Business environment in Portland, Oregon
Portland is a big little city that thrives on innovation, art and culture. We are homebase to a robust tech business community and where Intel’s global research and development operations are based.
Portland, Oregon
In recent years Amazon has taken up a significant residence here as well. Portland has a strong commitment to tech entrepreneurs, making the city a hub for startups.
Known for being home to Nike, we have built a reputation as the epicenter for athletic and outdoor apparel retailers. In addition to Nike, Portland is headquarters for adidas North America, Columbia Sportswear and Under Armour’s global innovation hub.
Diversity and culture are key facets to Portland. The city boasts a thriving art scene and is where many creatives in the design, branding and performance industries choose to live and work. The city is relaxed when it comes to flexible work arrangements, especially since COVID, with a large number of professionals still working remotely. The downside of this is the economic impact felt in the city’s core. Downtown Portland suffered a significant hit during the pandemic with commercial real estate vacancies skyrocketing and dining, retail and hospitality businesses struggling to survive. As we move into 2025 we are starting to see a rebound in the heart of the city with tourists, locals and business executives returning to downtown on a more consistent basis.
Portland is known for being a “foodie” city, with some of the country’s most renowned chefs and restaurants operating here. If you come to Portland for work, make sure to carve out some free time to explore the culinary and wine country offerings in and around Portland.
Media and Communications Environment in Portland
If you’ve ever watched an American Football Super Bowl, you’ve likely seen a Nike commercial that was created and produced by Wieden+Kennedy, a global advertising agency based in Portland. Founder Dan Wieden coined the “Just Do It” tagline and the firm was behind the LIVESTRONG yellow bracelet campaign of now disgraced American cyclist Lance Armstrong.
Our city is also home to many small to mid-sized communications agencies in the PR, branding, design and marketing spaces. WE Communications (formerly Waggener Edstrom) is based here and known for being the agency of record for Microsoft. Besides WE, the market is made up predominantly of firms like A.wordsmith that bring specific expertise and offerings despite our smaller sizes.
Key expertise of A.wordsmith
- Thought leadership writing
- Marketing writing
- Brand messaging
- Public relations
- Communications strategy
- Communications coaching
Top 3 advice for companies to navigate the media and communications environment in Portland
Be approachable. Portland is a business casual city that does best with authentic, relatable communications.
Have a local presence. If at all possible, it’s ideal to collaborate with a partner on the ground to ensure the right messages and people are being reached.
See Portland as its own city. While we are in between the larger cities of Seattle and San Francisco, Portland has its own culture, beliefs and approaches, and we pride ourselves on doing things our own way.
Most influential media
- Portland Business Journal (PBJ) – The primary outlet for local business news. The paper has a strong audience among local business leaders, entrepreneurs and policymakers.
- The Oregonian/OregonLive – The state’s largest newspaper and most visited news website, covering politics, business, culture and investigative journalism.
- Willamette Week (WW) – An award-winning alt-weekly known for in-depth local reporting, investigative pieces, and coverage of arts, culture, and politics.
- OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting) – The leading public media organization in the state, providing radio, digital, and TV coverage of news, politics, and culture with a strong focus on investigative and in-depth journalism.
- KOIN 6 / KGW 8 / KATU 2 / FOX 12 – The major TV news stations in Portland.
Most important international events
Portland is a city that loves beer festivals, outdoor summer concerts and sporting events. During the summer months, the city is buzzing with outdoor enthusiasts partaking in a variety of experiences the city has to offer. The following are a handful of annual events that take place in and around the city – we welcome travelers from near and far to come join us!
Portland International Auto & Motorcycle Show, February 2025 – Founded in 1910, the event draws more than 100,000 auto enthusiasts every year.
Portland Seafood & Wine Festival, March 1-2, 2025 – An event that brings together the best of the region’s seafood and wine vendors.
International Mass Timber Conference, March 25-27, 2025 – 2025 marks the ninth year that Portland has hosted this meeting which is the largest gathering of mass timber experts in the world.
Portland Rose Festival, May 23-June 22, 2025 – Now in its 118th year, the Portland Rose Festival is a Portland institution. A month’s worth of festivities include the Grand Floral Parade, Starlight Parade, Junior Parade, Queen’s Coronation, CityFair and Fleet Week.
Providence Hood to Coast Relays, August 22-23, 2025 – If you live in Portland and have ever considered yourself a runner, you’ve likely participated in Hood to Coast (H2C) at least once. (I’ve proud to have done it 3 times!) Coined the ”Mother of All Relays,” H2C is largest running relay race in the world. Every year entrants come from more than 40 countries and all 50 states to join 12-member teams and cover 196 miles (taking off from the top of Mount Hood and crossing the finish line on the beach in Seaside, Oregon). The event has sold-out for 36 straight years.