Cultivating a specialized industry
Oregon Natural Market keeps up in slow economy
By JESSICA KELLER
ARGUS OBSERVER
Monday, August 24, 2009 10:37 AM PDT
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| Oregon Natural Market owner Michael Chase, 41, stands among just some of the food items offered at his store that has been a fixture in the area for more than 40 years. |
ONTARIO — Michael Chase, owner of Oregon Natural Market, knows a bit about what type of services and businesses area residents will support.
While some businesses, such as clothing stores and restaurants — with the exception of fast food — have a harder time making a go of it in this area, Chase said, the natural foods and health market has always had a base locally, although it has become more popular in recent years.
“It’s a market that we’ve cultivated for many years,” Chase, 41, said, adding his family-owned store has been open in the area for more than 40 years.
And while other industries and businesses are foundering in the current economic state, Oregon Natural Market and the natural foods and health industry, in general, has escaped the pinch, Chase said.
That is not necessarily a surprise, however, Chase said, because people often gravitate to his business and the industry in a down economy.
Chase said there is often greater perceived value in what the industry has to offer during such times. And the range of products featured at Oregon Natural Market is designed to satisfy any number of needs.
It offers everything from bulk and organic foods to nutritional and herbal supplements, spices, teas, homeopathic products and more as well as a great deal of informational resources from the employees and electronic databases. The store also specializes in products for people with allergy sensitivities or dietary restrictions.
Also, in poor economic times, Chase said, people turn to the natural foods and supplements because they are concerned about their health and, specifically, the expenses associated with traditional health care and medicines.
Many customers, however, are interested in preventative health care, and Chase said the store’s nutritional and herbal supplements are especially popular.
“The idea is a healthy lifestyle is going to be less expensive because it’s less likely to lead to chronic disease,” he said.
And, Chase said, in times such as these, when people know they have to work harder and longer and encounter more stress, the natural health products are an attractive way to help them keep going.
“In fat economic times, people tend to get lazy and relax and indulge a little bit more,” he said.
But in fat or lean times, Oregon Natural Market has sustained, Chase said, and much of that has to do with the quality of services and products offered and the reputation and customer base cultivated through the years.
In the future, Chase said, he would like to add a counseling nutritional service to make the informational side of his business even larger and more personalized and is in the process of getting his master’s degree to become a certified nutritional specialist.
Oregon Natural Market, 373 S. W. First St., Ontario, is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and can be reached at (541) 889-8714.
