Survey reveals attitudes, desires of Cathlamet shoppers

An ad hoc committee formed by Cathlamet Mayor George Wehrfritz to survey attitudes about and possibilities for business in Cathlamet reported its results last week.

Committee chair John Dees led a dozen persons through a presentation of survey results and comments from respondents.

Wehrfritz said he formed the committee to see what goods and services people in Wahkiakum County might use. Main Street's empty store fronts give the impression of a town in decline and that negatively affects existing or future businesses.

"This gives us a baseline," he said. "We know more clearly what the community wants."

The survey was conducted in two waves. The first questionnaires went to customers of the town water system; 58 responded. The second was a mailed survey to residents of the people around Cathlamet; 143 responded, making a total of 201 responses; 17 percent of the households in the area, based on US Census data, Dees said.

In summary, respondents said:

--More variety and lower prices are the two main reasons people shop outside the Cathlamet area. Almost two-thirds of respondents shop out of our area once a week. The higher the income the more frequently people are to shop out-of-area.

--There is a rational understanding of the "shop local" issue and a desire to support local businesses.

--Respondents say they are willing to pay roughly 6 percent more, but they think they pay even more than that on Main Street.

--Of the respondents, 52 percent identified themselves as retired.

--Sales and advertising are suggested as ways to increase local shopping.

--There is some awareness and concern about the cost to shop out of the area. The average cost of operating a car is 29 cents per mile.

--Many retirees see an out-of-area shopping trip as an outing and plan to make multiple stops for shopping and entertainment.

--A bakery, a laundromat and a clothing store are the most desired business.

The survey also invited people's comments on Main Street and its businesses. Some had compliments, others suggested sprucing up appearances and training employees not to be rude.

After the presentation, the group shared reactions and discussed ideas ranging from using signs to attract people off the highway to ways to market the town.

Wehrfritz said Monday he hopes the survey results will help citizens and groups such as the Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce focus on ways to improve the business community. These could range from starting a town-wide program to reward people who shop there to developing the community center planned for Town Hall and adding entertaining activities.

"I was quite impressed," he said. "There's a ton of community support. How do you leverage that?"

Richard Erickson, interim economic development director for the Chamber of Commerce and former executive director of the Lower Columbia Economic Development Council, said there have been efforts in the past to address these and other issues, and some of those ideas and products might be useful. He recalled a feasibility study done by an architectural firm that gave ideas for signage, building decoration and adding a monument sign at the intersection of Main Street and SR 4.

Both Erickson and Wehrfritz said they would meet and discuss ideas and possibilities.