MarketLink: Access to Market for Microentrepreneurs
An entrepreneur may have a great product to sell and a clear idea of who his ideal customer is, but how does he find these customers in order to market that product to them? It was with this question in mind that OMEN launched MarketLink in 2006. MarketLink provides entrepreneurs with access to sophisticated market research services that help them find and reach their desired customer base, tap into new markets and make informed business decisions by learning about trends within their respective industries.
"These marketing lists are the treasure at the bottom of the hole that TriMet has dug outside my door....They are invaluable tools that will resurrect the sales of rapidly declining 'foot traffic' based business. Your work will single-handedly allow the gallery to survive and grow into the next decade. Thank you"
-Ted Huckins, Owner
The William Joseph Gallery
Portland, Oregon
MarketLink gives access to the following research tools:
- Industry & Trend Analyzer: Discover local and national trends impacting your business, competitive data and analysis of your industry
- Business Plan Development: Provides data on market size, distribution channels and opportunity
- Business Access: Find new customers from a database of 14 million US Businesses
- Consumer Access: Find new customers from a database of 210 million US consumers
For example:
- An entrepreneur in Grants Pass who is selling dog and cat collars can request information on the number of pet owners in Josephine County and receive a targeted contact list of consumers who own pets for his/her target market.
- An entrepreneur in NE Portland producing specialty soaps can identify which product types are driving the personal bath products market and whether direct selling holds potential as a channel of distribution for bath and beauty products.
- An entrepreneur working on a loan application can identify statistics on market size, competitors and market opportunity for her/his business plan.
- An entrepreneur in the Salem area with an industrial floor and window cleaning business who seeks to expand into Lane County can receive a targeted contact list of businesses who can use her/his services in the Lane County market.
Due to the generous support of several private organizations and state agencies,
MarketLink's services are currently available at no cost to clients of several OMEN Member Organizations (see list below).
MarketLink is also available to the clients of other OMEN members, as well as individuals not formally affiliated with OMEN, at affordable rates. For more information on these rates or for assistance in finding a program in your area, contact OMEN at 503-546-9913 or via email at
info@oregon-microbiz.org.
MarketLink Service Providers:
The City of Portland Bureau of Housing and Community Development currently supports the MarketLink program at the following organizations in the Portland metro area:
Business Outreach Project, Portland State UniversityChild Care Improvement Project
Entrepreneurship Project at Mercy Corps Northwest
MESO (Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon)
Seed Project, OAME (Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs)
Small Business Support Project, Hispanic Metro Chamber
Trillium Artisans Project
The Oregon Economic Development Department currently supports the MarketLink program at the following organizations statewide:
MESO (MicroEnterprise Services of Oregon) Food Innovation Center
Lake Community Development Corporation (Ronne Lindsay, 541.947.5300)
e-Dev (formerly Lane MicroBusiness)
MEDAL Program at Umpqua Community Development CorporationNortheast Oregon Economic Development Department (NEOEDD)
Oregon Coast Community College Small Business Development Center
Treasure Valley Community College Small Business Development Center
Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services
Wy'East RC&D Area Council
For past MarketLink clients: MarketLink Customer Satisfaction Survey (downloadable file)
