Saturday, January 2, 2016 • Page 1B

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Wabash finds a new home 1B · Supporting small businesses through charity 4B

This week’s edition of Business Leaders takes a look at a local mainstay getting a new home right here in our area.

By Kim HogstromFor The Leader

For nearly 30 years, Betty Heacker and her crew at Wa-bash Feed and Garden Store have been making friends and taking care of business on Washington Ave. in the Heights. It’s with great excite-ment, “and some fear,” added Heacker, that she and her troupe decided to move one-of-a-kind Wabash to the edge of Garden Oaks. Heacker’s business has simply outgrown the Washington property.

The new store is located at 4537 North Shepherd Dr., sits on 1.75 acres, and hosts a 7,000-square-foot existing building, nearly twice the size of the 4,000 square feet the business currently occupies.

Heacker will be adding even more space. When the new store opens in May, Wa-bash will have a livestock pavilion/barn, a greenhouse, indoor and outdoor gardens, a feed and soil loading dock,

and a rescued pet-adoption area.

For those familiar with the business, have no fear, Heack-er assures us that the clas-sic, Wabash funky factor will remain. Guests will still be able to stroll the front porch, past the flowering cactus, the whimsical garden art and the giant, six-shooter-shaped, bar-b-que pit, and pull up a rocking chair.

The new location’s invento-ry will also remain the same. Patrons will continue to find live, egg-laying chickens and geese, organic soil, high-end livestock and pet foods, funny gifts, farming and bee-keep-ing supplies and, yes, even cold, hand-crafted beer.

However, there is a new feature at the North Shepherd store. Heacker is construct-ing an additional “community building” on the south side of the property. It will host no retail, but rather a demonstra-tion kitchen, meeting tables and well-lit, ample parking.

“This building can be used even at night when the busi-ness is closed,” Heacker said. It is designed exactly for com-munity use.”

In recent years, there has been a ground swell of Houstonians interested in the health of our planet as well as their own diets. With that in mind, Heacker will extend an offer to local garden clubs, Urban Harvest, the Memorial Park Conservancy, the Hous-ton Arboretum, the National Audubon Society and others to utilize the structure for meetings.

“We will also hold bee-keeping classes, pickling and canning classes; kids’ cook-ing demos; bread-making classes and more,” Heacker said. “Our objective is to help people learn many different ways to prepare what they have pulled out of out of the earth.”

The move is provoking a new challenge: defining the Wabash brand. Heacker says

that the business grew “or-ganically,” rather than by de-sign. And while she has a logo - she jokes about having shirts with chickens on them - how does one actually define Wa-bash?

Over the years, patrons have learned that they will laugh at the yard art, and long for the jars of local honey. Customers have come to expect the aromas of or-ganic earth, ground grain and blooming flowers mingled with the sounds of quacking ducks, barking puppies, an occasional rooster, and one, very vocal parrot. Maybe it is hard to define Wabash be-cause, as much as it is a store, Wabash is an experience.

“We have sort of settled on ‘A bit of the country, in the heart of the city’,” Heacker said.

The old property on Wash-ington is slated to sell. Keep you eyes on The Leader for updates on the Wabash move, and news on the old location.

After serving customers in the same location for nearly 30 years, local feed & garden store relocates to larger space

Wabash spreads its wings

For The Leader

Smart shopping involves making budget-friendly purchases. Never paying full price is a mantra shop-pers can follow to help keep their finances in check.

In addition to coupons and other discounts, shoppers can usually score deals based on which time of year they shop for particular items. Each year, various consumer re-sources offer advice on the best time to buy certain items.

The beginning of the year is often an ideal time to purchase certain items. Consumers who take advan-tage of sales offered at the start of the new year can save substantial amounts of money. Now that the holiday season has passed, consum-ers can begin to find deals on items for themselves.

• Clothing: Post-Christmas sales are booming, and stores are looking to sell what’s left of their inventories to make room for spring and summer selections. Even though the weather outside is still cold, sweaters, pants, coats, and more are usually available at a discount come January. It may take some digging through the racks,

but there’s an excellent chance to discover some great items.

• Boats: Wintertime is boat show season, but it’s also the offseason for boaters who live in cooler climates. These factors combine to make it easier and less expensive to find a new boat. According to boat-buy-ing retailer Boatline, consumers can probably get one of last year’s mod-els at a good price.

• Air conditioners: If the warm-weather season was particularly steamy this past year, it might be time to revamp the HVAC system or invest in some new portable units. Bankrate offers that the first few months of the year are prime times to shop for air conditioners. While you may not get the latest model, it’s likely you can find a reliable unit at below-market cost.

• Theater tickets: January and February are not especially busy seasons for theaters, which means there will be greater opportunity to get discounted seats for many popu-lar shows.

