Upstate Business Journal » Featured

Three Sixty Ecotique: Doing the Right Thing, and Doing it with Style

jess — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 22:30:51 +0000

Three Sixty Ecotique is full of surprises. Good ones too. The first time I ever visited the store, I didn’t know much about it. I had heard that it was a used clothing store with a sort of eco-friendly bent. That’s about all I knew. But when I walked in for the first time, I was blown away by how beautiful the place was. It looks like a boutique you’d find in downtown San Francisco or LA, not in downtown Chico.
My first impression was that I wouldn’t be able to afford anything in the store, but as I started browsing around, I was pleasantly surprised by the price tags on the items on the racks too. I mean, we’re talking really great, handpicked used and vintage clothes and accessories, as well as some one-of-a-kind, hand-made, locally designed stuff. You won’t find any Target, Old Navy or Forever 21 brands here, and there is new stuff out every week. Three Sixty carries about 10 different local designers who make everything from durable messenger bags out of recycled bike tires and fire hose, to gorgeous, one-of-a-kind tops and dresses hand-made out of vintage lingerie and costume jewelry. This is really unique, awesome stuff that you just won’t find anywhere else. And great stuff for guys too. I didn’t go there to shop my first time, and I’m sort of glad, because it would have been one of those dressing room marathons with arm-loads of cute stuff to try on. Of course, I couldn’t get away without buying something – an adorable little black dress, for $18. Yes, that’s right, $18, and it looks like new.
I had a chance to catch up with the ladies behind Three Sixty, Lorna Hillman and Crystena Hemingway. The two of them serendipitously found each other when their sons became friends. They had an instant bond. Apparently Lorna had an idea for a store with all recycled items and local designers, and she had been collecting clothes for quite some time. She had a feeling Crystena would be into the idea, and as it turned out, Crystena had created a business plan for exactly this kind of store about seven years prior.
“When she first presented the idea to me, I thought she was just talking, you know, the way people do,” Crystena said. But one thing led to another, and they got started by doing a trunk sale at Crystena’s house to raise some money to lease a store front. “We started from the ground, from nothing,” Lorna told me. But after a lot of hard work, the store opened in March of 2009.
There’s an obvious commitment to environmental stewardship at Three Sixty Ecotique, as the name implies. But it goes farther than you might notice on the surface. When asked what motivated them or inspired them to care so much about the environment, Lorna said, “It just makes sense. I can’t imagine being any other way.” Crystena told me, “And having kids, you just want the best for them. You want them to be educated and empathetic to the world around them, so it helps you make decisions that way.” Lorna added, “And you want the world to be clean for them.”
The fact that they only sell recycled or used items is just one piece of the eco-puzzle at Three Sixty. It’s not your typical used clothing store. In fact, it’s really a new way of thinking about fashion. You can walk out of the store feeling just as up-to-date and in-style as if you walked out of any other boutique in Chico, or anywhere else for that matter. But the difference is, here you are giving new life to old items, reducing waste and using your power as a consumer wisely and consciously. Let’s just say it’s a way to do the right thing, without having to compromise your sense of style.
Some of the less obvious eco-friendly things at Three Sixty include the store’s interior, which was redone with all recycled construction materials. Also, you won’t be offered a bag to carry off your loot. Instead, your new-to-you goodies will be folded lovingly and tied up with yarn, ribbon, or lace. And if you ride your bike to the store, you will be given a Bike Buck with your purchase, which is good for $1 off your next purchase, and you can save them up.
Three Sixty is making a name for itself here in Chico as much more than just another store; they are an active part of our local community. They hold fashion shows a few times a year to showcase local designers and artists, and they support numerous local nonprofits. They even host the occasional clothing exchange or clothing swap, in which anyone from the community can bring in their clothes over a 4 day period, and in exchange they get a ticket for each item that is accepted for the exchange. The following week, Three Sixty puts the exchange items out on racks in the middle of the store, and people can come in and “shop” with their tickets. Any of the leftover items get donated to a local nonprofit.
Three Sixty Ecotique is the real deal. I was very impressed with the commitment Lorna and Crystena have to both top quality fashion as well as to the health of our local community and our planet. If you haven’t been in there yet, I strongly encourage you to check it out and satisfy your sense of style without compromising your conscience.
Three Sixty Ecotique is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10a.m.–6p.m., and Sunday from 12p.m.–5p.m. Parking is available in the Senator Theatre parking lot. You can find Three Sixty Ecotique on Facebook or on MySpace.

