Fresh idea wins contest

Just when it seems that a coffee shop is just a coffee shop, a new idea comes along and breathes new life into the business model.

That’s why Ketchum-based Lizzy’s Fresh Coffee is one of 36 national winners in the My Business Story contest, sponsored by American Express and Google.

Small businesses were invited to tell their stories and submit a video. Owner Liz Roquet explained their roasting techniques and also how customers can customize their coffee bags. The company also has a monthly contest, with customers sending in photos and the best photos are selected to be used on the bags. Winning entries are awarded a free bag of coffee.

The business won a $5,000 digital media plan funded by American Express and executed by Google.

Take a look at the winning video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts-3PRslqRY.

And while you're in the mood, check out Lizzy's web site and maybe order a bag of coffee. http://www.lizzysfreshcoffee.com/

Neutron barriers and DMP

Diversified Metal Products was awarded a government contract to provide neutron barriers for the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Neutron barriers? In short, these are leak-tight shells that NIST uses for neutron research and experiments. (You can read more about this at http://www.ncnr.nist.gov/index.html)  

The Idaho Falls company has grown its revenues in the past five years and has steadily added employees as well. DMP has been able to take advantage of the new Hire One Act in Idaho, which provides refundable tax credits of up to 6 percent of a worker’s salary for qualifying employers who create new positions. The state’s Workforce Development Training Fund has also been helpful.

DMP specializes in alloy component engineering and fabrication, with a strong customer base in the government and nuclear markets.

Selling motorcycle clutches to the world

Al Youngwerth truly believes he’s made the best motorcycle clutch and he’s ready to bring it to the world. His successful Boise company, Rekluse Motor Sports, surpassed $1 million in sales in its second year (2003) and sales continue to climb, mostly in the United States.

He decided he needed a little help accelerating international sales.

This fall, Rekluse joined five other Idaho companies in the Export Excellence program, which coaches companies in establishing a customized export action plan. The company’s goal is to expand sales into Germany and France.

Each of the companies was assigned an export coach from the Idaho District Export Council and had access to experts from the US Commercial Service, the Idaho Department of Agriculture, the Idaho Department of Commerce and the Idaho Manufacturing Extension Partnership.

Rekluse’s export plan was named the best by the team of experts.

Other participants in the program were Bully Dog Technologies of Aberdeen, Wear Ease of Boise, In the Ditch Towing Products of Mountain Home, Premier Technology of Blackfoot, and Treasure Valley Food Group of Boise.

Armed with this new plan, Rekluse is much better prepared to sell to the world.

Interested in the Export Excellence program? Contact Jennifer Verdon at the Idaho Department of Commerce, (208) 334-2470.

Impacting the economy

A slowdown in orders didn’t result in layoffs at Sewing for Sports in Grangeville. Instead, an unusual thing happened: Employees were brought in to work and then sent out to do community service. Workers volunteered at a variety of organizations as well as for private individuals. Organizations included Hope Pregnancy Center, Evergreen Food Bank, Animal Ark, Northwest Intermountain Manufacturing Association and more.

Even as orders increased, Sewing for Sports continues to allow its employees four hours each week to serve in the community. The company makes padding for various recreation sectors, including for ski lifts, pole vaulting, commercial snow tubing, etc.

The company’s CEO Gunther Williams says “We feel the best way to effect the worldwide economic and social changes that are needed, is to start with our own homes, businesses, churches, and communities.”

Apple + Starbucks + Sun Valley

Ah, Sun Valley. Home of celebrities, amazing ski runs and… a visitor’s center modeled after an Apple store?

Sort of.

The resort area’s newly renovated visitor center, which will have its grand opening at 3 p.m. Friday, is a work of art.

Architect Susan Desko took a 1960’s vintage building that many thought was a tear-down and wrapped it in stacked wood brought in from surrounding forests. The entrance has log columns and that theme is carried within as well. The information desk is comprised of wood that comes from 13 dead standing timbers and stood on end to serve as the information desk, with massive Douglas fir stumps serving as stools.

Apple makes its appearance inside with staff equipped with iPads, not brochures, to help with searches for activities, restaurants and retailers. Designers want the focus to be on customer service and communication mixed with technology. Seven plasma screens around the center will stream local information.

And… if all that isn’t enough… the center has created a unique partnership with a new franchise Starbucks coffee shop. If you’re in the area, it’s certainly worth a stop.

Economic boomtown

The economy appears to be moving full speed ahead in a development area called The Core in Meridian. Construction and expansion belies a sluggish economy. Just along one road (Eagle Road), major projects are in varying stages of completion. A couple of them are:

-         A just-completed 191,000-square-foot distribution center for Scentsy, named the 85^th fastest growing company over the last three years by Inc. magazine.

-         An almost-completed 38,000-square foot headquarters and manufacturing facility for PKG, a firm that makes keyboards, pads and control devices for healthcare, avionics and instrumentation industries. The company has expansion plans for its 13-acre campus.

A bit farther on, construction is well underway for the huge Meridian Lifestyle Center, one of the largest multi-use projects built in years.

The area will include retail, office and entertainment venues, encompassing 850,000 square feet.

The center sits adjacent to a 60-acre park that will include playgrounds, walking paths and an amphitheater.

The park is also home to a new senior center.

Another block away is a corner that seems to be a focal point for additional development in recent years. At the moment, a new supermarket is under construction. Rosauers Supermarkets is making this location its first foray into Idaho.

Lots of good stuff.

If you build it...

It’s true in Orofino for Commercial Park, a new 10,000-square-foot business/industrial center that combines small office and shop units, that "if you build it, they will come." These have proved to be popular, with 7 of the 10 units already leased. Two of the businesses attracted to the center are new to the area – Heavymetal Repair from Arizona and a building contractor from California.

Valley Rentals is the property owner and apparently is considering the possibility of building more.

Eat more yogurt

Great news today from Twin Falls. The Greek yogurt company Chobani will build a $100 million production facility there, creating 400 jobs. A Chobani company blog said they chose Twin Falls partly because it reminded them of their headquarters town, a tight-knit village called New Berlin in New York. Of course, a skilled labor force and plenty of milk production nearby didn’t hurt either.
http://chobani.com/blog/

So, what’s with Greek yogurt?

Greek yogurt is strained to remove the liquid whey which creates a creamier, thicker product than regular yogurt. Because it is more concentrated, it contains more protein. It is also a bit lower in sugar and carbohydrates since the lactose is strained out with the liquid whey. As with all yogurts, Greek yogurt is a great source of calcium and the bacteria cultures helps aid in digestion.

One more benefit: Soon it’ll be made in Idaho! With that in mind, here’s what a marriage of Idaho and Chobani looks like (mashed cho-tatoes w/ yogurt):

http://www.chobanikitchen.com/recipes/detail/Mashed-Potatoes

North Wind has dynamic October

We continue to be impressed by this very successful engineering firm from Idaho Falls. In the last month, they not only launched a new subsidiary – North Wind Construction Services – but they also just won a $14.5 million contract.

First, the contract: The award is to provide maintenance and renovation services for the Air Force Space Command Building One in Colorado.

Then, the new business: It’s in full operation and provides heavy civil construction services with an emphasis on environmental remediation and reclamation. This subsidiary is based in Kellogg and expects “significant employee growth over the next 9 months,” according to a company press release.

Last, but not least: North Wind was recently recognized in two national publications: Engineering News Record and Inc magazine. ENR ranked North Wind at 90 in its annual list of the 200 top environmental firms. Inc. ranked North Wind at #3673 of the nation’s top  5000 companies in terms of percentage revenue growth over the past three years.