Jim VanNatta and Hockinson Market
26 years ago, Jim VanNatta bought Hockinson Market, a country store that sold groceries, gas, and video rentals, in Clark County Washington, close to where he and his wife grew up. After years of booming development in the area, Jim’s bustling business was brought to a halt in 2008 due to the recession. With decreased foot traffic, chain stores moving into the area, and the video rental aspect of his business becoming obsolete, he needed to pivot quickly. Four years had gone by with no income coming in from the business. However, Jim did not give up.
Hockinson Market pivots to serve pizza and more
Creativity and a little experimentation helped Jim transform Hockinson Market from a country store to a thriving pizza shop and tap room. Today, Hockinson Market serves several varieties of pizza and a selection of local beers and ciders on tap. Jim now has a co-manager (his son Justin) and 13 additional employees. In 1928, Hockinson Market was created as a central one-stop shop, the main hub for the local community to connect. A few years short of a century later, Hockinson Market continues to be a buzzing hub for the community to connect, now over a slice of pizza or a pint of beer.
Justin VanNatta, co-manager, Hockinson Market, in the taproom
Jim is an Amazon shopper and used to use his personal account to buy supplies for Hockinson Market regularly. While shopping on Amazon via his personal account was convenient, the more purchases he made, the more orders he would have to wade through to find relevant business receipts to provide to his bookkeeper. Amazon Business offered a way to simplify his bookkeeping and more.
Hockinson Market entrance
The Amazon Business and QuickBooks Business Purchases App and Business Lists are two features that Jim is going to explore. “ With Business Lists," stated Jim, "my son wouldn’t have to look for what I ordered or if he asks, ‘Dad, where did you get that from?’, I can say, ‘It’s on our [Business] List.’ It’s another great one [feature] to try.”
"I just want to pass on a healthy business to my son. My goal in the next couple of years is to make sure that we’re still doing the right things to make him successful moving forward,"
— Jim VanNatta, Owner-Operator, Hockinson Market
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