Featured Designers at Three Sixty Ecotique:
- Social Form
- Parasol Project
- Abigail’s Clothing
- Zeeko Bags
- Claire Fong
- Corderoy Horse
- Elaina Michelle Designs
- Mindful
- Rekindled
- Sara Rose
- Muir Hughes

By: Crystal Durham

GRUB Gardens

andrew — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:42:39 +0000

If you haven’t heard the buzz on Chico’s GRUB programs then you’re way past due for an introduction. GRUB (Growing Resourcefully Uniting Bellies) is a locally formed nonprofit organization established in 2007. Not only do they strive to minimize their ecological footprint by sustainable living practices, but they intend to nourish our community with knowledge and food and hope to deepen connections within the community. This group of individuals has been working hard to aid the community in sustainable development, and their latest project, the GRUB Community Gardens, invites the community to get in on the fun.

The Community Gardens first began with one garden back in September. This garden, located at 14th and Mulberry, was initially developed to help feed people at the Jesus Center and those who helped tend the garden. They have since expanded into a multiple-garden operation. Gardens have cropped up all over town, each with a different target demographic GRUB wants to help support. They have a garden off of West Lindo set up; most of the veggies grown here will be donated to a local food bank. They also hope to create a site off of East First Street that will become a training center for people with disabilities to learn the gardening process. The newest garden that they are currently working hard to get up and running is located in Walnut Grove Apartments off of Nord Ave. Here, they plan to take an old basketball court and turn it into a full-fledged garden, complete with raised beds, a sitting area and maybe even a small greenhouse.

Everything about these gardens is sustainable. Local businesses such as the Durham Worm Farm and Waste Management have donated compost, and Chico Food Network donates seeds. GRUB also tries to use all recycled materials to set up and maintain garden plots. For example, the garden off of 14th and Mulberry has an enclosed grow box that they threw together using leftover wood from a housing project and window panes collected by a GRUB member. They have also been able to use the blacktop from the basketball courts they dug up at the Walnut Grove Apartments.

Currently they have 14 members who live out at the “GRUB house” (a co-op located off Dayton Rd.) and seven people who keep the nonprofit programs running. Besides living by example, they have done a lot to spread awareness about sustainable practices and developed programs such as the gardens to aid the community. They want to see as much food grown in the community as possible and have been more than willing to share what they know to help that become a reality, but at the heart of things, these are community gardens that need to be worked on by the community at large, not just those who were good enough to get things started. Active member, Stephanie Elliot says, “If it is a need of the community to grow food, then we hope the community can support that need.” Anybody is welcome to take part in this amazing project. Help can come in a variety of ways; donate supplies, volunteer time during workdays out at one of their garden plots, or if you’re extra ambitious take on the garden coordinator position at a site. On Sundays, the GRUB house off Dayton welcomes community members to drop by and lend a hand, or even just to take a peek at what they are trying to do. There are plenty of ways to help out, and you can check out their web site grubchico.com for more information. The weather has been getting better everyday, and what better way to celebrate the rebirth of spring, than to get out in a garden and get your hands dirty to support the community, and of course, yourself.

By Jess krager

Tri Counties Bank Opens New Branch in Chico

andrew — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:04:26 +0000

On Jan. 28, Tri Counties Bank celebrated the grand opening of its new location. This branch is the first to open with the new architecture and design package that the bank is rolling out throughout its network.

“As our brand continues to evolve and respond to the needs of today’s consumer and business owner, our investment in updating our branch technology makes us more relevant to how people do their banking and live their life,” said Dan Bailey, executive vice president of Retail Banking for Tri Counties Bank. “We welcome the Chico community to come by and see our new branch.”

Visible from the street is outside signage with the updated Tri Counties Bank logo and colors. Inside is a four screen digital display that shows 1,300 unique images illustrating A Day in the Life of Tri Counties Bank. The wall features California landscapes, community involvement activities, quotes from California notables and personal profiles of bankers. The new branch architecture and design is centered on the concept of the digital wall.

In honor of the branch opening and the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Tri Counties Bank celebrated its grand opening by making a $5 donation to Disabled Sports USA for every Perfect Choice Checking account opened in the month of February.

“Disabled Sports USA is fortunate to be able to partner with Tri Counties Bank to make the world a better place for people with disabilities. Together, we will have a powerful and positive impact on the lives of children and adults with disabilities and soldiers disabled in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Doug Pringle, president of Disabled Sports USA, Far West chapter.

Chico-based Tri Counties Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TriCo Bancshares (NASDAQ: TCBK) and has been serving customers in Chico since it opened its first branch on Pillsbury Rd. in 1975. The FDIC ranks Tri Counties Bank as the largest bank in Butte County.

