It’s time to celebrate the dreamers and doers, the shakers and makers, the American Dream believers and guarantors. Small Business Week (May 12-16, 2014) is an opportunity (and reminder) to recognize the forces of innovation and endurance that have always defined our great nation.
Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has… [recognized] the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year. (SBA.gov)
The Essex, NY region enjoys a long history of entrepreneurship, so I’m hoping that you can help us recognize past and present businesses and business leaders who shape our heritage.
Recommend an Essex Business
Please use the comment section below, the Essex, NY Facebook page or the Twitter feed to share your own personal recommendation(s) for Essex area businesses that deserve to be recognized. Consider both the sung and the unsung heroes of our local economy and community. Celebrate the present, but don’t forget to honor the past.
Let’s see how many small businesses and small business leaders we can come up with. Perhaps we can even dig up some new business that haven’t yet been featured on Essex on Lake Champlain and/or some artifacts of enterprises past that we can feature on the website.
Tips for Small Businesses
Probably the most important reminder for all of us is to patronize our local Essex small businesses as loyally and frequently as we can. Box stores and e-commerce offer rock bottom pricing, but they don’t nurture or preserve the fabric of our communities. While it may not always be possible to favor Essex-based small businesses, it often is. And the rewards are bountiful!
And in the spirit of keeping it local, remember that the Essex blog and the Essex Events Calendar offer many ways for local small businesses to cultivate stronger relationships with the community. Please contact us to discuss convenient ways for your business to use both. We would love to help you succeed!
In honor of Small Business Week Google offered some additional tips to make it a little easier for small businesses to leverage the internet. Here are a couple of my favorites:
- Get on the web Make it easy for people to find and learn about your business on Google Search and Maps with a free Google+ page.
- Say more with video Sometimes seeing is believing. Show off your products or share your best ice cream recipe with a video on YouTube.
- Find new customers With an easy-to-create ad, you can reach people at the very moment they’re searching for the stuff you offer.
- See who’s coming and going Check out how many people visit your website and what they do when they get there. (Google)
As a final “tip”, I’d like to close with an encouraging reminder to forge onward. Stay the course. Keep the faith… At the risk of sounding patronizing (and facile), I think it’s worth acknowledging that these are extremely challenging times for entrepreneurs, especially entrepreneurs in rural America. We live in a time of dramatic flux, and small business owners and employees are increasingly compelled to adapt with agility and creativity. Again and again. And yet, many longstanding local businesses endure and new enterprises continue to sprout. The Essex area is blooming with innovative, persistent entrepreneurs. Thank you for continuing to invest in our community.
Essex Small Business Recommendations
I’ll get the ball rolling by recommending the Committee for Economic Vitality in Essex (CEVE). While CEVE is not a small business in the strictest sense, this germinal alliance of local businesses, communities and other civic organizations is already making exciting inroads, devising resourceful strategies for regional promotion and collaboration. A rising tide will lift all ships!
Who/what do you recommend?
Emily Gardner Phillips says
Love this post George!! Sharing in all the social media nooks I can!
G.G. Davis, Jr. says
Fantastic, Emily. Thanks! Which prompts another OBVIOUS (and super exciting) addition to the list. I recommend Phillips Art Conservation Studio as another inspiring Essex small business. Congratulations! 🙂
Emily Gardner Phillips says
Thank you!!! 🙂
Lanai Monahan says
I would recommend a pair of local farms that help us in our business, even though they are outside of the Essex area. Fledging Crow Farms in Keeseville and Juniper Hill Farms in Wadhams. They are two groups of the hardest working people I know, who strive to provide amazing products and also great friendships.
G.G. Davis, Jr. says
Thanks, Lanai for recommending two inspiring Essex “neighbors”. Exactly the sorts of small businesses I’m talking about! Congrats, Fledging Crow and Juniper Hills Farm CSA!
Michelle says
Summit Acupuncture Is a N.E.W. Mover & Shaker in the Essex Community. “Strengthening The Community By Keeping You Well” Melissa Maki, thank you for your service!
