Ken Nebel of Village Arts. Courtesy photoBUSINESS News:
Los Alamos retailers invite the public to find out more about retail in Los Alamos and the people behind the brick and mortar businesses in town.
Ken Nebel of Village Arts is hosting a discussion panel 7-8 p.m., today, May 6, to speak about both the satisfying and sapping parts of owning and operating a retail business in Los Alamos.
The panel will be meeting upstairs in the Mesa Public Library meeting rooms, and anyone interested in retail in Los Alamos is welcome to attend. At press time, Aspen Copies, Don Taylor’s Photography, Karen Wray Fine Art Gallery, Metzger’s Do It Best, The Perch Paperie, Pet Pangaea, Village Arts, and Warm Heart’s Yarn will be in attendance, and hopes are that Dave Fox from CB Fox will make a special appearance!
Nebel attributes gathering together this forum to an interest from customers wanting to know how retail in Los Alamos ticks.
“I’m relatively new to business,” Nebel said, “and I don’t have all the answers. It felt like it was time to pull together a group of experts who are all doing business in Los Alamos to jointly discuss why we do what we do. The County and Chamber have been open to meeting with businesses, but I think it’s important that we have our own platform to discuss, collaborate, and support one another. The goal of this panel is to perhaps provide some little revelations, but it isn’t designed to solve all our problems or to make new ones, it’s designed mostly to make us better neighbors.”
The retail discussion is meant to appeal to a wide audience from concerned citizens to individuals contemplating a retail business of their own.
“I had the great good fortune to have several mentors, a good support system, and an easy transition when I took on the ownership of Village Arts,” Nebel said. “I hope this forum helps show that there is support out there, and helps interested people know what hurdles to expect and how unique Los Alamos is.”
There will be a period of open discussion following the introductions of the retailers and their businesses, so the public is encouraged to bring questions pertaining to retail in Los Alamos.
Questions about the panel or retailers hoping to join in the discussion can be directed to Nebel at 662-1635 or kennebel@villageartsframing.com.