The branch is located at 2483 Notre Dame Blvd., Ste. 100 in the Skypark Plaza shopping center and will be open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Crystal Geyser Project Gets Approval

andrew — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:52:30 +0000

After finally getting the ok to move forward with their plans, Crystal Geyser is building a sparkling water bottling plant in Orland.

When searching for a place to start their sparkling mineral water operation, Orland had all the characteristics the company was looking for. From the aquifer, to the heavy industrial property to the small town atmosphere it was perfect.

“Crystal Geyser basically grew up in small towns,” said Alec Van Ryan, public information officer for the Crystal Geyser Project. “They like working in small towns and being part of that culture.”

Plans for the project have been in place since last summer. The project was approved by the Technical Advisory Committee in December, but was faced with two appeals, delaying the projects completion. A unanimous decision was made by City Council on Feb. 1 to approve the Orland Crystal Geyser Project.

With the plant will come 20 to 25 full-time jobs, and Crystal Geyser made a commitment to give Orland residents the upper hand when hiring.

“It’s an easy thing to do because of the quality of people who have come to us,” Van Ryan said. “We’ve already received more than 100 resumes and the people tend to be a good match for the type of jobs we offer. The funding and opportunities brought from this project will open doors for positive growth in Orland.”

The annual positive economic impact through salaries, taxes and local supplier/vendor contracts is expected to range from $1 to $2 million a year when the facility is fully operational.

The next step for Crystal Geyser is to create a Community Advisory Panel, which they hope to do in the next couple of months. This group of volunteers will help the company integrate into the community and truly become part of Orland.

Currently, Crystal Geyser is putting building plans together for submittal to the city. Following this will be a job fair, bidding on construction and by this time next year the operation should be up and running.

The only thing that can stop the project is if an opposing group files a lawsuit within the next four weeks. Save Our Water Resources and Friends of Orland have expressed a dislike for the project from the beginning, but so far neither have decided whether or not they will file an environmental lawsuit.

“There will always be a group of people that will maintain their position and it’s important that all sides be heard,” Van Ryan said. “What you have to do is find all the information available and make it public.”

Crystal Geyser has done just this by opening an information office where community members can come in and get their questions answered, he said. They also have a Web site that is updated regularly with news about the project.

When completed the plant will be an environmentally friendly 112,500-square-foot bottling plant and warehouse. The company will pump 160 acre-feet of water annually and will only produce flavored and unflavored sparkling mineral water beverages.

“We’re very excited about working with the city of Orland and working with the residents,” Van Ryan said. “It will be great.”

To find out more about the project, visit www.crystalgeyserorland.com or call the information office at 530-865-3347.

By Kayla Cook

When the History Books Are Written

andrew — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:51:49 +0000

I’m just grateful we found water on the moon in 2009. If we had waited another month to find ice on the lunar surface I’m afraid the entire decade could have been deemed, ‘The Great Pause’; as in a cease in progress; a stop in forward movement; a freeze.

It began with the great trepidation of Y2K, a fear that now appears more like profound foreshadowing than a likely reality. But who among us, save the doomsayers and the conspiracy theorists, could have fathomed the ‘00s?

Who could have imagined a deception that would start a conflict in Iraq but result in a war with no foreseeable end? Which one of us could have predicted an economic meltdown that would split the citizens of the world’s superpower into those whose nest eggs dissolved and those who would struggle to buy a dozen eggs?
There is no doubt that the ‘00s will be a decade the historians, and poets alike, offer extensive prose. However, when the history books are written, I believe, something will emerge as a far greater consequence to the long-term strength and health of this nation than the economic and institutional mayhem.

Today, we are witnessing a movement, from Maine to California, to deny basic rights to citizens of the United States, while preserving and protecting the same rights for others citizens. Simply put, gays and lesbians do not have the same right to marry and the state-protected benefits that go along with marriage as their heterosexual counterparts.

Allowing the majority to determine the rights of our minorities through ballot measures is a betrayal to our republic. To say nothing about the duplicitous campaign against gay rights that is planting deceit and lies in our town halls across America.

To put it plainly:

1) There is no correlation between the rights of gays to marry and school indoctrination of our children. This is a lie.

2) There is no correlation between protecting the rights of gays to marry and the tax-exempt status of churches. This is also a lie.

Furthermore, regarding the method of popular vote being utilized: When did we decide we could or should give our majority the opportunity to vote on the basic rights of our minorities?