G.G. Davis, Jr. says
Appreciate your recommendation, Michelle. Three cheers for Melissa Maki’s Summit Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine! (Rumor has it I *might* finally get up the courage to get needled…)
Melissa Maki says
Wow! Thank you so much Michelle & George! I’ve been thinking about this since I saw the blog yesterday. There are so many local resources that I think about & I can’t pick just one. I will give a definite shout-out to Sarah Noll who does anything outside (painting, cutting down trees, lawn work and landscaping) as well as inside. She’s been a life-saver for me and also did all the painting and varnish work in my office at NEW Health. Charlene Lobdell & Cindy Sherman who you see out and about doing lawn work and landscaping. All of these women work extremely hard in all kinds of weather. On the farmer front I love Essex Farms and Reber Rock and am so thankful they both have great farm stands that are available daily when I need something! On the health front I must give huge thanks to both NEW Health & Lake Champlain Yoga & Wellness. Both have amazing practitioners available and I’ve used them all I think 🙂 The best quote came this winter from a client who was told by a friend that she should drive down to Saratoga to partake in the spas to help with the winter blues. Her response was “Why should I drive all the way down there when we have organic facials, massage and acupuncture right here in Essex? I can have my spa services here & then sleep in my own bed.” Rock on Essex, Rock on.
G.G. Davis, Jr. says
Rock on, Melissa! Rock on! 🙂 There ARE so many local resources, and I’m thrilled to have just learned some new ones from your comment: Sarah Noll, Charlene Lobdell and Cindy Sherman. Do you know how to contact these industrious women? I know there are people looking for their services. In fact, I’d like to connect with them myself to see if any of them might be a match for us.
Psyched to see recommendations for Essex Farms and Reber Rock too. Plus the perfect balance to all that local food, NEW Health and Lake Champlain Yoga & Wellness will keep you healthy and happy. Life is good in this industrious Adirondack village on the shores of Lake Champlain, no? Rock on Essex! Rock on!
Michelle Maron says
Thanks Melissa and George for the nice plug for Lake Champlain Yoga & Wellness! Since we opened in October we have had over 836 community members come in for Yoga, Yoga Therapy, Acupuncture, Massage or an Organic Facial! Wow… a huge thank you to the entire Essex, Westport, Willsboro, Keeseville, Plattsburgh community for all your support! And, thank you to NEW Health down the road as they are such a compliment to what we offer! We are so lucky to have such amazing, talented practitioners in both places!
Oh, and I LOVE Neighborhood Nest… with the sweet paintings, photos and Barbara’s great style!
Love doing business in Essex!
Sharon Boisen says
Fantastic idea George!
I would like to celebrate four wonderful businesses and owners for their offers and their staying power (over a century accumulatively!). In reverse alphabetical order they are…
– Wade’s Woodworks, Mary Wade
– Neighborhood Nest, Barbara Page
– Cupola House – Donna Sonnett
– Adirondack Art Association, AAABoard
Many thanks to ALL the small businesses in Essex. You make our town shine
G.G. Davis, Jr. says
These are wonderful recommendations! And celebrating the endurance and longevity of these Essex businesses is a great idea. All four have woven themselves into the timeless tapestry that draws residents and visitors to Essex, and I hope that all four will continue to thrive long into the future. Here’s one of several posts we’ve published on Mary Wade’s quintessentially Essex boutique: Wade’s Wood and Crafts. Here’s a link to Barbara Page’s charming Neighborhood Nest chock full of unique artistic and decorative creations. Donna Sonnett’s Cupola House guest house and vacation rentals command singularly dramatic Lake Champlain views, and her boutique showcases a curated collection of antiques, arts and books. And the Adirondack Art Association celebrates the artists that live (and vacation) in our creative corner of the Adirondacks. They certainly do “make our town shine”! Thanks, Sharon.
Kathleen Morse - Lakeside School says
I’ve got two food related shout outs this morning. One is to Dogwood Bakery, at your service for fresh wood-fired baked breads, pizza’s and yummy treats to go with your morning (or afternoon) late and Andrea Connor who makes delicious jams. I think her business is Adirondack Berry Co. Oh, and Essex Inn for their phenomenal local food! They just did a fantastic brunch as a benefit for Lakeside School and it was superb. Thanks for keeping us happy and fed.
G.G. Davis, Jr. says
Food! Bravo, Kathleen. You’ve just reminded me that it’s mid-morning snack time. 🙂 Dogwood Bread Company (aka Dogwood Bakery) in Wadhams is edible paradise. And missing out on pizza night remains the toughest part of being diagnosed with gluten and dairy intolerance almost three years ago… I loved those pizzas! As for Andrea Connor, I believe that her business is called From the Ground Up and she produces local jams, syrups, organic strawberries and rhubarb. I’ll try to contact her to see if there’s a number or other info we can share.
And then there’s the simply delicious Essex Inn! I enjoyed a decadent dinner there last night, and each time is better than the last time. Keith and Lanai are creative, hardworking, always welcoming and incredibly receptive to suggestions and requests. We’re lucky indeed to have such a topnotch year round restaurant in Essex.
Katharine Preston says
How about Full and By Farm? Great veggies, meat, dairy and even some grains, all with horse power. Whoo hoo! And the Essex Ice Cream Cafe (hope it opens SOON!)