• Linens and bedding: John Wan-namaker was a retail entrepreneur and had a few department stores in New York and Philadelphia. Wanna-

makers held the first Òwhite saleÓ in 1878, and since then many stores have continued the tradition. Janu-ary is a great month to buy towels, sheets, bedspreads, and more at a discount.

• Motorcycles: Riding a motor-cycle is a fair-weather hobby, and retailers are aware of this. The easy riders of tomorrow might be able to find great deals today.

• Video games: Those who haven’t purchased their fill of video games for the holidays can benefit from post-holiday drops in price.

• Furniture: Many furniture manu-facturers begin to churn out new in-ventory in February, so last season’s items will need to move quickly. Shoppers can often negotiate some good deals now and upgrade their homes’ decor.

• Wedding-related services: Couples who don’t mind the chilly weather can enjoy steep savings by hosting their weddings in January. Spring and summer are by far the more popular seasons to tie the knot, but reception halls, musical acts, flo-rists, and other vendors may heavily discount their services in winter.

Planning those best buys for the upcoming new year

Contributed PhotoA variety of items are often better buys after the Christmas rush rather than before.

For The Leader

Owning a business is the goal of many would-be entrepreneurs. Being your own boss has certain perks, including making your own hours and not having to re-port to anyone but yourself.

But owning a business is a lot of work, especially for new business owners try-ing to get their businesses off the ground. According to Bloomberg, eight out of 10 entrepreneurs who start businesses fail within 18 months of opening their doors. The Small Business Association indicates the numbers are not so dire, saying 30 percent of new businesses fail in the first two years of operation; 50 percent during the first five years; and 66 percent during the first 10.

Local businesses face an uphill battle to survive, but there are many things residents can do to support these valuable additions to their communities.

Shop locallyShopping locally not only

supports local businesses, but it also contributes to the local economy. Shop-ping locally keeps money in the community, which can benefit everyone. Shopping locally produces a trickle-down effect, as local busi-nesses that are thriving may patronize other local busi-nesses, and so on. This, in turn, helps grow other busi-nesses in the community, making it a nicer place to live and work.

Spread the word. Word-of-mouth advertis-

ing is effective. A respected member of the community who shares a good experi-ence with a local business may propel others to pa-tronize the business. Speak up when you feel a business owner has provided an ex-ceptional level of service. Recommend a company to friends and neighbors. You also may want to review a business via online rating websites such as Yelp or Angie’s List. Attend grand openings.

Each community is unique, and often the vibe of a community is defined by the businesses that call that community home. At-tend grand openings to show you are invested in the quality and vitality of your community. When others see a business doing well, they may be more inclined to shop there as well. Apply for work.

Another way to support a local business is to work for one. Small local businesses employ millions of people across the country, and many foster great working environments. In addition, small businesses are known for their customer service, and employees often be-come experts in their prod-ucts and services because of the hands-on experience they gain while working for small businesses.

Supporting and celebrat-ing local businesses can in-still a sense of community pride and benefit the local economy.

Communities support local small businesses

Contributed PhotoSmall businesses benefit communities by boosting the local economy.

Photo by Kim HogstromOwner of Wabash Feed and Garden Store, Betty Heacker, with everyone’s favorite Parrot, Chevis. The pair, along with the rest of their busi-ness, will soon be moving to a new home on North Shepherd.

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About This PageAs part of a new national advertising program for community newspapers, The Leader has selected a group of businesses we believe may appeal to groups of our readership If you have any interest in the products featured below, please feel free to visit the websites or call the toll free numbers. And don’t forget to mention you saw it in The Leader.

Saturday, January 2, 2016 • Page 3B

Chinese Restaurant

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Open 7 Days a Week 1430 W. 19th Street

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Great Breakfast Menu Too! 302 W. Crosstimbers 281-888-4876Monday - Saturday 7am - 9pm • Sunday 7am - 3pm

authentic mexican restaurantLanda Café

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w/ fries platewith purchase of any $9.95 Dinner

1/3 lb. patty We Deliver within 4 mile radius

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14191 NW Frwy. 713-329-9600(290 @ fairbanks N. Houston)

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Your Entire Purchase At All Salvation Army Greater Houston Area Stores.Expires 1/31/2016

The Salvation Army Family Store

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Neighbors: Christmas wrap up, local couple celebrates 50By Elizabeth Villarreal

elizasgarden@outlook.com

Congratulations to Ruby Schell who won best traditional Christmas display in Forest West this year, but neighbor Carmen Solleder knew all about it already since she has gotten to admire Schell’s current display as well as her amazing fall decorations earlier in the season. Laura and Jeff Aldis benefit from being able to gaze at Ruby’s landscaping, too!

The Aldis family made a fam-ily trip to visit Laura’s brother Win, who just relocated to New York, af-ter Christmas. The girls were disap-pointed there wasn’t snow, but it sure made getting around easier!!

