We have been spending many hours surveying the market for a potential business location in the South Western Region (region # 9) of Colorado. Pouring through data, seeing the tourist sites, and understanding the market there. Meeting with officials, business people and visiting businesses we learned quite a bit about the region and the future prospects there for someone opening a business.
One of the main cities we took data from and drove around talking to real people there was the City of Cortez. Which is just North of Four Corners and is a big trade partner with Farmington, NM and sees a lot of tourist traffic traveling to the state parks and federal parks there, namely Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings. It also receives traffic traveling to and from Durango and Telluride.
First off the numbers and population stats look good to us in that 35% of the population is 25-54 and that is both our age range to hire from and our biggest marketing sector for car washes and detailing services. Up the hill and around the corner in Durango that stats were a little higher as retirees with money have moved in there. Higher age and higher economic socio status. Good money flow from that group. Also it has driven up housing costs. Durango imports most of its labor from Cortez and about 5000 people come into work in the city every day and only 800 leave to work each day.
Cortez has a huge Navajo population and they have mingled with others and provided a good strong and very reliable base of labor for many non-techy type jobs. One-third of the population rents and does not own homes and that number is growing as retirees move in and drive up property values making it difficult for local young couples to buy homes. Much of the data we searched out from Fort Lewis College matched our findings and observations.
http://www.soba.fortlewis.edu/sbdc
The population increase of Denver is matched in South Western Colorado with about 8% in the last decade increase. From 2001-2002 up 1.78%, strong growth. Statewide Colorado saw about 1.5 ? 1.6% over all. And you can see that growth in Montrose, Grand Junction, Boulder, Parker, Colorado Springs, pueblo, Greeley, Fort Collins, Aurora, Denver Highland Ranch, Loveland, etc.
Many of those moving in area doing so with second homes for Summer to get out of heat in places like Vegas, Arizona and lower NM. It is Country Type living and the family values and community is strong and very nice. Safe place. Only San Juan County declined and drastically at 2.13 %, which is a small-populated area and therefore the numbers are skewed. Demand for labor is up and unemployment is down. Increased demand for labor exceeded 16% since 1999 and job labor rates climbed and the demand was mostly in retail and in services for the wealthy older people moving in. Also in tourism as increased after 9-11 since most of the area is traveled to by automobile and tour bus. They expect another 4% increase in the next five years for labor, meaning labor rates are improving and therefore quality of life is improving. 17% of the area is owned by Native legitimate Indians and nearby the Ute Tribe has a casino, which is one of the largest area employers.
It appears it would be a great place to run a business especially if you exported out of the area and needed a hard working and reliable labor supply. We liked what we say in South Western CO and feel it might just be what you are looking for, so think about it.
"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.worldthinktank.net/wttbbs
professional home cleaners Morton Grove ..Possibly THE most frequently asked question of me is "What... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains fits multiple services market niche and healthcare... Read More
Strategic alliances are increasing at a rapid rate. It is... Read More
One of the quintessential parts to any business is your... Read More
This will make some people angry as hell, but it's... Read More
1. Attempt Succession Planning Without Other Strategic Plans. Succession plans... Read More
If you own a mobile franchise business and wish to... Read More
A strategic alliance is when two or more businesses join... Read More
Is there a 'magical' way to exponentially grow your business?It's... Read More
Mobile auto detailing equipment becomes very inexpensive around March each... Read More
If you are looking for a partner, funding, angle investor... Read More
One Research Scientist at the Hewlett-Packard (HP) Imaging Systems laboratory... Read More
Would you like to jumpstart your online or offline business... Read More
As fast as you can say business disaster, your business... Read More
Canada's lean leaders need to look beyond the horizon and... Read More
Making money doesn't make your reputation... your reputation makes you... Read More
If you are in the parking business and own or... Read More
Franchised companies often require what some believe to be excessive... Read More
If you've ever listened to Warren Buffett talk about investing,... Read More
I recently took an organizational behavior class where my professor... Read More
You have invested a lot of time and energy on... Read More
When in doubt, cut that out! Yeah, yea, doubting Thomas... Read More
Diversify - to make diverse, give variety, to balance, to... Read More
In today's rapidly changing and highly competitive markets, many privately... Read More
What gets measured gets done.How do you keep your business... Read More
spring cleaning service Winnetka ..Much of what we heard in the mass media about... Read More
Conventional wisdom has it that there are only three ways... Read More
So what makes a vision successful? Everyday companies try to... Read More
Imagine an office without a desk, or lights, a computer,... Read More
"I don't need a business plan."Neither did Alice in Wonderland."Would... Read More
So you've decided to write your own business plan because... Read More
What do Mark Victor Hansen, Robert Allen, Anthony Robbins, Andrew... Read More
Mobile auto detailing equipment becomes very inexpensive around March each... Read More
David E. Gumpert, author of Burn Your Business Plan, often... Read More
Many very successful business owners may never have had a... Read More
Creativity is one of the greatest tools for success in... Read More
Scenario OneDuring a recent presentation, a business owner was given... Read More
Most companies that are worthy of raising venture capital have... Read More
Human beings are rational agents. Rationality endorses one to take... Read More
When someone mentions business planning we have been conditioned to... Read More
One of the most important initiatives in the domain of... Read More
With a heightened awareness of opportunity, ideas can often be... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains, former Great Plains Dynamics is excellent fit... Read More
Do you work in or own a business that's affected... Read More
Does the competition drive you crazy?Are they relentless about taking... Read More
Many business start-up kits or consultants will tell you one... Read More
This week I coached a wonderfully lovely woman I'll call... Read More
I am surprised how few sales professionals, independent consultants, and... Read More
A survey released by the American Institute of Certified Public... Read More
You have invested a lot of time and energy on... Read More
Strategic Planning |