G.G. Davis, Jr. says
Yes! More food. 🙂 Thanks, Katharine, for celebrating Full and By Farm‘s healthy, tasty, year-round local food. We’re happy members for years, and always, always pleased. Yesterday’s perfect weather had me wondering when the Essex Ice Cream Cafe will open for the season. Is there such a thing as an ice cream dance? Perhaps we can will it open?
Janice Koenig says
Got one, George! Many of you will not know it, but my buddy Linda Carson has recently re-started her Flower Witch Farm. She grows her own perennials in her cool vintage greenhouse, and designs exquisite gardens throughout our area. She apprenticed under a well-known landscape architect and has an amazing eye for design. Her greenhouse is on School St in Essex.
G.G. Davis, Jr. says
I’m excited to learn about Linda Carson’s Flower Witch Farm. Thanks, Janice. Is she open for drop-ins or would it be better to call ahead? Would be nice to get some more information a run a full post. Please feel free to pass along our interest.
Katie Shepard says
Wow, so many great recommendations already—including some I had not known about! Hope to see many more of those!
I don’t know if you’d classify a library as a business, but I think the Belden Noble Memorial Library deserves a shout out for providing Essex with a wonderful supplement of books (and movies and books on tape) as well as hosting many great events! The Wadhams Free Library and Paine Memorial Library (in Willsboro) are also great local resources and hubs of knowledge.
I’ll also mention a Willsboro business that has some news. Willsboro Outdoor World provides fishing, hunting, and camping equipment—my brother has already been there a few times this spring to get some new lures. I just heard that they are now able to to provide DEC hunting and fishing licenses.
G.G. Davis, Jr. says
Perfect additions, Katie. Tom Mangano has done an outstanding job of revitalizing and programming the Belden Noble Library. The historic building has once again become a hub of the community. And we’re spoiled indeed to have two more well resourced, well programmed libraries in Wadhams and Willsboro.
Glad to hear that Willsboro Outdoor World is selling licenses. Reminds me that it’s time to get a new fishing license and dig out my fly rod…
Kathleen Morse - Lakeside School says
Yes! From the Ground Up. Been racking my brain all day trying to remember that. Thanks George.
G.G. Davis, Jr. says
You bet. Thank YOU! I’ve sent Andrea Connor an email to find out how best to connect hungry jam lovers.
Melissa Maki says
Oh gosh I’ve remembered some others! A gluten-free gratitude shout-out to Ernie’s in Westport. Just discovered they make GF muffins and bread! Plus they carry a GF beer that I’ve heard is the best called Omission. Also B&B beef in Essex, run by Scott Bridge. It’s organic in all ways except the huge price-tag that’s attached to buy the name “organic!” His beef jerky sticks can now be found at the Country Store in Willsboro and he sells ground beef and beef cuts direct from his farm. Yum!
G.G. Davis, Jr. says
Wow, Melissa, you’re fire! Don’t stop now. 😉 As a fellow gluten free (plus dairy free… Eeek!) resident, I’m always looking for local options to satisfy my cravings. And I can personally vouch for the delicious GF baked goods (amazing bread!) from Ernies. And did you know that The Pink Pig also sometimes offers GF baked goods? Right in the heart of Essex! Yum.
I’m lucky enough to have won a gift certificate for some B&B Beef during the NEW Health opening, and I’ve been saving it up for spring grilling. Thanks for the reminder. You’re making me hungry.
Rebecca Palmer says
Thank you George for generating community camaraderie with the reminder of being grateful for our area local small businesses!! What a great sharing of information!
I am so appreciative for the fearless, tireless and enthusiastic business owners that share their passion for turning their love into not a job or a career but a life style for all of us to experience and benefit from! Thank you to all the entrepreneurs, business owners and people that work with these businesses to create so many amazing choices in our communities. Below is a non-profit organization and a few businesses that contribute ease, peacefulness, saving of time and happiness in my life.
