ASBTDC at the U of A Client Stories: Conifer

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The team at Conifer

Located in Bentonville, Conifer was born from the community's need to have a farm-to-table, community-focused restaurant. Chef Matthew Cooper's goal was to provide a restaurant that brings the community together with high-quality food while simultaneously focusing on the needs of guests with special dietary restrictions. To help achieve this goal, Conifer's menu is 100% gluten-free. This unique menu presents an outstanding selection of carefully crafted dishes ranging from chicken and dumplings to vegan coconut curry. The focus on the community can be seen in every action Cooper has taken in the formation of Conifer. By working with local chefs, farmers, architects and other businesses to bring his idea to life, Cooper has incorporated the many talents of people in the community to shine within his restaurant.

"Conifer strives to support the local economy and become a big part of it in turn. No business is an island, and the closer we all become, the more we all benefit," Cooper said.                                         

When beginning to brainstorm the ideas of opening this restaurant, Cooper reached out to the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at the U of A for guidance.

Catherine Corley, a consultant for the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, was instrumental in helping guide the owners through the process of opening this unique restaurant. She assisted with demographic information, building the budget and sales projections, provided demographic data about other local businesses and set up pitch decks for investors. Cooper credits Corley's personalized experience with being "instrumental in learning how they moved forward" in opening Conifer. 

"Take advantage of the resources around you before deciding to move forward. Use [the ASBTDC] to bounce an idea, analyze the local data and listen to what the area really needs," Cooper said. 

Just as Cooper benefitted in receiving help from the center, Corley said that she thoroughly enjoyed getting to work with chef Cooper to bring this business idea to life. His openness to letting market data drive decision-making was critical in the ability to execute the success in opening this community-focused restaurant. Corley is proud to have been a part of bringing Conifer's farm-to-table cuisine to Northwest Arkansas and "has enjoyed dining there and seeing the great social media posts from many friends who have as well."

About the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at the University of Arkansas: The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, UAF helps small business in Northwest Arkansas thrive. With offices in Fayetteville and Bentonville, ASBTDC consultants provide one-on-one confidential consulting and guidance to current and prospective business owners in Benton, Boone, Carroll, Madison, Newton and Washington counties. The center offers in-person and virtual trainings and workshops to help entrepreneurs gain the knowledge and skill necessary for success. The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration through a partnership with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and is a unit of the Division of Economic Development, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.