How and Why would anyone START a business at the height of a pandemic?

If you did want to introduce a new product, lets say a beer, how would you approach your market research? You might do an scientific study, or look at an analysis or current and previous trends and flavors, or .... you might do a MomaQu !!! Whoa, Wait, What is a MomaQu?

Stay tuned to find out that explanation from Sean Boisson, co-founder of the brand new Bella Snow gluten reduced beer. This week on Heroes of the Covid Economy!

Contact Info

Sean Boisson - co-founder Bella Snow Gluten Reduced Soft Ale

sean@gwbbrewing.com

707-337-8108

www.BellaSnow.com

What would you call a guy that was in a shack in Maine with no running water, no electricity, a baby and a wife, that now funs a caramel company and general store ..... I call him David Herzog! We'll be talking to David this week on Heroes of the Covid Economy!

Dave Herzog is the owner of a Caramel manufacturing and retail business in McMinnville, OR. This is his story. We discuss how he started the business, manufacturing, the challenge of finding distribution, marketing and the difficulties of keeping a business OPEN during the Covid economy. We discuss how he finances the business during the pandemic - PPP, grants, government loans. Additionally we talk about the wear and tear on his personal and family life.

Contact Info:
Bellevue Country Store
19690 Hwy 18
McMinnville, OR 97128

503-730-3612
bellevuecountrystore@gmail.com

Yes, don't get me wrong I don't know what a County Commission does.. do you? If you do... its still a valid question. Turns out they do Alot! Like getting the Covid vaccine TO you. So this week we will be speaking with Casey Kulla - yes like hula - County Commissioner for Yamhill County, OR.

Yamhill County Commissioner, Casey Kulla discusses the county's Covid Vaccine rollout, the allocation of funds from the state, county and federal budgets. Additionally we highlight the pivots taken by several businesses to quickly transition to the new challenges facing micro businesses, how they changed and how they will go forward.

Contact Info:

kullac@co.yamhill.or.us
County Office: 503-472-9371
535 NE 5th St., Mcminnville, OR 97128
www.co.yamhill.or.us

JP Bierly is the Beer Man of Bierly Brewing... hmmmmm... just a coincidence? I don't think so!

Bierly Brewing is located in McMinnville, OR. JP and his wife started Bierly Brewing because they both needed to be Gluten-Free. So they purchased the machinery and ingredients and started testing and ultimately choosing a formula they loved. Then they thought, hmmm what goes with beer? Oh gluten-free pretzels! Better yet - gluten-free doughnuts!

JP discusses how the Covid Economy affected the business. It is surprising!

JP tells us that business is good. Yes, he did have some adjustments that were needed. He now does self distribution, online ordering, and contactless payments. His best selling beer, Felix Pilsner, named after the oldest of his 2 son's, is now packaged in cans. Turns out, cans sell 3 to 1 better than bottles. JP, as with most entrepreneurs, wears "stacks of hats" (love that term).

Contact Info: Products Include:

BierlyBrewing.com Felix Pilsner

jb@bierlybrewing.com James Blonde

214 NE 11th St. Gluten-free Doughnuts

McMinnville, OR 97128 Direct to Home Delivery Available

What do you do to fulfill one of the most necessary activities during a pandemic - yes that right - Drinking Wine! And why is PIVOT now a 4 letter word? We will get answers to these questions this week from Morgen McLaughlin - Executive Director of Willamette Valley (yes thats in Oregon) Wineries Association on this weeks HEROES of the Covid Economy.

Wine, Wineries, Vineyards, Covid - what could go wrong?

The Willamette Valley (Oregon) Winery Association represents 700 Vineyards and 900 Wineries. Strip away the restaurant business, the wine tasting business and grocery stores - now what? Well it turns out the winery business in Oregon is doing just fine thank you! Though Morgen NEVER wants to hear the work Pivot again, she, her staff, her board and her constituents have all transformed from what was to the new what is. Let's talk Virtual Tasting rooms.......

Throwback to height of the pandemic. Clips from the first 6 episodes of the year 2021. Where we were --- are the affects still with us?

Here we have a few sound clips of Season One, Episodes 1 - 6.

1) David Herzog Owner of Bellevue Country Store
2) Patrick O'Conner, Business Analyst for the state of Oregon
3) JP Bierly, Owner and BrewMaster for Bierly Brewing
4) Morgen McLaughlin, Exec. Dir. Willamette Valley Wineries Assc
5) Sean Boisson, Owner Bella Snow Soft Ale
6) Casey Kulla, County Commissioner for Yamhill County, OR

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