyalty as critical to their success. Long-time clients include customers they met more than a decade ago. One woman makes the drive regularly from Las Vegas for hair care.

“We’re busy and getting busier as we head into the holiday season,” said Duran. “But there’s always room for more!”

Amadora Salon and Boutique is open every day except Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and later by appointment. And the owners, now in their early 30s, are enjoying the success they envisioned as entrepreneurs who set their own schedules. But the most rewarding part, they say, is having happy clients.

“We get phone calls and cards from clients thanking us for changing their attitude and impacting their life,” said Duran. “Clients going out happy and feeling so good about themselves is our best advertisement. They send their friends to us.”

Amadora means “a gift of love,” which the women say is what they intended to create for themselves and their clients.

“It’s like we have the perfect little family here,” said Dodge. QCBN

For more information about Amadora Salon & Boutique, call 928-772-0888 or send an email to amadorasalon@yahoo.com.

Arizona’s SolarWorks celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Prescott Valley and Prescott Chambers present. SolarWorks LLC., is settling in to the new location at 3250 Gateway Boulevard, while continuing to serve the Verde Valley and Sedona from the Cottonwood office.  More information about SolarWorks LLC is available online at http://solarworksaz.com/ or by calling toll free 1-877-634-578

Governor Jan Brewer and the Arizona Commerce Authority are celebrating a major announcement that Apple has chosen Mesa, Arizona as the location of its newest U.S. manufacturing facility. This will create at least 700 quality jobs in the first year and generate significant capital investment. The project also will produce approximately 1,300 construction and other associated jobs for the people of Arizona.

“Apple is indisputably one of the world’s most innovative companies and I’m thrilled to welcome them to Arizona,” said Governor Brewer. “Apple will have an incredibly positive economic impact for Arizona and its decision to locate here speaks volumes about the friendly, pro-business climate we have been creating these past four years. Their investment in renewable energy will also be greening our power grid, and creating significant new solar and geothermal power sources for the state. As Governor, I’ve worked hard to demonstrate that Arizona is open for business. Today’s news is proof that’s paying off.”

Apple’s announcement is the culmination of a tremendous amount of hard work and a statewide collaborative effort led by the Arizona Commerce Authority — chaired by Governor Brewer — and in conjunction with partners at Salt River Project, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, the City of Mesa and Maricopa County.

“It is a pleasure to welcome one of the most admired companies in the world to our great state,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “Apple’s confidence in Arizona and its selection of Mesa as the site of its newest manufacturing facility represents an enormous win for our state and a historic investment in our community — one that will create hundreds of quality jobs for Arizonans. Apple’s commitment to manufacturing that will rely on renewable energy further demonstrates its forward-thinking, progressive nature and Arizona’s advanced capabilities in producing and delivering renewable power. Salt River Project has been instrumental in working with Apple to create additional advanced renewable energy sources that will power next-generation manufacturing.”

Apple’s investment in Arizona is the latest in a growing line of companies that have taken notice of Arizona’s strong pro-business tax and regulatory environment, and the highly skilled, quality workforce that is available — all of which have positioned Arizona as the best state in the country to do business.

The next time you order a margarita with your carnitas at Prescott’s El Gato Azul, ask for one made with Scorpion mezcal and be sure to check out the bottle.

While some mescal comes bottled up with a worm, the Scorpion Silver Mezcal at El Gato Azul will have a real scorpion inside and a tiny Mexican sombrero on the outside of the bottle. For this novelty that surely will make the experience memorable for your visiting East Coast relatives, thank Bob Pike and Bill Peryer.

The difference between mezcal and tequila, as Pike explains, is that mezcal agave is cooked with hard wood charcoal and tequila agave is steamed. The plant is cooked in the ground to create a smoky flavor. Mezcal that has been aging for seven years in oak can cost $300 a bottle. “We don’t sell very much of that,” said Pike.

But they do sell a lot of Scorpion Mezcal to places like AJ’s, BevMo, Total Wine and restaurants throughout the state.

Pike and Peryer delight in finding, importing and distributing unique spirits, wine and beer of superior quality through their boutique wholesale company, Piper Premium Beverages.

They started the Prescott business in 2005 with one product, a brand of tequila. Slowly, the business partners added a cognac and other spirits. Four years ago, they started including premium beer and French wine.

“Phuket is a very good beer. It’s the only Thai beer we sell,” said Pike. “It is the premium Thai beer and it doesn’t cost any more than the most exported Thai brands like Singha or Chang that are made with formaldehyde.”

Phuket is a Piper Premium Beverages bestseller and can be found locally in stores such as Lloyd’s Liquors and Park Plaza Liquor & Deli.

“We don’t add a product just to have an offering in a particular category. Our products have to meet our standards for quality and uniqueness,” said Pike. “We serve a small cadre of people who like different things. Most people are into California wines. We only sell French wines and you don’t find a lot of those.”

The most popular wine Piper Premium Beverages distributes is a French Purple Malbec. The company’s best-selling scotch, Deerstalker Highland Single Malt, is aged 10 years. Also from Scotland is Hutchison Spiced Ginger Wine, which is sold mostly to Asian restaurants.

Before becoming a fine beverages distributor, Pike had an executive search business. There was a lot of travel involved and the search business started slowing down with the economic downturn. What he has found with the premium beverage industry is, even in difficult economic times, people will allow themselves certain luxuries. In this case, fine spirits.

