A small business activist adds to his family’s time-honored legacy.
Established in 1901, Blackledge Furniture is Corvallis, Oregon’s oldest and largest home furnishings store. Co-owner Eric Blackledge shares how he continues the legacy his family started four generations ago, while fighting for the rights of local small business owners.
Name: Eric Blackledge
Business: Blackledge Furniture
Location: Corvallis, Oregon
Employees: 24
What’s the best part of owning a small business with such a long, rich history?
The connection to the community. I’ve chaired the [Corvallis] Chamber of Commerce and the [City of Corvallis] Downtown Commission. [I’ve] been very involved in economic development over the years. I’m on the committee for the Oregon Business Plan. I started the Governor’s Small Business Council and chaired it for many years. So I have a long history of involvement in small business issues.
Why is being a small business activist important?
If we don’t speak for ourselves, we’re not going to be treated fairly in terms of the governmental process. So it’s important that we be involved in government in all levels in the community—particularly in the state and national level. NFIB is a great organization in terms of the tools and the resources that it gives small businesses to be involved in the decision-making process.
What’s the key to Blackledge Furniture’s longevity?
We’ve always felt that quality and the way we treat our customers is very important. Particularly in a small town, you’re dealing with the same customer base. So if you do not serve them well and keep them happy, they will not come back and do business with you.
What advice would you give other small business owners?
Focus on your customer and the experience you’re giving them. Always try to think outside of your existing business and about the ways you can improve or expand your service. And be involved in the community, because it’s important not only in terms of building linkages but in making sure that your business views are well represented in the decision-making that goes on in your community.
