Building Show Low: Economic Development, Business Expos, and Quirky Ideas

Steve North, Economic Development Director at City of Show Low, shares exciting developments including a new sports and events center at Show Low Bluff and a business incubator offering low-cost space for entrepreneurs. The third annual Show Low Biz Expo brings together 50 local businesses, food trucks, and plenty of networking opportunities for residents, business owners, and job seekers alike.

• Economic Development Director role includes recruiting businesses, supporting existing businesses, and helping entrepreneurs
• City developing a sports and events center at Show Low Bluff
• Show Low Biz Expo featuring 50 businesses and food trucks, free to attend
• City planning a 20,000-square-foot business incubator to provide affordable space for startups
• Small Business Development Center at NPC offers resources for entrepreneurs
• All proceeds from the Biz Expo benefit the Show Low Chamber of Commerce

• And we play boo or cool business edition with Dave Ramsey from Show Low.

If you're thinking about starting a business in Show Low, contact Steve North directly at 928-532-4124 or snorth@showloazgov. For Small Business Development Center resources, call 928-532-6170.

Transcript

Meet Steve North, Economic Director

Speaker 1 0:00

From the Horn Auto Center Studios, chris Bennett and the Morning Brew. Today, I am so excited to have a guest in studio with me. Yeah, it's Steve North. He is the Economic Development Director at City of Show Low. Yes, steve, what does that title mean?

Speaker 2 0:20

Yeah, so I represent the city, recruit new businesses to Show Low and help existing businesses of course, work with entrepreneurs that are interested in starting businesses and just helping the overall business climate of Show Low. And then I do a lot of other things. I'm involved in workforce housing these days, because that's a big issue Right as we try to grow our economy, and I'm also involved in the um. We're, uh, in the process of developing a sports and events center in show low, so oh man that's exciting.

Speaker 1 0:51

Do we know where that's going to be? Or yeah, we're?

Speaker 2 0:52

looking at to show a bluff, to develop that, oh heck.

Speaker 1 0:55

Yeah, that's exciting a lot of exciting things happening in our small town. That's right. We have a lot of things happening. And then this weekend, today and tomorrow yeah, you guys got the Small Biz Expo coming up.

Speaker 2 1:08

It's our third annual, what we call it our Show Low Biz Expo. It's today and tomorrow from 10 am to 4 pm, both days at the City Campus Gym. If you don't know where that is, it's right across the street from Nicholas Homestead Elementary, right behind the new Pickleball Complex in Show Low.

Speaker 1 1:24

That's right you can't miss it.

Speaker 2 1:25

It'll be signage all over the place. We're excited. It's going to be great. We've got about 50 businesses that will be there exhibiting five or six food trucks and about 45 regular businesses exhibiting. There's going to be lots of giveaways, contests. It's free to get in, so it's a great opportunity. If you are just a resident of the area and you want to learn more about some of the businesses here that are operating and who operates those businesses, this is a great opportunity for that. Or if you're a business here and you're looking to create some new relationships, network with some of the other businesses, it's a great opportunity to do that as well.

Speaker 1 2:03

That is the Show Low Biz Expo happening today, friday, the 25th, and tomorrow, the 26th, from 10 am to 4 pm at the Show Low City Campus Gym. I thought we would play a fun little game.

Speaker 2 2:16

Okay, let's do it.

Small Town Shark Tank Game

Speaker 1 2:17

This is called Small Town Shark Tank. Okay, you're a shark and I have some questionable or interesting business ideas, depending on how you look at it. I just want you to give me a simple yes or no. Okay, all right, you're the shark.

Speaker 2 2:32

Ready Got it.

Speaker 1 2:33

Long John thongs. Now here's the deal. You know like in the summertime you're allowed to wear whatever underwear you want. In the winter it gets cold, so you can't wear your thongs. Well, I it gets cold, so you can't wear your thongs. Well, I've invented long john thongs that allow you to be warm and, with the patent pending, thong material that keeps all the exposed areas warm well, hey, I like the idea, but I don't know if it's gonna sell.

Speaker 2 2:57

I don't know.

Speaker 1 2:58

So I said simple yes or no.

Speaker 2 2:59

I'll say no, oh no, okay, all right, how?

Speaker 1 3:02

about napkin pants. Have you ever like gotten stuff on your hands and you wipe it on your pants and then, all of a sudden, your pants are stained? Well, what if your pants had a layer of napkins built in? And then every time you wipe your hands on your pants and you get dirty, you just take that layer off and you have a new napkin layer underneath. It is called napkin pants.

Speaker 2 3:21

Hey, I like that All right Heck called napkin pants.

Speaker 1 3:23

Hey, I like that. Alright, heck. Yes, one for two. How about a fork knife combo? It is a fork but on the end it has a steak knife on it so you can cut your meat and then we'll give you a. Well, it's an upsell. A little mouth guard to protect your mouth from the knife when you stick the fork in.

