Articles - Fall 2008 - return to index
Business Solutions: Weaving a New Business
Susie Liles and Marilyn Robert share a dream and a commitment to further the growth of textile arts. After careful research, and lots of planning, they opened the Eugene Textile Center on March 1, 2008.
The Textile Center is a combination retail and educational environment. Their vision for their business: “We hope to see ETC as a beehive of creative textile.” Both Marilyn and Susie have master of arts degrees from the University of Oregon in Fiber Art. Both have taught at the university and community college levels and to children, and each has previously operated their own business.
While teaching at Lane Community College, Marilyn decided to come to Lane’s Business Development Center to see what services were available to assist with the development of their new business. After attending the Going Into Business class, Marilyn took advantage of the free business advising and is now attending the KEYS Business Management program for new business owners.
Marilyn says, “The individual advising time continues to be enormously helpful. The KEYS instructors’ experience and knowledge is broad. The opportunity to network with other new business owners has been very valuable.” Asked what advice she would offer to those who are considering starting their own business, Marilyn readily answered, “Learn about operating a business. The Business Development Center provides an excellent opportunity to do just that. Learn how to develop your concept—the business idea into a business plan.”
The Eugene Textile Center is a creative, multi-purpose establishment that provides a textile shopper’s paradise, offers individual textile artists a place to work their craft, and there is superior instruction from two talented artists for those who would like to learn more about expressing their art through textile.
To learn more about the Textile Center, visit them at 1510 Jacobs Drive in Eugene, check out their website at www.eugenetextilecenter.com, or give them a call at (541) 688-1565.
To contact the Business Development Center for assistance with the growth of your own business idea, just call (541) 463-5255.
