The week began with the big celebration in Rochester, when Safran Aerospace Composites and Albany Engineered Composites celebrated their new manufacturing plant, where they’ll produce 3D woven composite parts for aircraft. ‘New to the world’ technology, officials explained, right here in the Granite State. Hundreds of jobs will be created over the next couple of years to meet the demand for these parts. It was a good news day.
As we wandered around the expo today, we may not have found that level of technology, but we marveled no less at what we saw – a better way to grate cheese and garlic, funky ways to display a good bottle of wine, the harmony of chocolate, caramel and sea salt in one sweet treat and soaps and lotions with a base not of fancy fragrances, but essential oils and natural herbs. We saw an enthusiasm from the creators of these products, reveling in the opportunity to retreat from their garages, workshops, kitchens and studios to introduce the world to what they do and to tell us why they do it.
Good stories, all.
Buying local has become an integral part of our lives, as we seek to know not only the ingredients in the foods we eat, but who is growing, cooking, baking and even boiling (as in maple syrup) what we put on our table. The answer is our friends and neighbors, the innovators and entrepreneurs next door. The small businesses who come to know us as we come to know them and who add a measure of something we can’t find anywhere else — the soul of New Hampshire.
So if you’re in the neighborhood this weekend, go spend a few hours at the expo and treat yourself to something made right here in the Granite State.
Lorna Colquhoun
Communications Director
NH Division of Economic Development
A colleague lamented the other day that she catches herself thinking it’s only late September or early October, but here we are with Thanksgiving a little more than 5-hours-at-350-degrees away.
While we’re planning for the holiday and the guests who are on their way, chances are we are sparing a thought or two to after the leftovers are put away.
That’s when the start of the Christmas season goes into high gear and chances are, you’ll be stepping out to get a start on your list. A good day to head out would be Small Business Saturday, so declared by Gov. Hassan, who joins others around the nation in encouraging people to spend their holiday dollars on Main Street.
These merchants are the foundation of the communities in which we live. They do everything from giving our hometowns uniqueness and character to employing our neighbors and keeping the local economy robust and healthy. There are some very neat presents to be found and we are confident that in one of these stores, there is a perfect gift you may not find anywhere else.
When we get back from the Thanksgiving break on Monday (Dec. 2), we here at the Division of Economic Development have a busy couple of weeks coming up. We’re heading to Montreal to attend Aero Montreal’s Innovation Summit and we’re hosting our 18th annual meeting.
This year’s event is from 8:30 am to 2 pm, Dec. 11 at Church Landing in Meredith. The theme is Rock the Ages, focusing on the three generations in today’ workplace — the Boomers, Generation X and the Millennials — and how their experience, energy and imagination can be harnessed for economic success.
The event is free (thanks to sponsorship from Public Service of New Hampshire), but seating is limited. If you are interested in attending, please register here as soon as you can.
New Hampshire has given the world a lot of what we can’t do without, like the first potato ever grown in the U.S. , the latex balloon, and (being that it’s Friday night) the corkscrew. These are items invented by curious minds devoted to finding a better way to make life easier, leaving a legacy of entrepreneurship that thrives in basements, old mills, backyards, sewing rooms and kitchens.
All across our state, that spirit of innovation and passion is alive and well and you can see it this weekend at The Made In NH Try It & Buy It Expo, sponsored by our friends at Business NH Magazine. We stopped by this afternoon and visited with some old friends who amaze us with their creativity, as well as emerging entrepreneurs and downright geniuses.
The Expo runs Saturday (April 14) from 10 – 8 and Sunday (April 15) from 10 – 4 at the Center of New Hampshire Expo Center at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester.
There are over 160 exhibitors, many of them friends from NH Made, which promotes products and services made right here in the Granite State.
Psssssssssssssssstttttt……buy local, buy American and buy often. Here are a few press releases that can assist you in this endeavor.
Make a Difference on Small Business Saturday®
As a proud supporter of Small Business Saturday®, a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year, the U.S. Small Business Administration is encouraging every American to support small businesses by doing some of their holiday shopping on the Saturday after Thanksgiving at small businesses.