In better words, James Madison’s states in the Federal Paper 51,

“It is of great importance in a republic not only to guard the society against the oppression of its rulers but to guard one part of the society against the injustice of the other part. If a majority be united by a common interest, the rights of the minority will be insecure.”

Consider what progress we would have made in civil rights if it had been contingent on a popular vote? How ludicrous it sounds to ask for a popular vote to determine whether or not to integrate our schools.

Our basic rights are not voted on in America. Our basic rights are not up for election. Our basic rights are not awarded to some citizens and denied to other citizens based on similarities or differences that might exist. That is precisely why we are America!

In the end the U.S. Supreme Court will rule on the matter of marriage equality for all U.S. citizens, a ruling that will be based on our U.S. Constitution and not state constitutions or a popular vote.

This is why our courts were created; to protect minorities against the unfair will of majorities. But we know even the highest court of our land, ruled on the wrong side of equality at one time when in 1857 the U.S. Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Robert B. Taney, declared that all blacks—slaves as well as free—were not and could not become citizens of the United States.

So how long will it take to get this right? The winter of 2009 is quickly approaching. The historians are preparing to name and lock up the decade for eternity. So I ask you, what could be more damaging to the future of our nation; a nation built on the very will for freedom and individual rights, than to seize its heart?

There is no war we could wage, no economic meltdown we could suffer, no infrastructure collapse we could endure that would cause more damage to our nation than to rape (one ballot measure at a time) the very body of freedoms we have fought so tirelessly to have—and to hold.

Alexa Valavanis is the chief executive officer of the North Valley Community Foundation, www.nvcf.org. Valavanis is also a regular contributor to the online publication Chicosol.org. She is currently working on her first non-fiction book about her work and travels in Asia.

By Alexa Valavanis

The Smart Way to Grow Your Business: The Work Training Center

andrew — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:54:15 +0000

Whether businesses need a helping hand, extra storage space or heavy equipment, the Work Training Center is there to make life easier.

The center, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to supporting people with disabilities as they achieve increased independence in work and leisure. Businesses using the center’s services are not only keeping business local, they’re helping local adults with disabilities earn a living.

The support can be especially helpful for businesses just starting out or businesses that have reached a point where they need to give up space to continue running. Owning a company can be hard work and with the tough economy it may not be feasible to rent workspace or buy delivery trucks.

“Our new tag phrase is ‘The Smart Way to Grow Your Business,’” said Carl Ochsner, executive director, Work Training Center. “We can keep businesses’ costs down and risks at a minimum, yet still allow them to increase product volume.”

The work done by the training center has included putting bottle caps on Klean Kanteens, folding up ChicoBags and making wooden gift boxes for Vino 100. The center has thousands of square feet of warehouse space, delivery trucks, forklifts and a strong work force. It also offers a wide variety of services, everything from assembly to packaging to delivery. Many businesses in the area have utilized these services, including Enloe Medical Center, Sierra Nevada Brewery and S&S Produce and Natural Foods.

“The thing that ChicoBag and Klean Kanteen like about us is that we’re super flexible,” Ochsner said. “We can get things done fast and it’s ok if they have nothing for us to do the next week.”

Hiring new employees can be costly and is impractical when mixed with erratic order flow, he said. The center can be a real asset to businesses that want things done quickly and aren’t looking to hire.

Another beneficial service the Work Training Center can offer is experience. The nonprofit has been around since 1949 and since then has become a big part of Butte County.

The knowledge the company has gained from working with a variety of successful and not so successful businesses has provided insight on how to effectively run a business. This can be especially beneficial for businesses just starting out. If entrepreneurs need help clarifying their ideas, coming up with a packaging design or figuring out how to get into markets outside the county, the Work Training Center can help.

“If you want to be successful, it doesn’t cost you anything to come and talk to me,” Ochsner said. “I might have people, resources and ideas that can really help.”
Ochsner considers the Work Training Center to be a great ally to have that is always there to lend a hand.

“Businesses should see this as another place to call, another supplier and a way to solve problems they might have,” he said.

For more information on the Work Training Center or to take advantage of their services call 530-343-7994 or visit www.wtcinc.org.

