Originally published January 2020 at https://www.cityofvista.com.
Mayor Ritter kicking off the Downtown Business Walk at Wavelength Brewery with a welcome speech
In an effort to facilitate business retention and expansion throughout the Vista business community, Vista’s mayor, Judy Ritter led efforts to listen to the city’s business owners in this year’s annual Business Walk. “This event provides an opportunity for civic leaders and community volunteers to reach out to our business community on their own turf and listen to their needs and concerns in their own work environment.”
For the past nine years, the Vista Economic Development Department and the Vista Chamber of Commerce have partnered to survey the state of business in Vista. Trained volunteers who live and work in the community visit businesses downtown and in the business park with a series of approximately 10 questions that ask business owners how their businesses are doing. Questions such as the state of their businesses, their hiring needs and expectations, sales information, challenges they are having, and if they have any questions or concerns for the Economic Development Department or the Chamber are asked and recorded.
Business Walk volunteers gearing up for the day’s events
Vista’s Economic Development Director Kevin Ham sees this outreach as a value to not only the city but to the businesses as well. He said, “It really demonstrates the value the City and Chamber place on our businesses. We are getting out and touching and talking to the businesses on a regular basis to see how they are doing and what they need.”
Through the years, Business Walks have uncovered valuable information that has led to greater growth and development in Vista. “Over the years, some of our first business walks uncovered the need for hotels,” said Ham. “Businesses were asking for space not only for clients and vendors to stay while doing business in Vista but there was also a need for a location potential employees to stay while being interviewed or having a temporary residence while relocating.” This data helped City leaders confirm what they already knew and bring more hotels to Vista.
Another finding benefited the many breweries in Vista.
“Vista is known for our breweries. In the early years, someone from the federal government who works in the trade and business department helped on the business walk,” Ham said. While on the walk, she realized how important it was for our breweries to start distributing their products globally. After the walk, she worked with many breweries personally to help them learn and understand how to export their beer and grow their businesses internationally.”
Additionally, information gathered about issues such as filling potholes, questions about construction, or leasing issues is important to the City and Chamber. “We want our business owners to know we are here,” Ham said. This is information the City will use to continue to improve the city and to provide added information to the community.
Even businesses that don’t participate in the Business Walk benefit from the outreach. Bob Wells, COO of Ovation Hair, has not personally participated in the walk but understands its importance. “The outreach effort is great. Any opportunity to meet principles with the City and Chamber is good. Their insight is invaluable.”
Ovation Hair specialty hair products
Ovation Hair owns two grooming lines, Ovation Hair and EQyss Grooming Products. Both are manufactured in Vista and distributed throughout the country online, through select hair salons, and on QVC. Wells’s satisfaction with doing business in Vista comes from the fact that he is confident city leaders are available and listening to his concerns. “I definitely know who to contact when and if I ever encounter a challenge with the City.”
President and CEO of Vista Chamber of Commerce Rachel Beld, who helped start the Business Walk with Ham, believes the Business Walk, “helps provide a snapshot of the economic health of Vista.”
Vista Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Rachel Beld
Beld said, “The Business Walk allows community and business leaders the opportunity to meet directly with businesses. By visiting them in their location, we get a first-hand view of their operations, needs, issues, challenges, and successes.” The Chamber uses the information gathered to provide an economic report for all its members each year.
The last Business Walk took place on Thursday, September 26, 2019. With a slightly smaller than expected volunteer turnout, the supercharged group still managed to visit approximately 125 businesses in both the business park and throughout downtown. A variation of businesses are selected for the survey and visits each year in order to get a snapshot of the scope of business going on in Vista. “We typically toggle back and forth because there are nearly 900 businesses in the park and we only hit about 50–100 businesses on the Walk,” said Ham.
The information gathered this year came with positive results for the City. Downtown businesses said while they expect overall growth they could use help finding talented employees to help build their businesses. Some also said they often experience challenges when it comes to attracting patrons. They feel support in the way of more downtown events would help attract more foot traffic and potential customers.
Aerial view of Vista’s Business Park
The Business Park hosts a wide array of businesses from manufacturing aircraft parts, to environmentally responsible hair and body care products, to custom high-end wheels. Nearly half of the businesses conduct international business and import or export at least 50% of their goods outside of the United States. Of the businesses surveyed, over half anticipate growth; the others expect their business growth to remain the same in the new year. Additionally, over half of the businesses surveyed anticipate hiring more employees in the new year and expressed the desire to be connected with hiring resources. They feel assistance in hiring qualified candidates would be beneficial to their businesses.
Information from the Business Walk was incorporated into Vista’s Mayor Judy Ritter’s, annual State of the City event on January 27. At this event Mayor Ritter summarizes the City’s greatest year-end accomplishments. This yearly event is sponsored by the Vista City of Chamber.
Ham thinks the Business Walk assures business owners that Vista’s Business Development Department and the Chamber are listening and working with them to keep Vista a business-friendly city. “It is a good tool to demonstrate to our business owners that we care, understand their needs, and learn ways in which we can help them succeed.”
Economic Development contact for the City of Vista:
Kevin Ham
Economic Development Director
