Streamlined Operations for Salem Ink and Printer Supplier

Streamlined Operations for Salem Ink and Printer Supplier

Normally, business at Cartridge World in Salem is ramping up during March. Tax season is the busiest time of year for the business, which provides ink and printer solutions for individuals and businesses. But last year, after a stellar first-quarter, tax time was a bust.

“April was terrible because none of that happened,” said Brian Gallagher, president of Cartridge World.

As tax deadlines were extended and offices closed, Cartridge World saw a major shift in business. Years earlier, Gallagher realized that it was more profitable to focus on a business to business sales strategy, rather than business to consumer.

Year-Round Outdoor Dining, Take Out, Push Portsmouth Restaurant Into the Black

Year-Round Outdoor Dining, Take Out, Push Portsmouth Restaurant Into the Black

Cutting opened Cure in January 2014, providing upscale comfort food to the seacoast region. Before the pandemic, she had about 20 staff. When her daughter was born two years ago, Cutting moved out of the kitchen and spent more time managing and hosting the restaurant than preparing food. She was in a good routine, until the pandemic turned it upside down.

“The restaurant was at a point where it would run itself,” Cutting said. “Then, you’re back to trying to throw things against the wall to see what will stick to keep you in the green.”

New Protocols, Longer Waitlist for Wilmot Daycare

New Protocols, Longer Waitlist for Wilmot Daycare

In a year when most people are trying to keep their contact with others to a minimum, Shandi Elliott, owner of Sweet Beginnings Daycare in Wilmot, has a steady stream of 3-7 children, plus their parents, in and out of her home each day. Since work and home are blended, Elliott needs to be on top of COVID precautions, not just to protect her own kids, but also those she’s caring for.

Merrimack Dance Studio Expands Clientele Through Online Classes

Merrimack Dance Studio Expands Clientele Through Online Classes

Normally, Lopez teaches 30-35 dance and fitness classes a week at the studio. The pandemic interrupted that, and even after reopening Lopez has offered a Zoom option for people who are not comfortable with in-person classes. With an online option for almost every class, she’s learned a lot in the past year.

Boloco Learns Value of Separate Business Entities, Balances Mission and Profit

Boloco Learns Value of Separate Business Entities, Balances Mission and Profit

Boloco had locations in Boston that were on the brink of bankruptcy. Its Hanover location, however, was thriving, so Pepper decided to separate the New Hampshire location from the Massachusetts stores, making them different business entities that shared the same name.

While the Boston locations stumbled along, Hanover ran, serving up to 500 customers a day.

Extended Camp Season, More Local Customers, For Portsmouth Sailing Season

Extended Camp Season, More Local Customers, For Portsmouth Sailing Season

Last spring, Andy Goodell, operations managed at the Gundalow Company, was excited for the upcoming season. He and his staff had been working to get more students out on the river on field trips, and the 2020 season was nearly completely booked, with students coming to sail starting in March.

“Kids are a hearty bunch, so we get them sailing on the river before the public,” Goodell said.

Unfortunately, as the pandemic worsened, it became clear that most spring field trips would be cancelled. Goodell didn’t have time to dwell on that loss, because he had to figure out how to handle the Gundalow Company’s popular summer camp program and public sailing.

Enrollment Rises 14% At Newport Montessori School

Enrollment Rises 14% At Newport Montessori School

When Governor Sununu ordered schools to switch to remote learning on March 13, 2020, Whipple’s first priority was ensuring that the school’s roughly 80 students in preschool through 8th grade could continue learning. She distributed assignments and got teachers up and running with Zoom instruction.

The school operates two preschool classrooms, which could have stayed open as daycare, but when the school polled families, very few were interested in having the youngsters in the building. Since remote learning wasn’t a fit for the preschoolers, Whipple waived tuition for students in those two classrooms, taking a significant hit on revenue.

She knew that for the school to survive, she would need to be able to offer in-person learning in the 2020-2021 school year.

Hanover Bookstore and Bar Relies On Book Sales to Get Through

Hanover Bookstore and Bar Relies On Book Sales to Get Through

With so many facets to the business, Still North wasn’t fully opened and operational until February. For a month, business was going great. Levy had hoped that eventually books and other merchandise would make up half of revenue, with food and beverage making up the other half. She thought that food and beverage sales would be stronger to start, but was pleasantly surprised to be just about 50/50 during that first month.

“Book sales have always been stronger than I envisioned,” she said. “I underestimated how much people want to make sure that there’s an independent bookstore in Hanover.”

That would become essential when the pandemic shut down Still North in March. Levy hadn’t planned to focus on a website until the second year of the business, but she quickly created one to fulfill and ship orders. With time, Still North reopened for browsing by appointment, and later for drop-in browsing.

Alton Shop Pivots From Vintage Sales, Focusing On Handmade Goods

Alton Shop Pivots From Vintage Sales, Focusing On Handmade Goods

At first, Catchpenny had a warm welcome from locals and tourists alike. But as soon as reports of the coronavirus began circulating — even before the state shut down — Terravechia noticed that people were less willing to buy vintage or used goods.

“People were getting nervous,” she said. “There’s only so much you can know about an item, and the virus was so new.”

Before that, vintage items made up about half of sales at Catchpenny. Suddenly, that revenue stream all but disappeared. The whole environment at the store, which invited customers to have a hands-on shopping experience, seemed at odds with the pandemic.