Business News and Announcements Compiled by Camas Frank
The 2015 WiVi Central Coast Wine Industry Conference & Tradeshow garnered more exhibitors and increased attendees by a third over last year’s figures. Organizers said 1,500 attended the 2-day conference with 180 vendor booths, making 2015 the most successful year for the organization. “We saw more vintners, growers, business managers, enologists and hospitality managers than ever before,” said WiVi Director, Becky Zelinski. “The word is out that WiVi is the place to meet with preferred vendors, gain insight on relevant topics, and network with peers all in our backyard.”
Adjunct to the conference, the WiVi Tradeshow featured every industry-related vendor from cork-makers and bottling machines to solar energy and point of sale software developers. For more information about WiVi Central Coast Industry Conference & Tradeshow, see: WiViCentralCoast.com.
During February, Food 4 Less grocery stores in San Luis Obispo County and the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County collaborated for the 7th Annual “Have A Heart” campaign. Community members purchased pink paper hearts at the check stands of Food 4 Less stores in Paso Robles, Atascadero, and San Luis Obispo to show their commitment to end hunger. The 2015 Have A Heart fundraiser generated $15, 959 from paper heart sales. The Food Bank is able to provide $10 worth of food for every $1 donated, making the total donation of $17,500 worth some $175,000.
Angela Juliano Tahti has been named executive director of the County Arts Council (ARTS Obispo) effective April 1. Tahti comes from Placer County, where she served as executive director of Placer Arts. She was selected unanimously by the ARTS Obispo board because of her, “ability to build coalitions and consensus, manage projects, lead communications and serve as a passionate advocate for all of the arts. “ Tahti succeeds Jenna Hartzell, who worked with ARTS Obispo for five years, first as program manager, then as executive director.
The Couch Potato furniture store has moved to 595 Marsh St., in Downtown SLO. Couch Potato’s owners offer displays and furnishings to, “Help you to spur your imagination” and offer advice and service even without a purchase. For more information see: www.couchpotatoslo.com.
The SLO Downtown Association recently awarded honors to two dozen businesses at its 26th Annual Beautification Awards Breakfast. The awards are given to businesses that made physical or aesthetic improvements toward “keeping Downtown beautiful” in the 2014 calendar year. The Downtown Association Design Committee oversaw the process from selecting the candidates to presenting the awards in categories including Tenant Improvements, Maintenance, Merchandising and several special awards.
Express Checkout, creators of a not-yet-released smartphone app need help testing out their product. The app is designed for “in-person shopping where you scan as you shop and checkout faster,” explained William Hogben. “We’ve been checking out the same way since the introduction of barcodes in the 70’s and it’s 2015.”
Locals who’d like to be early testers are being asked to come try the app and give their feedback, while being paid $25 for the test. The tests take place in Pismo Beach at the Pismo Coast Shopping Plaza starting this week and sporadically over the next month. For information email to: .
Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, a San Luis Obispo law firm, has announced the opening of its online scholarship applications, which will award $1,000 to a student who wants to start or continue their college education in spite of having suffered a serious injury. The company decided to offer the scholarship, “in order to encourage students to continue pursuing higher education, even in the aftermath of challenging obstacles such as serious injuries or accidents.“ “We know the recovery process can be difficult, so we’re always trying to find ways to ease that transition.” said Managing Attorney Ryan Harris. For more information about Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, call 544-0100 or email to: .
The San Luis Obispo County Farmers’ Market Association has debuted a new logo and website. Association president Peter Jankay and the board of directors believe the new artwork and website will, “position the market for increased visibility and traffic by implementing consistent branding.” Local farmers’ market sales have increased over the past several years, despite recent studies showing a nationwide decline in Farmers’ Market sales. See the website redesign at: www.SLOCountyFarmers.org. The Facebook page can be seen at: www.Facebook.com/SLOCountyFarmersMarket.
The SLO Chamber welcomed new member, First Choice Physician Partners, with a ribbon cutting ceremony last month. First Choice Physician Partners is a non-profit medical foundation affiliated with Tenet California. For more information see: www.firstchoicedocs.com. Drs. Heidi Freeman and Heidi Sungurlu cut the ribbon.
SLO marketing firm, Verdin Marketing, has been chosen as the new public relations contractor for the Atascadero Tourism Business Improvement District. The Atascadero City Council approved the contract on March 10. Established in 2013, the tourism district is designed to increase the number of out-of-towners who visit and book overnight trips in the city. Verdin will focus on increasing the number of overnight stays, which drives Atascadero’s transient occupancy tax revenues on hotel stays.
The San Luis Obispo Blues have entered into a partnership with Home Depot for the 2015 season. The sponsorship agreement is designed to “give a facelift to the ball park.” Home Depot will be providing the Blues with the paint and tools needed to, “keep Sinsheimer Stadium the crown jewel of the California Collegiate League.” The first project is to get the outfield fence painted. Then paint the first and third baseline fences, dugouts, and the backstop. All of this will be done in time to officially kick off the season at home on May 22 against the San Francisco Seals.
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