Claremore state leader in honest business

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Best and worst places in Oklahoma for BBB accreditation.

August 6, 2010

Zack Stoycoff Staff Reporter The Claremore Daily Progress Fri Aug 06, 2010, 11:13 AM CDT

CLAREMORE — Claremore shoppers will likely have fewer hassles than shoppers statewide this tax-free weekend — if they buy locally.

The city has the highest rate in Oklahoma for businesses boasting the top grade from the Better Business Bureau, meaning it’s easier to find businesses in Claremore with a proven record of honesty and strong customer relations.

That doesn’t surprise Dell Davis, Director of the Claremore Chamber of Commerce.

“Just from our chamber members, if we get one complaint a year, that just doesn’t happen,” she said. “Our businesses do what they’re supposed to do. They help customers.”

As a ratio of businesses-to-population, Claremore outpaces all state cities larger than 10,000 people for businesses with “A” grades by the bureau, or those that have been accredited because they have a longtime reputation for efficient customer service, honesty and transparency.

Claremore has 76 such businesses, or 4.4 per 1,000 people. That’s by far the highest rate, according to Better Business Bureau data.

The state average is less than 3 per 1,000.

“I don’t really know why Claremore has so many,” said Amie Mitchell, director of accreditation services for the Tulsa BBB branch. “But it’s great to have so many there.”

The next best hotspot for BBB accredited businesses is Tulsa, which has 1,264 accreditations for 3.2 per 1,000 people. Owasso also comes up short of Claremore, with 3 per 1,000, or 83 total.

But cities closer to Claremore’s population aren’t even close.

Tahlequah (30 accreditations to 16,600 residents) stands at 1.8, Sand Springs (54 to 18,500) has 2.9 and McAlester (39 to 18,000) has 3.2.

The latest estimate for Claremore’s population is about 17,400, so its 76 accredited businesses also represent a higher ratio than much larger cities like Lawton (0.5 per 1,000), Norman (1.0), Muskogee (1.3), Oklahoma City (1.8), Edmond (2.4) and Broken Arrow (3).

Claremore also has more accredited businesses as a straight number than three larger cities: Muskogee (53), Lawton (50) and Bartlesville (43), each with more than 35,000 residents.

Businesses automatically get an “A” rating, the top grade, when they prove they have met BBB standards for accreditation.

Accredited businesses must have been in operation for at least one year, have a good community reputation, show honest advertising, have clearly defined policies and standards, respond quickly to complaints and safeguard customer’s privacy.

A BBB spokesman said that while the business-to-population ratio isn’t the most accurate way of measuring honest businesses in a city, the method is good for getting a general idea of BBB participation — which is always a good thing for consumers.

Davis said the Claremore Chamber of Commerce has a lot to do with Claremore’s larger involvement in the BBB. Chamber members must be well-respected and honest, she said.

There are about 450 members of the Claremore chamber, each bowing to the organization’s efforts to ensure quality business in Claremore.

Joining the chamber and seeking accreditation with the BBB is the best interest of businesses everywhere, Davis said. It helps consumers gauge the quality of the service or goods they will receive.

“I think it reflect the quality of our business people here that so many are involved,” Davis said. “Our business owners, they really take their businesses seriously, as well as their customers and clients.”

Smaller towns tend to have higher ratios of BBB accreditation because, for example, as few as 10 accredited businesses in a town of 2,000 people makes a seemingly large ratio of 5 per 1,000.

But some towns stand out. Inola has 15 accredited businesses and 1,750 people, a ratio of 8.6 per 1,000.

Rogers County’s next-largest collection is Catoosa, which has 23 businesses and 6,350 people, or 3.6 per 1,000.

Oologah, Chelsea and Foyil each have five or fewer.

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