50 Businesses, 50 Solutions — Granite State News Collaborative

Equine Consignment Shop Sees More Bargain Hunters During The Pandemic

Equine Consignment Shop Sees More Bargain Hunters During The Pandemic

Running interference to make sure that customers coming into the equine tack shop are properly sanitized and masked is just one way that Nafshi’s workday has changed since the pandemic took hold. The Trainer’s Loft, which also sells animal feed, was deemed an essential business and able to stay open throughout the stay-at-home order, so Nafshi began requiring staff and customers to wear masks early on.

For some customers, that was an inconvenience. In the spring, when the shop was only doing curbside pickup at the loading dock, Nafshi spent about 20 minutes on the phone with a potential customer, discussing the type of chicken feed the woman needed and running through various options. At the end of the call, the woman asked if The Trainer’s Loft required masks. Nafshi explained that she did, but the woman wouldn’t actually be coming into the store, since this was a curbside pickup order.

Strawbery Banke Learns From History, While Embracing Modern Solutions

Strawbery Banke Learns From History, While Embracing Modern Solutions

When the pandemic first hit, the museum was in the middle of a busy spring season of school programming. Many of the programs had to be shut down before they were finished. During the stay-at-home order, the 10-acres of Strawbery Banke were devoid of visitors.

When the museum was able to reopen in June, staff decided to lean into the experience of the pandemic. They designed a new tour — Emerging Renewed — which taught visitors about previous challenges that Portsmouth residents had endured and how they got through.

New London Concert Pianist Take A Day Job

New London Concert Pianist Take A Day Job

Prior to the pandemic, William Ögmundson had spent two decades supporting himself as a classically-trained solo pianist. He had performed throughout the world, playing in the Vatican and at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, and even composing a lullaby with famed children’s author Tomie dePaola.

“It was a good run while it lasted,” said Ögmundson, who lives in New London with his wife and children.

Sports Supplement Company Switches From In Person Marketing to Mailed Samples

Sports Supplement Company Switches From In Person Marketing to Mailed Samples

At the beginning of the year, Jack Schrupp was finally ready to launch his sports supplement business. He’d been perfecting his recipe since he was a two-sport athlete at Williams College, searching for a post-workout protein powder that had ingredients he could actually pronounce. After years of sampling products for friends and teammates, and later arranging a supply chain, Schrupp was ready to bring Drink Wholesome into the world. He had no idea how bad the timing was.