Congratulations to the winners for Christmas Yard of the Month for De-

cember in Lindale Park! 416 Avenue of Oaks - Lynn & Rosa Boling, 516 Graceland, and 415 Fairbanks - Ac-quard Family. If you tune into 101.9 as you drive by 416 Avenue of Oaks, there is a radio simulcast to enjoy.

Garden Oaks neighbors would like to thank Patrick Kelley (Santa Claus), Tina Sabuco (Mrs Claus), Terry Jeanes and Georgia Lister for bringing Santa back to the Gar-den Oaks Gazebo park each year! Hundreds of smiles and happy faces were seen. Precinct One Constable Deputies collected the toys to benefit area families who needed a little help this year.

Vernon and Joyce (Zibliski) Fuchs celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary Nov. 21 in Houston at the Pavilion on Gessner

in the West Ballroom, They were married on Nov. 20, 1955 at Zion Lutheran Church of Zionsville in Br-enham, TX by Pastor R.J. Weber fol-lowed by a reception at Langes Lake. Although they knew about the party they did not know anything about the décor, the 1957 Chevy Bel-Air that chauffeured them to the party, the 1950s outfits worn by their daughter Kimberly’s family and the program planned for the evening.

The ballroom’s beautiful decora-tions consisted of the tables and chairs covered in white linens with black satin bows on the chairs and black satin and rhinestone table run-ners. Centerpieces included flower arrangements of white hydrangeas with hot pink accent flowers and greenery placed on top of mirrors

accented with rhinestones surround-ed by votive candles and large hur-ricane globes with a white candle in-side surrounded by a hot pink mesh ribbon candle ring. Sentiments of love and marriage, candles, pictures, including a Fuchs Family Memories collage quilt, the bride’s original wed-ding gown and bride’s book were dis-played throughout the ballroom.

At the beginning of the program,. Kimberly welcomed and thanked all in attendance for celebrating this special and joyous occasion with her parents and their family. She also recognized wedding party partici-pants in attendance – Judith Finke, Jr. (bridesmaid), Curtis Fuchs (ring bearer) and Nina Runge (bride’s book). Contributed Photo

The Fuchs celebrate 50 years

Page 4B • Saturday, January 2, 2016

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Small businesses are con-tinually seeking ways to com-pete in ever-competitive mar-kets. While they often fill a niche not easily met by larger corporations, small business-es sometimes find it difficult to gain traction in a commu-nity and fully showcase all they have to offer. Getting more involved in their com-munities, including working collaboratively with nonprofit organizations, can provide the boost small businesses need to connect with their commu-nities.

Many large companies boast programs that promote social responsibility and com-munity involvement, and it can be a smart move for small businesses as well. There are plenty of ways small busi-nesses can get involved with local charities.

Find a good match. Con-sider working with a charity that has a connection to your business so that there is a common purpose. For exam-ple, a pet groomer may want to work with an animal wel-fare organization. Service-re-lated businesses, such as law firms or accounting firms, can assist groups that offer ser-vices and business counseling to needy families. Landscap-ers may find a good fit with an environmental protection charity.

Donate goods or servic-es. Charitable organizations are always in need of more money to fund their efforts, but small businesses can con-tribute in other ways as well. Businesses can donate sup-plies and services, such as a printing firm offering to print business cards or brochures for the charity. Business own-ers and their employees can volunteer their time, which can be a great way for em-ployees to connect outside of the office and boost morale in the process.

Support a fundraising event. A highly visible way to support a charity is to host or support a fundraising activ-ity. Small businesses can offer to collect donations at their

offices or stores. Warehouse spaces can be used to store supplies, while other venues may be ideal spots for dances, walks or charity dinners. Busi-nesses can ask that the char-ity mention the sponsorship in event advertisements and marketing.

Financial donations can make “cents.” Giving to charity is a way to increase tax deductions and reduce annual tax bills. Small busi-nesses can work with their financial officers or accoun-tants to develop a budget for charitable giving.

Obtain meaningful ex-posure to influential peo-ple. Working with established nonprofits can help provide a connection to influential people in the community and beyond. The more exposure a business can get, the more ac-cess it has to networking op-portunities. In addition, more contacts in the community can increase word-of-mouth marketing that increases your customer base and improves your standing in the commu-nity.

Supporting local charities can benefit small businesses in various ways. Small busi-ness owners can explore the various charitable opportu-nities at their disposal in an effort to connect with their communities and grow their businesses.

Supporting a charity can benefit small businesses

Contributed PhotoCharities and small businesses can help each other. A clothing boutique may serve as a site for clothing donations to help needy individuals.

Local YMCA delivers Christmas

Contributed PhotosVolunteers with the Harriet & Joe Foster Family YMCA dropped off presents to their outreach sites last week for families in need.