EXETER — A sense of excitement is running high among locals a week after Exeter made its pitch to be selected for a nationwide contest aimed at revitalizing small businesses.
Exeter is one of the top 10 finalists nationally for the Small Business Revolution-Main Street Series, Season 3, on Hulu. The competition, put on by Deluxe Corporation, awards $500,000 worth of marketing and business expertise to one community, working directly with six small businesses in that community. A team from Deluxe was in town the night of Jan. 25 and during the day on Jan. 26, visiting with business owners, and getting a sense of the town.
“The small business community is still pumped up from last week’s Small Business Revolution visit,” said Beth Dupell, of ecm Design, who nominated Exeter for the recognition along with Craig Wharem.
The community is now hoping to make the cut to the top five towns.
“I feel a renewed sense of energy and excitement now as we go full steam ahead towards the top five announcement,” Wharem said. “The amount of Exeter pride that was on display during the visit was incredible and it's true what they say, Blue Hawks fly together. I am so proud to be a part of this community and to have seen the efforts brought about by so many people over the last month.”
Residents and business owners have been sharing what they love about Exeter and its small businesses using the hashtag #MyExeter on social media, something that got the attention of Amanda Brinkman, creator and host of the Small Business Revolution. “We’ve been really impressed with how the town is showing up on social media,” Brinkman said.
Dupell urged people to keep up their social media presence. “We might be exhausted, but the finish line is in site and we need to keep rocking this #MyExeter campaign,” Dupell said.
As she walked along Water Street Friday, Brinkman said she was impressed with the “very” passionate business owners.
“People really love the quality of life here,” Brinkman said, adding that Wharem and Dupell did a “phenomenal” job rallying the town in preparing for the SBR team visit. Brinkman said she sensed a tremendous amount of community pride in Exeter coupled with a quaint, historic downtown.
“Aesthetically, it’s beautiful,” she said.
Exeter was the last stop on their month-long tour to each of the top 10 towns. The top five towns will be announced Feb. 13 on Facebook live, and from there, the winner will be selected by a public vote. Business owners met on Wednesday to talk about how to mobilize people to vote if Exeter makes the top five.
“We estimate it will take close to a half million votes to win Season 3,” Dupell said. “We definitely will need the entire state and perhaps New England’s support in garnering the necessary votes to win.”
During the SBR visit to Exeter, downtown shops were decked out with signs welcoming the team and many business owners wore shirts that read “We are Revolutionary” with the “My Exeter” hashtag. Custom flags with the SBR logo, made by Kathy Spaulding, an employee at George and Phillips sporting goods, hung throughout the downtown.
“She was the Betsy Ross of the Small Business Revolution in Exeter,” Dupell said of Spaulding.
Julie Gordon, director of marketing partnerships for Deluxe, toured Exeter with Economic Development Director Darren Winham, taking note of the mix of businesses downtown, while also asking business owners about changes they’ve seen transpire in the downtown.
“They have been very attentive,” Winham said. “They’re really trying to understand the needs of Exeter.”
Winham pointed to strong support from the state level, including appearances during the welcome reception for the SBR team by Governor Chris Sununu and Taylor Caswell, commissioner of the state’s Department of Business and Economic Affairs, as incentives for Exeter to make it to the next round.
"One of the most favorable aspects of choosing Exeter – and this was confirmed by Governor Sununu and Commissioner Caswell last night – is that New Hampshire is uniquely positioned to transfer the knowledge and expertise Small Business Revolution provides to our downtown throughout the state, in essence making Exeter the beta test for Deluxe Corporation,” Winham said.
At Laney and Lu Cafe, owner Jennifer Desrosiers talked with Gordon and Deluxe’s Social Media Director Elizabeth Anderson about her restaurant’s mission to provide healthy and nourishing food. She offered them samples of some of their hot drinks, including a turmeric latte. “Isn’t that amazing,” Desrosiers said as the two took a sip.
Gordon then visited the Chocolatier, eager to learn more about the chocolates her team found on their hotel pillows, which had been custom-molded with the SBR logo. Owner Edna Howard, and her son-in-law, Jason Martone gave Gordon a tour of the upstairs of the shop where chocolates are handcrafted. Martone also gave Gordon a chance to try molding chocolate.
Julie Traverse, who has owned the Willow in downtown Exeter for 18 years, said the local business community would benefit from being chosen. “I think it would be amazing,” Traverse said. “It would help me to maybe stay open, I’ve been teetering on the edge. A lot of people don’t know I’m here.”
The SBR team met for longer one-on-one interviews with three businesses, George and Phillips, D2 Java, and the Chocolatier. At George and Phillips, even the store dog, Mookie, was in the spirit with a SBR logo sewn onto her outfit. “You’re the best thing that’s happened to me today,” Anderson said when she saw Mookie.
Wharem, of Karate International, said he jumped at the chance to join forces with Dupell in nominating Exeter.
“Exeter’s the quintessential small town,” Wharem said. “We live in a world that’s constantly divided and it’s nice to go back and remember your roots. Small town New Hampshire is where the country started and I think we could use a little bit more of that small town charm.”
Dupell, Wharem and the business community have been meeting since December to prepare for Friday’s visit by the SBR team.
“I’m exhausted but I’m exhilarated at the same time,” Dupell said, adding the team members were fantastic. “Their passion and their energy and their ideas, their whole package is more than I could have ever imagined.”