This year’s Small Business Saturday® is Nov. 26, 2011.
“Small businesses are the foundation of our economy – half of America’s workers either own or work for a small business,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. “Small Business Saturday® is an opportunity to show our support for our friends and neighbors who throughout the year are growing our local economy, as well as supporting many local initiative and organizations.”
Nov. 26 marks the second annual Small Business Saturday®, a day to support the local small businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country. First there was Black Friday, and then Cyber Monday, and now Small Business Saturday® will help drive shoppers to America’s job creators. Small businesses have generated two out of every three net new jobs over the past 15 years and employ over half of all private sector employees.
For more information on how to support Small Business Saturday® in your area, or to get great Small Business Saturday® marketing tips and resources, check out www.sba.gov/saturday or visit Facebook.com/smallbusinesssaturday and follow us on Twitter @SBAgov, #SmallBizSat.
NH Made Gifts Available
Our NH Made Stores on I-95 in Hampton are brimming with NH-made food items and handcrafted products. The stores will be closed Thursday for Thanksgiving but open Friday, Saturday and Sunday and daily through Christmas. You can also shop online from the convenience of your home at www.nhmade.com and choose “Shop Online.”
Wild Orchard Guest Farm
NH Made Members Working with Members: Shop, Sip, Primp 2011 At the Wild Orchard Guest Farm, 67 Candia Rd., Deerfield NH on Saturday, November 26th from 4-8pm. After the busy Thanksgiving holiday, enjoy complimentary hor d’oeuvres and drinks while relaxing with friends before a crackling fire. Pamper yourself with a complimentary manicure from Fancy Nails Spa and Boutique. Tour the Inn’s magnificent rooms and lovely grounds. Gaze at the stars from the cozy depths of the outdoor Jacuzzi! While treating yourself, you’ll also have the opportunity to browse local artist’s creatively displayed holiday offerings. Talented artists and vendors showcasing their goods and services are: Bead Bush Studio jewelry, Divine Detailing auto detail, Fancy Nails Spa and Boutique, Ed Gerhard guitar cds, Teresa Harris Jewelry Designs, Barbara King knitted designs, Mystic Lifestyles textiles, Nicola King Designs bags and accessories, Northwood Naturals bath and beauty, Simple Pleasures photo cards and soy candles, Kristy Stevens ornaments, Tattered Rabbit Farm birdhouses, Wild Orchard Guest Farm crafts. Interested in making the night a true get-a-way? Call Molly at 603-261-7742 or www.wildorchardguestfarm.com for reservations.
Buy local and buy often – that’s a popular refrain if you’re a regular visitor to the No Bull Business Blog. We love our local companies and are keenly aware of how they add to the fabric of our communities and build our economy. Products that bear the “New Hampshire Made” designation are known for their quality, innovation and excellence….and in the case of a local harvest dinner, they’re pretty darned tasty too.
With that in mind, check out the following press release I received from NH MADE and make plans to not only attend this dinner, but to learn more about this outstanding organization:
LOCAL HARVEST DINNER TO SUPPORT NH MADE BUY LOCAL EFFORTS
What does North Country Smokehouse applewood smoked bacon and pumpkin spiced crème’ made with Pete & Gerry’s Heirloom Eggs have in common? They’re both local New Hampshire products being featured on the menu at the 1st Annual NH MADE Celebration & Local Harvest Dinner to be held at the Courtyard by Marriott – Grappone Center in Concord on Thursday evening, November 17th, 2011.
Come celebrate the abundant harvest and New Hampshire Made’s farmers, food artisans and small businesses! Reservations can be made online at www.nhmade.com or by contacting Trish Ballantyne at 603-679-9800. Your reservation ($50 per person) will include a scrumptious locally-sourced dining experience, a silent auction of local products & unique experiences, and festive entertainment by The Fiddling Thomsons. Special thanks to Presenting Sponsor:
Public Service of New Hampshire for their continued support of NH MADE and this Local Harvest Dinner. Table sponsorship opportunities are still available – join Table Sponsors Grappone Automotive Group, UNH School of Law & Daniel Webster Scholar Program. Reserve your seat at the table today! .
