indie business—St Johns, North (N) Portland...

From multi-week courses to single workshops, a variety of small business education opportunities are available to all entrepreneurs more...

"Local business make our region great. And loving local businesses just got sweeter." —Supportland Neighborhood Notes recently sent out more than 75 Supportland rewards cards loaded with points as a thank you to those that filled out our reader survey. And in response, we got a few questions, like “How do you use this thing?” Supportland co-founder Katrina Scotto di Carlo isn’t caught off guard: more...

Any small business owner or organization can create value through creative calendaring. more...

If November was an indication, December's going to be awfully quiet, because it looks like our mouths are going to be full... of food. And beer. And wine. At least 13 new restaurants and cafés opened in the last 30 days, celebrating a mélange of handmade Japanese noodles, Vietnamese sandwiches, smoked meats, tacos, tequilas, and Thai comfort food, as well as gluten-free vegan chocolate truffles and gluten-free vegan more...

Imagine that you're a florist. You've spent years working in the industry, you've learned the art of arrangement and now you're ready to strike out on your own. So you begin scouting for locations and then, there it is, the ideal place for your dream shop, which you envision in an old house a couple of doors down from a small neighborhood market on a street lined with single-family homes. You're sure that you can more...

If it is, in fact, the most wonderful time of the year, the holidays are also a time of chaos. Dinners must be planned, friends and family must be seen and, of course, gifts must be given. So how you spend your time is just as important as how you spend your money. If you prefer to avoid the cramped, populated aisles of the the big-box retailers or the dizzying experience that is the mall, Portland has plenty of local options to more...

Event date: Dec 4, 2011

Event location: St. Johns Plaza and Business District

WinterFest is a community celebration inspired by the Steampunk Victorian Dickens era, and the public is invited to enjoy the historical charm of St. Johns. Join us for a costume contest, historical walking tour, live entertainment, WinterFest Farmers' Market, shopping, breakfast with Santa, photos with Scrooge, and decorating a living holiday tree with personal ornaments. There will be singing and fun for whole family. Tree more...

Portland's small retailers have always had to stay on their toes to be competitive in the face of online and big-box stores. Owners work hard to create personal relationships and shops that offer great experiences. Local leaders and business organizations have tried to help inform and motivate consumers with buy-local campaigns. Now, small retailers face an emerging threat from mobile apps that can turn a shop created with love into more...

At the tail end of the last century, as independent craft brewing was on the rise, an inexpensive domestic beer that was nearly forgotten got a new lease on life. The beer, of course, was the iconic Pabst Blue Ribbon. The place, of course, was here. But the reason? Pabst didn't have the capital to market itself, so it didn't, which is exactly why Portlanders embraced it. Well, that, and the beer was, and remains, cheap. In more...

Small businesses are in luck. There’s about to be more help on the way. The Portland Development Commission (PDC) has finalized the details of the Small Business Development Program (SBDP). The PDC and five nonprofit organizations have joined forces to create the Small Business Development Program. The initiative is aimed at strengthening and assisting 155 businesses located in North, Northeast, and East Portland within the next more...