Six years ago Bartlett opened a store in Loudon, where she sells rug hooking supplies and offers classes to other people interested in the craft. Normally, the store is bustling with women learning rug hooking, troubleshooting a project or purchasing supplies. But since the pandemic, the store has been largely empty. In addition, events where Bartlett might sell her supplies or teach a class have also been cancelled. Overall, her revenue is down about 85% this year.
For Mobile Grooming Business, Pandemic Launch Was Perfect Timing
Last year, Trevor Yanuszewski spent about $100,000 — including money withdrawn from his 401k retirement plan — to start Hot Dogs and Cool Cats Mobile Grooming, LLC. He went to school, scoured the country for a van, had it retrofitted and registered his business. When Yanuszewski was finally ready to open, it was the realization of a long-time dream — happening at the start of the pandemic.
A Business Plan Turned Upside Down, But A Mission Unchanged
Mary Macdonald, president of the Belknap Food Shed, started 2019 with big plans. She had been working for two years toward the goal of rejuvenating the Laconia State School property and making it home base for the Belknap Food Shed, a business designed to support and promote local food production. Macdonald envisioned an “agricultural maker-space,” a campus filled with agriculture, food processing, classrooms, restaurants and stores.
Reduced Hours and Community Fitness Fund Help Contoocook Gym
In April, a new group sprung up for fitness enthusiasts in and around Contoocook: the Stormettes. Cindy Glass, owner of Storms Fitness, a Contoocook gym, began live streaming workouts for her clients who were stuck at home, with the help of two personal trainers at the gym, and the group quickly earned the nickname.
New Hampshire Liquor and Wine Outlets Expand Curbside Pick-up
When the coronavirus hit the state, the New Hampshire Liquor Commission was already in the midst of a multi-million dollar overhaul of its software system, updating everything from the website to the point-of-sale system in the 76 liquor and wine outlets in the state. The system hadn’t been overhauled in decades, and the liquor commission knew it was time for a more modern feel and eventually an order-online service.
Castle In The Clouds Continues, At Reduced Capacity
87th Craftsmen’s Fair Will Be Virtual
Last year the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen undertook strategic planning sessions. One of the big takeaways that emerged was that the league needed to enhance its digital presence, teaching its 700 members to engage with their customers online. It seemed like an essential step for the organization, which has been around since 1932, but at the time executive director Miriam Carter didn’t realize how soon it would become critical.
Negotiating Rent and Being Realistic About The Future
Gregory Slossar, owner of Escape Room in Concord, has to search a bit to find a silver lining to the pandemic.
“If nothing else, I’m golfing better,” he said. “That’s one benefit to all of this.”