By Kayla Cook

Zot’s Hot Dogs: 31 Years of Delicious Wieners

andrew — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:34:02 +0000

When pondering examples of Americana, many notions jump quickly to mind: baseball, burgers, apple pie, rock ‘n’ roll and, of course, hot dogs. Yes, there’s a reason thousands upon thousands flood to Brooklyn, New York’s Coney Island each and every year to watch grown men competitively scarf legions of hot dogs at Nathan’s—hot dogs are indeed a part of American culture.
As luck would have it, the citizens of Chico have been privy to as fine a wiener establishment this side of the Mississippi for the past 31 years: Zot’s Hot Dogs. Located at 225 Main Street in Suite A of the Garden Walk Mall, Zot’s has proudly served customers in the very same location since 1978. And while the business has changed hands three times, Zot’s has been owned and operated by husband and wife Val and Leslie Montague since 1989. In that time, Zot’s has slowly but surely become more than just another dog joint.
“A hot dog stand, if it’s going to survive, has to adapt to a changing population,” said Leslie Montague.
It’s this thought that has seen Zot’s come to offer an array of choice lunch options, including a deli and salad bar. And to the delight of appetites across town, many of the tastiest morsels are homemade.
“We used to buy a lot of things,” explained Montague, “and as prices went up and up and up, we found it more cost effective to make them from scratch.”
Scratch items include soups, chili, deli salads, salad dressings, and baked goods like cookies and brownies. This writer admits both the cream and bean soups to be irresistible, and you simply can’t argue with a chili recipe that runs 20 years strong.
But it has not been without trial that Zot’s has kept its doors open, as the Montague’s have battled through the proverbial lulls.
“The reason we’re here, honestly, is because we’ve adapted and cut back. We used to have five employees, now it’s all
family run.”
On any given afternoon one is liable to see a nephew, niece or daughter behind the counter, not to mention Val Montague’s mother. And though Zot’s is currently going through the same tests as most any small business, there’s little doubt that Chico’s favorite hot dog purveyor will continue to fight the good fight.
“If we were just trying to start this place up in the economy being this bad, we’d have a tough time,” said Montague. “But it’s a lower overhead being downtown; we have a really great landlord, we have nice, reasonable rent. And, sometimes you just dig in and lose money for a while, it doesn’t last, although this last time has lasted a longtime [laughs]. But, we’re making it. We’re not rich, but we’re paying bills.”

By Jacob Sprecher

Dragon Graphics Thrives with Needed Niche

andrew — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:56:41 +0000

Many businesses are falling because the necessity for their services is dwindling down. Luckily for Dragon Graphics, printing is just not one of those industries.
“You can build a house and you don’t have to landscape it,” said Jeff Baylor, owner of Dragon Graphics. “But if you own a business and your staff runs out of t-shirts, they need new shirts.”
Businesses rely on items such as business cards, brochures, flyers and signs to get the word out about their business. At a time when businesses need service the most, these materials are not the ones to cut down on.
There will always be a need for printing, he said. Having a logo and a brand that is captivating and consistent is essential to being viewed as a professional, reputable business.
Baylor started Dragon Graphics nine years ago in his garage, and after two years of working from home they moved to their current location on Mangrove. In the beginning they did mostly screen printing, but as the business grew, so did their services. Now they offer everything from t-shirts to promotional products to digital prints.
“Dragon Graphics is not just a screen printing studio, we’re the full shop for anything you need, from stickers to banners to vehicle graphics, we do it, and we do it all in house,” Baylor said.
Because they can do everything over one roof, they are able to make their services more affordable. This, as well as the talent of the team, has attributed to their high cliental base.
“One thing that separates us from some of the other companies, is that we’re artists first and printers second,” Baylor said.
The staff members are experts in graphic design and they pride themselves on the high quality work they do. Baylor even includes his clients in the design process. If they come in wanting a logo he will sit them down and have them be a part of creating it. This way the customer is always happy.

Dragon Graphics has worked with many organizations in the North State, such as Boys and Girls Club, Go Local Chico, Beica, Chico State and Mt. Shasta Ski Park. After years of being in Chico they’ve gained more clients, bought more equipment and hired more employees. This growth caused them to need more space, so about 6 months ago they took over the neighboring lot, doubling the size of their old digs. Now Baylor has even bigger plans in store for his business.
“Our biggest thing we are trying to do now is franchising,” he said. “I’m moving to Mt. Shasta and opening one there.”
Baylor also plans on having stores in Ashland, Ore. and possibly San Diego. Most of the production will be done in Chico, but Baylor will be able to run the business virtually.
Dragon Graphics has figured out a business model that works, Baylor said. They have never made less money than the month or year before. In July, they managed to have 60 percent more business than the previous year.
“It will be pretty cool to be able to be in Mt. Shasta and keep an eye on it all,” he said.
Being in Mt. Shasta will allow Baylor to gain more cliental up in the North State, but best of all it will give him a chance to raise his family in the town he grew up in while still running the business he loves.

To find out more about Dragon Graphics visit www.dgprints.com or call 530-879-9666.

By Kayla Cook