Small Business Spotlight

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WORDS BY Gillian Grefe

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Published on April 27, 2020

Small businesses like locally owned bars, restaurants, salons and more have felt the impact of the coronavirus in untold ways. To help lift them up in a time of need, we’re spotlighting a few of our own favorite small businesses owned by Havenly clients all over the country, from Nashville to Minneapolis to Denver to Washington State.

You can support your favorite local spots safely by purchasing gift cards, ordering takeout or giving them a good review on social media (even moral support counts!).

Since we’re all going to need a good cut and color after this, enter Harlowe Salon: Harlowe is a full-service salon based in Minneapolis offering a range of cuts and color techniques, and putting the bridal ‘do in “I do”.

Owned by Havenly client Natalie, the salon serves up local coffee in its well-decorated, unpretentious space, leaving clients feeling relaxed, genuinely cared for, and known—not to mention looking fierce. With Harlowe’s help, you can keep your hair looking fresh at home, even if a Zoom meeting is the only place to go. The salon’s hair and beauty products are ready for shipping (and home delivery if you live within 5 miles of the salon!). Feel even better about your purchase as only cruelty-free, eco-luxe products make it onto the shelves.

What’s the most challenging aspect of your business right now? 

The most challenging part of this situation is to not have the human connection we are all so used to. We touch people every single day. We have an impact on our clients feeling good every single day. We miss our conversations and ‘catching up’ time with our clients so much.

What encourages you most these days? 

Being supported and mentioned by such an amazing company like Havenly really brings the spirits up of the Harlowe team!

What message would you like to share with others?

We are all independent stylists, so essentially that means we are all self-employed and the stylists rent a chair from me. I still do hair as well! The stylists have not made money now in 3 weeks. I have made the decision as owner to not charge rent to any of my stylists during this time through May 1, which is when we should be able to open the doors here in Minneapolis. I wanted to be the one who took the brunt of this and bare the weight, not my stylists. I feel thankful to be able to do this.

Andrew Will Winery was founded in 1989 by Chris Camarda. Now located in Vashon Island, Washington, this family owned winery produces minimal intervention wines—native yeast fermentations, no filtering or fining, and aged in French oak barrels—from multiple vineyards throughout the Columbia Valley in Washington State. 

Andrew Will is best known for its focus on red blends using the grape varietals Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Online orders are still happening—because we all know we could use some more wine during this time.

What’s the best way to support your family-owned winery right now? 

The best ways to support our business would be the continued purchase of wine through our website. We have a full online store that features all of our current wines over at www.andrewwill.com.

Englewood Grand is a neighborhood bar in Denver owned and run by Havenly clients Phil and Erika Zierke. This old-school watering hole serves up classic and contemporary cocktails, plus features live bands, karaoke and other events in a space tailor-made for the community.

How can patrons support your neighborhood bar? 

Shirts are for sale on our website. The sales from these shirts will help us pay a few of our bills, and we hope they will be a poignant reminder that all these closures aren’t the end of the world—they are global love in action.

What message do you want to share with others?

Neighborhood bars across the country sit empty. It’s a sacrifice we are making to protect our families, friends, and neighbors. While the shuttered businesses and isolated people may look like despair, this is actually what love looks like. The closed doors are, in reality, all your favorite watering holes crying out, in unison, “We love you.”

But first—coffee! Pollard Coffee is a family-owned roastery on Vashon Island in Washington State, taking pride in selecting the finest green coffee beans from around the world and carefully roasting them to perfection. 

What Robin Pollard started in 2011 as a one-woman operation taking orders, roasting on demand, and shipping out the same day, quickly grew into a family affair. In the summer of 2019, her son Daniel and daughter-in-law Shaylea joined the company and now do the lion’s share of roasting, shipping, and customer service.

What’s the best way to support Pollard and other family-owned coffee roasters like you? 

Since many of our wholesale accounts, such as restaurants and coffee shops, have had to shutdown and cancel orders, we now, more than ever, are dependent on online coffee orders. We keep our website up to date with the latest offerings and we also do custom blends. 

What encourages you most these days?

We are incredibly grateful for the continued support from our customers and take solace in the fact that our coffee brings a bit of pleasure in these trying times.

Splurge is a one-of-a-kind boutique in Pittsburgh owned by interior designer Kym Pelcher. Offering a curated selection of home decor and gift merchandise from cozy essentials like candles to glam handbags and jewelry, Splurge is the boutique with a little something for everyone. 

Kym loves to make each shopper feel cared for and loved, wrapping every purchase in stunning gift bags and boxes with orange grosgrain bows—because sometimes we all deserve to splurge a little (whether it’s for you or Mom, we won’t tell!)

What’s the most challenging part of your business right now? 

It’s really challenging not knowing how long we will have to remain closed. But in the uncertainty, we have had so many people passionate about supporting us.

How can folks support Splurge?

Mother’s Day is coming up—or maybe you just need a gift for you. Buy gift cards and shop merchandise from our website at www.splurge-shop.com!

How are you finding encouragement?

It means the world to me to know that people truly care enough about small businesses to help us all survive this. I just know when this is all over, our store will be full of good energy and lots of customers! They think we’re pretty essential.

We’re all spending time staring at the walls these days—so why not make them prettier to look at? High Fancy Paper creates high quality prints, paper goods and textiles with personality and a unique sense of style right in Nashville, Tennessee. Owned by Bekah Wertz, High Fancy Paper thrives on creating products that celebrate life and foster a sense of belonging. 

Planning your Zoom wedding or waiting for when this is all over? Alert your guests with custom wedding invitations, as well.  

What hurdles are you facing? 

The most challenging aspect to my business right now is figuring out how to adapt with the limitations of these times to create meaningful products that meet people’s needs.

What keeps you feeling positive these days? 

Calls, face times, walks with friends and family, and getting to share our personal experience in this global crisis reminds me I’m so not alone in it, and there’s no right way to feel or respond. I’ve also been helping a few friends style their homes from a distance—we’re sharing pictures of areas of our homes we’re reworking, and sending ideas of light fixtures, books or furniture to fill out the space.

How can patrons rally behind you?

Shop my online shop! I just launched a “Choose What you Pay” campaign for the custom home illustrations, my most favorite thing I create. We are now offering a “Pay What You Can” option for our home illustrations, as a way to make giving a thoughtful gift more accessible in these weird times.

Words by Avery Johnson