It is also a business that allows him to live in Prescott. Peryer lives in nearby Dewey-Humboldt. “The Prescott area is like Flagstaff without a bitter winter,” said Pike. “I’m not going to live anywhere else.”

“People start businesses in Prescott for a variety of reasons,” said Prescott Chamber of Commerce CEO Dave Maurer. “Some of the primary reasons include our central location in the state, the size of our metropolitan area, and the overall quality of life. Prescott is very much a small business community with a good variety of businesses. Gone are the days where you had to make a weekly trip to Phoenix to do your shopping. Most goods and services can be found here.”

Piper Premium Beverages contracts with six salespeople who cover various regional areas of Arizona. Also, the company is expanding its import business by adding distributors in California, Hawaii, Colorado, Georgia, Nevada, Minnesota, South Dakota and Texas.

“Our aim is to cut through the overwhelming marketing that occurs with name brand products and simply be the best small, boutique-type distributor of the highest quality products available to the on-premise and off-premise trade,” said Pike. QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens

Quad Cities Business News

Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) held roundtables in Prescott, Cottonwood and Prescott Valley yesterday to discuss the government slowdown, the debt ceiling, Obamacare and other issues with local business leaders. The events were attended by business owners, leaders from local Chambers of Commerce and government officials.

After the roundtables Rep. Gosar said, “People are fed up with the gridlock and partisanship in Washington. They are sick of feeling like pawns in a political chess game. Their families and businesses are hurting.”

“Hardworking Americans want an environment where they can thrive,” Rep. Gosar continued. “I will remain focused on solutions that get government out of the way and spur private-sector growth and job creation.”

Prescott: More than 30 business leaders came out Monday morning to the Hassayampa Inn in Prescott to discuss the small business issues impacting them. These business leaders are concerned that Obamacare will stifle economic growth and limit their ability to grow their companies.

Cottonwood: Business Leaders throughout Cottonwood and the Verde Valley joined Rep. Gosar at the Cottonwood Recreation Center for a Business Roundtable. Special thanks to Lana Tolleson, Andrea Harless and Casey Rooney for taking the time to share the developments of the growing viticulture industry in the region and the small business growth they are experiencing as a result.

Prescott Valley: Rep. Gosar listened to local business leaders share their thoughts concerning the economy and the pressures the business community is facing. Special thanks to Mayor Harvey Skoog and Marnie Uhl from the Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce for their leadership as Prescott Valley continues to grow as a result of the pro-business attitude within the community.

A visit to Frontier Village on Highway 69 provides a stark comparison to the region’s shopping scene a couple of years ago. A new McDonald’s, a 3,000-square-foot Starbucks, the new 20,000-square-foot Planet Fitness facility and the much-welcomed Picture Show Entertainment provide a sign of the improved economy.

And when you visit Frontier Village’s website, you can watch a video titled, To Think They Called us a Ghost Town, complete with a Ghost Train song and messages including, “alive, well, ready and waiting.”

Prescott’s Chamber of Commerce CEO David Maurer is enthusiastic about Picture Show Entertainment, saying the additional movie screens at Frontier Village are an improvement for area residents. “There are 14 movie screens at the Harkins in Prescott Valley, so between the two, there will be a lot of movie opportunities,” he said.

Frontier Village Marketing Manager Amber Hudson is enthusiastic about the theater, too. “It has brought jobs into the area, and there are all kinds of networking things they have the opportunity to do there in the theater. As far as the different movies, different features, they can host events and movies,” said Hudson. The entire theater was rehabilitated, she said, including the carpet, the walls, screens and chairs.

For people who want to grab a bite to eat either before or after the show, the list of options keeps growing: Zeke’s, Fujiyama, Burger King, a new McDonald’s, Peter Piper Pizza, Applebee’s, Golden Corral, Subway, Red Lobster and others.

Planet Fitness has a tentative opening date of Nov. 11.  Co-owner Steve Thomas has another Planet Fitness in Yuma and is opening the Prescott facility with his two sons and daughter-in-law.

Of the nearly 700 Planet Fitness centers across the United States, 50 percent of members have never belonged to a gym or workout facility. “Some members have been working out all their lives, but for many, this is a new experience,” said Thomas. Planet Fitness has a philosophy: it is a judgment-free zone. Thomas says people regularly comment on the comfortable environment, which is very important to people wanting to make a life change and become more healthy.

In addition to the shopping center newcomers, Hudson says owners of many stores in Frontier Village have renewed their leases. “Our ultimate goal is to refill the center. We’re working hard to do that. The more stores you have, the better the shopping experience will be for the community,” she said.

The owner of Top 4 Nails agrees. Anna Hoang Le says the addition of new retailers is good for her business. “Things are very good and I will stay here for a long time,” she said.

Auraly Hollingsworth is looking forward to a robust future in Frontier Village. The general manager of Rack on Cue Family Billiards says they opened in July and things are going well. “People are embracing the family friendly message,” she told Quad Cities Business News. The local businesses are giving a lot and we are giving back to other businesses,” Hollingsworth said. She wants to see more people, including high school groups realize they can come and hang out. “There is not a lot for people under 21 to do in the area after the sun goes down.” Rack on Cue Family Billiards is open from 11 a.m. until midnight.

The bustling shopping area is just one sign of the region’s economic turnaround, says Maurer. “For the last couple years now, little by little, you begin to see the improving economy, new stores, new opportunities.” As you look around each of the cities in the area, he adds, you can see signs of the turnaround in the economy. QCBN

For more, visit www.frontier-village.com.

Written by Theresa Bierer