Speaker 2 3:41

Okay, no, I like that. Yes, oh, heck, yeah, I'm on fire.

Speaker 1 3:44

What do?

Speaker 2 3:44

we call that, that's called a fork knife.

Speaker 1 3:47

We're still in the development stages, five Patent pending and last one, how about a drive-through petting zoo and liquor store called Booze and Hooze? I like it. Oh yes, holy moly, I got some great ideas. That was small town Shark Tank, steve. What kind of businesses are participating and who should attend this event?

Speaker 2 4:09

Well, we have a wide variety of businesses. We've got about 50 businesses participating this year. We're totally full jam-packed, so it's going to be a great event. We've got a variety, as I said, Boy. We've got Pima Federal Credit Union, White Mountain Dance Studio. We've got Pima Federal Credit Union, White Mountain Dance Studio, Sparklight Hatch, Concrete, Atomic Pest Control, Arizona Foundation Solutions, Lots of construction companies there. Woffhead Bank will be there, Goodman Insurance. As far as food trucks go, Wondermelon will be there. That's a local favorite.

Speaker 1 4:42

Oh nice. I don't think I've ever had that. They're awesome. I'll have to try that someday you have to come.

Speaker 2 4:48

Black Flame Grill is going to be there. They do pulled pork sandwiches, street tacos, etc. Moon Dogs will be there, Of course. They're a local favorite as well. They do gourmet hot dogs and bratwurst sandwiches Bratwurst, rather, I love a moon dog. I'm telling you it's a great event. All of these businesses are going to be there. They'll have giveaways. A lot of them will be giving away little things at their booths or information on their businesses, of course, and they're available to talk to you about what they do and who they are. This event is for pretty much anybody. If you are a local consumer and you're looking to learn more about the businesses that operate here, who they are, who the operators are, it's a great opportunity to come out and meet those business operators here. If you are a business and you're trying to develop relationships with your other fellow businesses, this is a great opportunity for that as well the business-to-business relationships. If you're an employee and you're looking for a job, these guys are all looking for employees.

Speaker 2 5:49

Most of them are, so you can come out and talk to them as well and maybe sell yourself as a potential employee. So it's a great opportunity for that as well.

Speaker 1 5:57

We are with Steve North this morning, economic Development Director at City of Show Low, talking about the Show Low Biz Expo happening today and tomorrow 10 am to 4 pm at the Show Low City Campus Gym. Free event, over 50 vendors, contests, prizes, food trucks Make sure you head out, steve. I like to make some serious segments in with some fun segments, all right let's do some fun stuff.

Real Biz or Bogus Brand Quiz

Speaker 1 6:22

Here's a fun one. I gathered a list of some business names. You have to tell me if this is a real biz or a bogus brand that I made up. Alright, a fish and chips shop in the UK and USA called the Codfather.

Speaker 2 6:39

I think that's true, that is true.

Speaker 1 6:41

And a great name. Yes, I love that's true. That is true. And a great name. Yes, yeah, I love that name. All right, how about Lord of the Wings? That's got to be true as well. It sounds like it should be a good name, but it is not.

Speaker 2 6:52

It is not.

Speaker 1 6:53

Lord of the Wings is not in business yet.

Speaker 2 6:57

How about? Hey, you just gave someone a great business idea.

Speaker 1 6:59

There you go. Talk to Steve North. How about a bakery called Muffin Compares to you?

Speaker 2 7:08

I think that's false.

Speaker 1 7:10

No, that's real. Real, yeah, it's in New Jersey and I want to check it out. How about a spray washing, a power washing biz called Spray it? Don't Say it.

Speaker 2 7:21

Yes, that's true.

Speaker 1 7:22

That isn't but another great business name, right? Yes, all right. How about a Thai restaurant called Titanic?

Speaker 2 7:30

No, that's false. No, I'm sorry, it's real.

Speaker 1 7:33

Really Titanic. Titanic, all right, and a health food cafe chain called Kale Me Crazy, that's true, that is true.

Speaker 2 7:42

That is true.

Small Business Tips and Resources

Speaker 1 7:43

That is true, yeah, healthy food chains. Kale Me Crazy, kale Me Crazy. I'm not eating at a healthy food chain. That was Real Biz or Bogus Brand with Steve North, the Economic Development Director at the City of Show Low. Steve, I have a quick question for you. Yes, sir, what tips do you have for someone that's maybe thinking about starting a small business in Sholo?

Speaker 2 8:07

Well, if you're thinking about starting a small business in Sholo, obviously you have an idea of some sort. So I would encourage you to get with a small business development center, an NPC. That's what they do. They really help entrepreneurs to really hone in their ideas. Does it make sense? Do some market research to figure out if you know what the competition level looks like, then ultimately develop a business plan, look for some financing, find some space to operate, and that's kind of where the city comes in.