All proceeds of this Local Harvest Dinner support the efforts of NH MADE, a not for profit member organization whose mission is to strengthen New Hampshire’s economy by increasing the awareness and demand for New Hampshire made products and services. To learn more about NH Made and its members, visit www.nhmade.com or call
603-679-9800.
We at the No Bull Business Blog have the philosophy of “buy local and buy often.” With that in mind, we want to issue our congratulations to Trish Ballantyne for being named the new Executive Director of NH Made, an organization that truly demonstrates the power of local small business ownership. Here’s the official release:
Ballantyne Named NH Made Executive Director
New Hampshire Made announced today that Trish Ballantyne has been named Executive Director of the organization. Ballantyne brings 25 years of nonprofit fundraising, marketing, event planning and leadership to NH Made. Previously with NH Public Television, Ballantyne looks forward to leading NH Made towards continued success and growth. Ballantyne, a UNH graduate, is a recipient of several prestigious PBS Awards for Excellence.
“Trish brings a range of nonprofit management and business development skills to the organization,” NH Board Chair, Link Moser said. “Trish knows New Hampshire and will do a great job supporting the organization’s mission of strengthening New Hampshire’s economy by increasing the awareness and demand for NH made products and supporting programs local businesses need to grow.”
Ballantyne succeeds the late Laurie Ferguson who recently passed away following a courageous battle with cancer. In her seven year tenure with the organization, Ferguson earned a number of prestigious state and regional awards including the 2007 New Hampshire Business Review Business Excellence Award and the 2010 Outstanding Women in Business Award.
In most areas of the country, creating a “wicked” product is viewed as a negative. In New England, it wins you an award.
Yes, creating a “wick-it cool” eco-friendly soy candle that burns cleaner and longer than candles created with other types of wax has led to Wick-It Cool Candles being named the “Innovation Rocks!” award winner by the New Hampshire Business Resource Center for the month of February.
Based in Manchester, Wick-It Cool Candles produces 100 percent soy, handmade massage candles. Wick-It Cool Candles are wicked with lead free cotton wicks and poured into recyclable glass jars with dye free candles available for the most eco-conscious consumers.
A member of NH Made, Wick-It Cool Candles’ products are created with soy wax, a renewable resource grown in the U.S. The company uses a unique creative process, which results in candles “unsurpassed for fragrance and presentation.”
“Wick-It Cool Candles is yet another example of a small local company that started as a grain of an idea and blossomed into a fully operating business,” said New Hampshire Division of Economic Development Interim Director Roy Duddy. “By creating an innovative product that draws customers from across the U.S. and Canada while preserving the environment, Wick-It has grown and thrived in the Granite State.”
“Innovation Rocks!” is an initiative sponsored by the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development’s Business Resource Center in coordination with Rock 101 (WGIR-FM) and the The Pavilion at the Hilton Garden Inn Manchester Downtown to celebrate the creativity and ingenuity of New Hampshire innovators.
“Small businesses are the foundation of our economy – half of America’s workers either own or work for a small business,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. “Small Business Saturday® is an opportunity to show our support for our friends and neighbors who throughout the year are growing our local economy, as well as supporting many local initiative and organizations.”
Come celebrate the abundant harvest and New Hampshire Made’s farmers, food artisans and small businesses! Reservations can be made online at 
“Trish brings a range of nonprofit management and business development skills to the organization,” NH Board Chair, Link Moser said. “Trish knows New Hampshire and will do a great job supporting the organization’s mission of strengthening New Hampshire’s economy by increasing the awareness and demand for NH made products and supporting programs local businesses need to grow.”
Yes, creating a “wick-it cool” eco-friendly soy candle that burns cleaner and longer than candles created with other types of wax has led to Wick-It Cool Candles being named the “Innovation Rocks!” award winner by the New Hampshire Business Resource Center for the month of February.