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One-stop shop environment gives Northwest businesses the edge
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Posted by LisaW Wed Nov 30, -0001 00:00:00 PST
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0 responses 0 comments Northwest businesses are taking a tip from national chains by offering multiple services to the growing consumer family.

From the needs of every mother-to-be, activities for kids or a fashion diva, small owners are signing on to the newest rage: one-stop shops.

The trend is keeping them competitive, said Bart Hill, President and CEO of San Joaquin Bank, which specializes in banking for small and medium-sized businesses.

“Small business has to compete against big business, and how they do that is generally not on price, but on service or services. Generally small business out-services larger business,” Hill said. “Even if you have to pay a little more, people recognize that part of the product is the service, whether it makes you feel good, saves you a little time or gas going to and from.”

Baby Sightings is just one of many Northwest businesses that have taken the all-in-one concept and applied it to existing services.

The Northwest boutique offers four services for the mom-to-be: 3D/4D ultrasound; a maternity clothes boutique; photography; and massage. The original concept for the business came when co-owner and Northwest resident, Krystal Bond, was 35 weeks pregnant and had to travel all the way to Fresno for a 3D ultrasound. She and her mom, Deborah Klassen, also a Northwest resident, conspired to figure out how they could go about offering these services for Bakersfield women.

As the two built their clientele for 3D ultrasound, the business evolved to provide other services that their clients requested, including designer maternity clothing lines.

“Having a baby is a special time in a mother’s and a family’s life. We feel privileged to offer all these services to families in one convenient location,” Klassen said.

Staff photographer Lori Carter provides “pre-Madonna” portraits of the mother prior to giving birth as well as infant photography. Their massage therapist offers pre-natal and Swedish massage, and the clothing boutique carries maternity brands unique to Bakersfield.

“We wanted to have an environment that provided the quietness of being able to shop without a lot of people around.  A nice, quiet, comfortable place where there is no pressure,” Klassen said.

Providing a variety of services has been a successful business model for Baby Sightings, and they are now seeing second babies after four and a half years at their 600 Coffee Road location.

“We have people who have been through the whole process and gotten their maternity clothes here, 3D/4D ultrasound, pre-Madonna photos, infant photos, and now they are starting the whole process again through us with another child,” Klassen said. “To me that is just a huge compliment; that someone enjoyed their experience here enough to come back for the next child.”

When those children get a little older, there is a place in the Northwest that can meet all of their needs when it comes to their activities.

American Kids Sports Center, 3622 Allen Road, started with gymnastic training and has evolved to offer cheerleading, dance, martial arts, fitness for kids and adults, swimming, tumbling, trampoline, day camps, parents’ night out, competitions, parties for kids, Monkey Bar Internet Cafe and a pro-shop that carries the gear for all of these activities.

“We just saw our parents running all over the place and really just running themselves ragged trying to keep up with their kids’ activities. We wanted to have a one-stop shop where parents could go one place for all the activities,” said owner and Northwest resident, Mike Williams. “Time seems to be a bigger factor than money for people nowadays. We’re just trying to meet that need and simplify things.”

The highest percentage of clients for American Kids come from the Northwest, according to Williams.

“It goes back to that convenience factor. Location is one of the biggest factors in the decision about where your kids are going to be involved for most parents,” he said.

Being good in one market is the key to success for small business owners, according to Hill.

“I think it’s smart to stick to your knitting — stick to it and get better at it. That might mean adding more products,” he said. “One of the keys to success today is to decide what you are going to do and be really good at it. When you try to be everything to everyone, you end up being mediocre. Focus tends to create quality.”

This is a principle that the bank uses, too.

“Look at us, we are a business bank, that’s what we do. We don’t even have ATMS, which is pretty much unheard of in this day and age. So why are we the fastest growing bank in the area? We’re almost as big as Washington Mutual. It’s because we believe in doing one thing really well, and that is taking care of the business community,” he said.

When it comes to beauty, the Northwest’s Coco Couture, 9660 Hageman Road, has everything most women would need in one convenient location. The boutique and tanning salon offers skincare products, makeup, tanning beds, custom airbrushing, jewelry, shoes, candles, perfumes and clothing.

“I wanted it to be a place that was cute and quaint where people would feel comfortable,” said owner Wina Peacock.

Customer service is a high priority for Peacock, and she tries to pass that on to her employees. As with any clothing boutique, Coco Couture lets regular customers keep wish lists and register for gifts. Repeat customers even have information files that include their sizes, styles and brands they like.

“You do get to know your customers personally. So when I go to market to buy clothing for the next season, I will see something and know that it’s something they’d want.”

It is the spirit of hard work and customer satisfaction that gives small business the edge in Bakersfield, according to Hill.

“In general, Kern County is a very good market for individually owned businesses. They are thriving,” he said. “We have really hard working, smart people running these businesses, and they compete very well against the chains.”

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