Speaker 2 8:41

At this point. We're in the process of developing a business incubator. So that would be actual space, low-cost space for entrepreneurs that are interested in starting a business. We would offer that low-cost space to get them started. Wow, get them on the right footing and then they're off on their own to open a brick and mortar elsewhere in the community. So we're actually through the planning stage. We're getting through that now and we're going to go and actually develop the building. The building that we have in mind is at the city campus site. We've got a 20,000-square-foot building there that we're going to renovate. As I said, space for entrepreneurs that are interested in starting new businesses and grow those businesses from the ground up. We really think that's going to be our sweet spot here at Show Low.

Speaker 1 9:28

If you want some resources from the Small Business Development Center, you could reach out to them. Their number is 928-532-6170. And then can they contact you as well.

Speaker 2 9:39

You can contact me directly. My number is 928-532-4124. Or you can always shoot me an email as well. Snorth at showloazgov.

Speaker 1 9:49

All right, we just got done with the serious segment, so you know what's coming up. Let's do some rapid-fire questions with Steve North.

Rapid-Fire Questions with Steve

Speaker 2 9:55

All right, let's do it, you ready.

Speaker 1 9:56

Coffee or energy drinks to power through meetings? Coffee for sure. Do you like it black, just black. And do you like it hot, scalding hot? I'm a baby, I'm a delicate flower, so I have iced coffee and it can't taste like coffee.

Speaker 2 10:11

No, I put mine in the microwave after it comes out of the pot.

Speaker 1 10:16

Next question what's more stressful Hosting a biz expo or moving a couch?

Speaker 2 10:22

Gotta be hosting a business expo Moving a couch. Got to be hosting a business expo.

Speaker 1 10:25

Moving a couch is easy, man, yeah, yeah, I just shove it over, and there's a lot of networking at this event today and tomorrow.

Speaker 2 10:35

Is networking code for free snacks. In many cases, yes.

Speaker 1 10:38

And some like free swag.

Speaker 2 10:40

Free swag, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1 10:42

Because a lot of the vendors I went last year, a lot of them had some free giveaways to give away as well. Do you believe in work-life balance or is that like a myth, like Bigfoot, and do you believe in Bigfoot?

Speaker 2 10:54

I do not believe in Bigfoot.

Speaker 1 10:56

Okay, what about?

Speaker 2 10:57

work-life. Don't tell Joe G that.

Speaker 1 10:58

Yeah, my friend Joe G's head's going to explode. He's a big fan of Bigfoot. Yeah, what was the other question? I'm sorry. Do you believe in work-life balance so you don't think Bigfoot's real? Is work-life balance real?

Speaker 2 11:10

No, no, no, it's hard.

Speaker 1 11:11

Yeah, Everyone, make sure you mark your calendars for today and tomorrow If you're looking for a free, fun event to do to the show low biz expo yeah, support your local businesses.

Speaker 2 11:24

It's a great opportunity to do that. Hey, I forgot to mention as well all the proceeds from this event go to the show low chamber of commerce. Heck yeah, heck yeah. So we're promoting, we're helping businesses on both ends awesome.

Speaker 1 11:36

So head on down to the show low biz expo if you want to meet a bunch of different businesses in the mountain. Maybe you're looking for a job and you want to meet some businesses and see if they have needs that you could fulfill. Maybe you are a business owner and maybe you just want to network and kind of meet the other businesses.

Speaker 2 11:54

You're free to come in and walk around and just visit with everyone who's there. It's a great opportunity for that.

Speaker 1 11:59

Head on out for Show. Low's premier annual business expo, the Show Low Biz Expo. Today and tomorrow from 10 am to 4 pm at the show low city campus gym. It's 760 east mcneil in show low. It is a free event, steve. Thank you so much for coming in. Thanks, chris. I appreciate it and having fun talking some biz and I hope you have a great Biz Expo.

Speaker 2 12:22

Awesome, thank you.

Boo or Cool: Business Name Edition

Speaker 1 12:23

On the phone. We have Show Low's very own Dave Ramsey for Boo or Cool Dave. We've been talking a lot of business today on the show so I thought we would do a special Boo or Cool business names. If you like it, you say Cool, and if you don't like it, you say Boo. All right, here we go. First one, lord of the Fries, a fast food joint with a penchant for puns. Boo, why, you don't like fries? Or you just don't like the name? I'm not fond of French fries, oh okay. What about Sofa King, a furniture store? Cool, cool, all right. What about an Asian cuisine spot called Walk this Way? Boo, boo. Well, you don't like Aerosmith either? Right, I like Aerosmith, but I just don't like oriental food.

Speaker 2 13:12

Okay.

Speaker 1 13:13

How about airport A salon next to the airport? That's cool for all the ladies that tend to. All right, dudes don't need haircuts, not in an airport, they're too busy in the bar. Okay, how about the Codfather, a seafood place you can't refuse, cool. And last one, a coffee shop called Bean Me Up Cool, alright. Oh nice, bean Me Up, scotty. That was Boo or Cool with Dave Ramsey. We love you, buddy, have a great day.

Speaker 2 13:42

You too.