Central Welding Supply plans expansion at new Highway 20 location

Central Welding Supply plans to open its 12th location here later this year as it expands its business. Building should start this summer on 2.13 acres on Molly Lane off Highway 20.

Dale Wilton, president and CEO, said with significant business in this part of the county, the Anacortes area was a logical place for the company to open another location.

“We’re primary suppliers of gases and welding supplies at both refineries to Dakota Creek and other shipyards. We have a lot of business in Anacortes,” he said. “We feel like we’ve been in town. We’re just trying to make it official.”

He said the company’s Burlington branch is stretched to the max serving the county.

“Rather than expanding our facility in Burlington we thought the right fit was to put a permanent presence in west Skagit County,” Wilton said.

The company sells hand and power tools, welding supplies to boat builders and refineries, bulk gases like helium to floral shops for balloons and many other industrial necessities.

Wilton said more industrial businesses are coming to the area because it has kept the necessary zoning and is welcoming.

“Your county is still pretty good about understanding the need and having some of those jobs,” he said.

When up and running, he said the Anacortes location should have seven full-time employees.

Wilton hopes construction will start soon at the location, near Savage Roofing and the Jerry Smith car dealership. Once dirt starts moving, he said the building should be done in about three months. A late summer or early fall opening is planned.

Wilton said the company has made more progressive moves for growth in the past six months than in the last few years.

“We’ve been kind of waiting for an opportunity. Land values are very fair right now. Construction costs are very good right now,” he said. “A lot of this is simply the opportunities are there because of the economy.”

The company is also planning a 13th location in Redmond.

Central Welding Supply has also had more opportunities as other business owners opt not to ride out the current recession.

“A lot of people have made decisions to exit the business so we’ve had a lot of opportunities presented to us regionally,” Wilton said.

He said the company is taking advantage of the good timing now because in six months prices will likely be going up again.

Visit http://www.centralwelding.com.

Profiles closes; Creative Cabinets plans move to its building

Profiles, 1014 11th St., closed its doors last week after 32 years in business.

Sara Kelley-Fenton said she sold the building and will be moving to Impressions salon. Other stylists are also planning to move to other businesses.

“It has nothing to do with the economy. It’s just time to close the chapter,” she said. “It’s all good. It’s what I wanted. It’s what I need.”

Creative Cabinets, 414 Commercial Ave., bought the building and plans to move in Aug. 1, said Colleen Case with Creative Cabinets. The future goal is to expand at the site.

“We are busier than we’ve ever been,” Case said.

Visit http://www.mycreativecabinets.com.

The Business owners looking for a ‘new captain’

Liz and Jensen Lovelett, who are expecting their second child, are putting The Business up for sale to make more time for family.

“We’re looking for a new captain,” Liz said. “We’d love for it to carry on instead of perish.”

The Business has become an establishment in town after it was opened in 1977. Though the items sold in the shop have evolved, the essence of The Business has not changed. The Loveletts bought it in early 2005.

The Business moved to its current downtown location at 402 Commercial Ave. in October after 30 years at 1717 Commercial Ave.

“The beauty of The Business is it can be whatever you want it to be,” Liz said.

She said The Business is well-loved and has a dedicated clientele from across the state.

“We want to make sure the legacy is carrying on.”

For more information visit http://www.thebusinessanacortes.com.

Boudoir moves to new location to make room for new business

Zee Hogan, owner of Maison Group, has been busy. Maison et Jardin, 404 Commercial Ave., celebrated 13 years in business last month by getting new floors and new paint. Boudoir, which has been open nearly two years, moved into a newly created space at Maison

And plans for a new store — Le Maison at 408 Commercial Ave. — are coming together.

“These are tough times and I’ve been thinking how do you survive all this,” Hogan said.

She opted to save money on rent by creating a larger space for Boudoir in Maison et Jardin. The space is larger and will offer two dressing rooms in the Paris-inspired boutique. The store will continue to feature items for the bed and bath.

Hogan said the new arrangement will allow customers to go between the two stores easily.

