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.

‌Community‌ ‌Health‌ ‌Organization‌ ‌Establishes‌ ‌Learning‌ ‌Center

‌Community‌ ‌Health‌ ‌Organization‌ ‌Establishes‌ ‌Learning‌ ‌Center

When the pandemic hit, Greater Seacoast Community Heath needed to move quickly. The organization runs three clinics in Portsmouth, Somersworth and Rochester, as well as recovery centers in Rochester, Dover and Portsmouth, serving up to 7,400 people a month. Faced with coronavirus, the organization took the same steps as many others: switching to telehealth and adopting new protocols to keep staff safe.

“It caught us off guard, but we quickly recovered,” said Janet Laatsch, CEO of Greater Seacoast Community Health. “We’ve had to really adapt and be very agile, and at the same time take care of patients and staff.”

A Touch of Sweetness

A Touch of Sweetness

Tracy Gunn is no stranger to difficulties in business. She started her candy store — Life Is Sweet — in downtown Keene 14 years ago. But for the past four years business has steadily declined, about 10% per year, something Gunn attributes to the Keene riots.

“Our tourism kind of has dried up,” Gunn said.

The pandemic was another blow. The main draw at Life Is Sweet is the old fashioned candy counter. People come in, don a glove, and put their hands into jars of candy, selecting the exact type and amount to satisfy their sweet tooth. Gunn estimates that under normal circumstances, 90% of customers who visit Life Is Sweet make an individualized bag of candy.

Escape Room Doubles Down During The Pandemic

Escape Room Doubles Down During The Pandemic

During pre-pandemic times, Javi Kalback, owner of Portsmouth Escape Room, would welcome 400-500 participants through the business’ four rooms each weekend. During the week, she’d host occasional events, focused on corporate team-building or youth groups.

Today, all of the group activities are suspended and individual bookings for escape room games are limited. Because of the pandemic, the rooms can only be used by one group at a time.

From Hands-on Learning To Air Filtration

From Hands-on Learning To Air Filtration

When Richard Amarosa founded Technology Education Concepts, Inc., back in 1987, he wanted to provide students in New Hampshire hands-on learning opportunities.

“He wanted to give students access to industrial materials, so that they had the hands-on training that’s actually being used in industry,” said Amarosa’s daughter, Justyn Constant, the senior vice president and marketing manager at Concord-based Technology Education Concepts, Inc. (TEC).

Getting Through The Pandemic With A Little Magic

Getting Through The Pandemic With A Little Magic

For Wayne Moulton and his wife Kali, owners of Sages Entertainment in Portsmouth, there’s little that hasn’t changed since the pandemic hit. Sages Entertainment is built around two verticals: educational content for schools and libraries, and straight entertainment like balloon art and magic shows at birthdays, fairs and shopping centers.

With people now severely curtailing how they come together, the Moultons have had to completely rethink how they do business.

Professional Organizer Pivots to Virtual Consultations

Professional Organizer Pivots to Virtual Consultations

Lauren Saltman, of Newfields, helped friends, family and neighbors organize their homes for 20 years before she realized that her skills could translate into a business. Two years ago she formalized her services, launching Living Simplified to help people throughout the Seacoast region declutter and organize their homes.

“It’s really what I love to do,” said Saltman.

Before the pandemic, she would go to a client’s home and work side-by-side with them, coaching them through the process of clearing out a space and establishing systems to keep the area organized in the future. But when the pandemic hit, Saltman knew she had to reimagine her business model.