• Flying Pancakes, Farm-to-Fridge meals by Susie Smith, leafsounds@yahoo.com, AMAZING, ROCK STAR, Take a deep breath and exhale gratitude to be able to eat Susie’s home-made, farm-to-fridge meals…really I can’t even put into words how delicious her BBQ Pork and Beef, Spicy Slaw, Au Gratin potatoes, Italian Sausage and Polenta, Chicken in Basil Coconut Curry, Bacon Corn Hash, Shepard’s Pie with Purple potatoes are….I could go on….ok, I will….this food is like Genie in a bottle good! Ok, I’ll stop, but I can’t stop…a thank you times infinity for feeding my belly, providing yummy Gluten Free meal options and allowing me to eat with no clean up or dishes to clean…I really dislike doing dishes:–)
• Champlain Area Trails (CATS), creates and maintains hiking and cross-country ski trails in the Champlain Valley. Over 35 miles of trails to date. This non-profit organization is an example that a single vision can take hold of surrounding communities to create smiles, appreciation for our local land, honor nature and connect people! Hiking is one of my great joys in life. Thank you to all the creative minds that had the vision, stuck with the vision, volunteers that built the trails and maintain them today and the generous souls that donate money to give an everlasting gift to generations to come! CATS trail maps can be found at various municipalities and businesses or go to their website at http://www.champlainareatrails.com/about-us/ to find out more information. I heard a rumor that there will be another 14 mile hike in October…sign me up:–)
• Emily Abruzzi, Yoga, 518-962-8555, http://www.thebreathingbody.com/, so after eating meals from Flying Pancakes throughout the week and hiking the CATS trails I am grateful for Emily’s calming Yoga class on Wednesday mornings in Essex to bring my body to a place of rest and balance and my mind to a place of Zen. I am grateful that even though she leads an entire class she caters to the individual in her class and goes at their pace. I leave Emily’s class peaceful, a feeling that can often be challenging to capture with day to day work schedules and life’s routine. Namaste…..
G.G. Davis, Jr. says
Outstanding, Rebecca! Thanks for your amazing comments and suggestions. With contact information. And overviews and reviews. I’d say it’s high time you become a regular contributor to the Essex blog. 🙂
I’m a big fan of all three businesses you listed. Emily Abruzzi has been sorting out my knots and kinks for a couple of years. Best massage therapist we’ve ever had. And one of the kindest, calmest souls I’ve ever met. CATS is a personal favorite. It’s transformative vision — finding and nurturing common ground between outdoor enthusiasts, nature conservationists, farmers, local businesses and municipal governments — was celebrated beautifully with the Grand Hike. I look forward to more and more connectivity that will in turn catalyze the growth of sustainable area businesses to support trekkers, birders, etc. Exciting times!
And Susie Smith’s Flying Pancakes sounds like a dream come true. I’ve enjoyed her Scat and DAK Bars for quite some time, and I just dined on her tasty local fair during a recent Essex Community Fund / Adirondack Foundation co-hosted workshop at the Grange. Wonderful food full of smiles! I look forward to trying her GF farm-to-fridge meals.
tom duca says
Essex is blessed with a plethora of fantastic businesses and workers most of whom have already been listed by others…. Cindy Sherman was mentioned, but not her husband, Gary. What about CFES? And Jon Pribble excavating? Ron Jackson and Danny Sweatt’s new maple sugar operation? How about all the great building contractors who live in Essex like Steve Fletcher and Livingston Bailey and Sharpe Swan. The Local Realtors like, Jen Pribble and Lauren Murphy…. (and can we get John David and Denise Wilson’s environmental work in there somehow?) thank you George for all your great work, tom
G.G. Davis, Jr. says
Yes, yes, yes! 😀 Way to go, Tom. Thanks for filling in so many gaps. Excellent recommendations, and I’d love to wax on about all of the ones I’ve personally experienced, but too much on the To Do list this morning, so I’ll just add in some contact information (if I have it) for those who are interested. College for Every Student (CFES), Jonathan Pribble Excavating, Sharpe Swan’s Cloudsplitter Carpentry, Lauren Murphy’s Heritage Properties of the Adirondacks, Jennifer Pribble, Wildways Trekker John Davis… That’s what I can find right now. Tom, if you (or anyone else) can fill in some of the gaps, please add a comment. Thanks!
James Graves says
Wonderful list here! What an inspiring town to call home! May I put in a plug for another Essex business dedicated to good food? Farmstead Catering (farmsteadcatering.com — check it out, also on facebook). Dillon Klepetar offers a complete farm to table event catering service, particularly suited to wedding celebrations mindful of health and place. Based on some of the fine creations I’ve enjoyed from Dillon’s kitchen, this will be top-notch delicious and local!
Katie Shepard says
Wow, another great local food venture. I thought I’d add in the links for easy navigation. Here’s the Farmstead Catering website and here’s their Facebook page. Go check them out!
Emily Gardner Phillips says
Wow, so many of my faves already listed!!!!
Ok, I’ve reflected on my recommendations and I’m going to tic-tac-toe three here.
First, as close to home as I can get. My father’s business, Gardner’s Plumbing and Heating. Aside from the familial relationship, Alan Gardner is without a doubt one of the most talented mechanical minds I have ever met. He’s always up for a challenge and putting the customer’s needs first.