“We’ll be able to expose our customers to a broader range of products,” she said.

At the back of Maison et Jardin is a French “Flea Market Chic” area. Hogan said she plans to work vintage back into her product lines and bring in more local and eco-friendly items.

The space that previously housed Boudoir will be turned into Le Maison, a studio for interior designer Janet Adams. It will also represent Variance paint.

Hogan said the idea behind the new store is to offer a service like Good Housekeeping’s seal of approval — a place for people to go to get reputable suggestions for all things home. There will be samples on site to refer people to everything from professional landscaping to custom drapery providers.

Hogan said it has been a tough two years for retail businesses.

“Not only are we hanging on, we’re expanding,” she said.

She encouraged people the Buy Close By, as the Chamber of Commerce program suggests. She said if shops are not able to stay open it affects the entire community because businesses are often where groups like the Hospital Foundation and schools go for donations.

“The economic welfare of this community depends on this downtown surviving,” Hogan said.

With the completion of the Anacortes Futures Project, a study compiled over about two years by local business leaders, she sees the community charging forward.

“We’re setting ourselves up to be one of the best communities in the state of Washington,” she said. “We’re all rowing in the same direction.”

Lifeboat manufacturer opens Anacortes service center

Leading lifeboat and evacuation systems manufacturer Schat-Harding has opened a fully staffed service center in Anacortes as part its global network. The new facility is the sixth dedicated Schat-Harding location in the U.S.

Graeme Wilson, former president of lifeboat service company Cap Sante International, was appointed sales and contracts director for the new company.

David Jones, former Cap Sante International operations manager, was also recruited as part of the new team, which will be further strengthened by a number of experienced service engineers.

“Schat-Harding believes in being close to its customers, providing them with a responsive service when they need it, where they need it,” Wilson said. “The new facility will meet demand from a number of leading shipping companies for a reliable and responsive original equipment parts and service resource close to all major U.S. West Coast locations.”

Visit http://www.schat-harding.com.

Sowa earns international training contract

Lauri Sowa of Wise Owl Opportunities was awarded an international training contract in finance and accounting. Her first sessions are scheduled in Copenhagen and Moscow and will focus on the integration of finances in a global environment. 

She was selected based on her solid track record in business. Sowa climbed the corporate ladder from office assistant to CFO and then started her own business in 1995. She is known for her expertise in Microsoft software as well as a variety of accounting programs including QuickBooks.

Wise Owl offers computer and accounting assistance and instruction through Skagit Valley College business and community development. E-mail .

Other business news:

• Jay Field offers salmon fishing charters in the San Juan Islands with newly opened Dash One Charters. It specializes in small group and private charters. Visit http://www.dashonecharters.com or call 293-6450 for rates and reservations.

• That Photo Shoppe moved to 1005 Seventh St. (behind Donatello’s) last week. Visit http://www.thatphotoshoppe.com.

• Black Rock Seafood opened a storefront downtown at 1007 Sixth St. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The shop offers fresh, local seafood. Call 588-8271.

• Read Me a Story celebrated five years in business last month. It recently moved to a larger downtown shop at 1005 Ninth St., which offers more room for the growing business.

• Curves, 812 Commercial Ave., closed last month. The space is now available for lease.

• Wildflower Home and Garden in the Wilson Hotel at 804 Commercial Ave. closed late last month.

• Bellissima Trattoria Italian restaurant installed a pair of new neon signs earlier this month at its 904 Commercial Ave. location.

• Ana-Cross Stitch, 719 Commercial Ave., participated in World Wide Knit in Public Day June 20 and 21. People brought in their latest knitting project to work on at the shop.

• Kiplinger.com, a personal finance and business forecasting company, recently rated the Anacortes-Mount Vernon area 310 on its list of 361 U.S. metropolitan areas considered for its list of “Best Cities: It’s all About the Jobs.” The list considered cost of living, salary growth, median household income and employment growth.

Are there new developments at your business? E-mail news to . We welcome tips for our monthly business page column.