Second, John and Laura Doyle. They have done incredible work to rehab one of my most favorite buildings in Essex, the stone Emporium building (still dream of those huge vats of jelly belly jelly beans…) and I love seeing the progress on the McGraw house on LakeShore Dr.
Which brings me to my third, that lives in my favorite building, The Pink Pig and Deb Schrodt. Deb is always willing to try new things to accommodate the community and I am always able to find that special something for a special someone at her shop. Beyond the beautiful linens and shabby chic decor for sale, she provides flowers, a hot cup of coffee, or a jug of maple syrup from our local farms.
Alan Gardner was called to an emergency sewer pipe break, in the newly restored stone building that is owned by John and Laura Doyle, so that Deb’s Pink Pig could find you what you need.
Tic- Tac- Toe.
P.S. All of you, get to a CEVE meeting, we are making strides!!!
G.G. Davis, Jr. says
Tic-tac-toe! Great recommendations, Emily, and ever clever of you with the final anecdote, an important reminder that community is built on the relationships and connections between the many local service providers and businesses. And speaking of your father, we’d love to set up a page featuring Gardner’s Plumbing and Heating. Do you think you can help us get information? And for anyone looking for more information about The Pink Pig, please visit the website: http://www.pinkpigwestport.com
Ani Anderson says
And let’s not forget the Mac Man, Ken Hughes! Without him many of us wouldn’t even be able to write these posts because our computers would be waiting for repair over at Small Dog in Burlington! Aside from keeping my computer in working order, Ken has taught me how to use many programs, including imovie and photoshop, both of which I use near daily in order to run NEW health and Ascent Wellness. Thank you Mac Man!
G.G. Davis, Jr. says
Thank you, Ani. Thank you, Ken. The most upbeat/energetic personality to venture into tech coaching [possibly] ever! 🙂 For those seeking Mac assistance, you can connect with the Mac Man via his MacAdemy website: http://www.macademy.biz Which reminds me of another local tech resource. Check out Beth Schiller’s CVWireless for local wireless internet access. Her website is http://www.cv-wireless.com.
Racey Bingham says
Don’t forget the Mace Chasm effect in Keeseville, where Mace Chasm Farm, North Country Creamery and Ausable Brewing Company can all be found within walking distance of each other. NCC’s café should be opening soon for lunchs and events. ANCA just did a great article on them: http://www.adirondack.org/Farm-Neighbors/. NCC yogurt and cheese are sold at the Reber Rock Farm Store and Dogwood Bakery.
G.G. Davis, Jr. says
Thanks for the link to ANCA’s article, Racey. Good stuff! And thanks for spreading the News on Ausable Brewing Company. Would love to learn more about this. Found them on FB and Tumbler and will see what I can learn. Website: http://ausablebrewing.tumblr.com
Bruce Stephan says
Submitted via email by Bruce Stephan: “My favorite small business is Tom Duca. He does amazing work, has an incredible client server personality, is dependable, and goes way above and beyond to exceed expectations.”
Dillon Klepetar says
Thanks James for the recommendation. Yes, Essex proper is full of small business entrepreneurs who are filling niches that larger companies have attempted to absorb in the past several decades. I’m not sure I saw a pitch here for CV Wireless run by Beth Schiller who provides the fastest internet around using her own towers. Many colloquially know CV Wireless as “Beth-Net” which is a testament to how local business is a much more personal and locally grounded experience. There is also Andy Wekin’s Pedal Power. Him and his business partner are attempting to extend the resource-conservation and efficiency characteristics of the bicycle to applications ranging from farming to electricity generation. They recently hit it big with an article in Outside Magazine that featured one of their machines.
Kathleen Morse - Lakeside School says
Turning my mind to the music scene. We have our own Grammy Award Winning Jazz musician, Taylor Haskins, over in Westport. He’s phenomenal! Then there’s Ploughman’s Lunch (which I have been calling Farmer’s Brunch, whoops) and the Wadhams’ Waddlers (which one of Lakeside’s second graders just told me they’re a mix of Wadhams and Vermont natives who play fiddle, guitar, banjo, bazooka… no, no the one that sounds like brrrrrzzz oh yes, kazoo, and bass).
Bobbi Paye says
Well, if you want an excellent partner in finding and maintaining good health, how about Melissa Maki of Summit Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine at the New Health Building. As for needles, George, you’ll not have to worry with Melissa’s needling technique.
While this blog is about celebrating those businesses that are here, I’m not aware of any that specialize in preparing or serving gluten free product as part of their regular menu!
janellen fortune says
hi George.. I have two more small businesses…..Emment Carter and Hall Design Group……both very talented