Coffee at the Barre

If you've never been to the world-renowned Currier Museum of Art right here in the heart of Manchester, this episode will surely inspire you to visit! Corinne Benfield is the Director of Community Partnerships and Membership at the museum, and has been working to engage the community and spread the word that the museum is open to all. Corinne began her career at the Currier, then worked for the Greater Manchester Chamber for a few years, but her passion for art and community led her back to the Currier Museum a few months ago. She says that finding a way to break down the barriers to art is her "guiding star," and in her short time in her role she has begun to do just that! Listen as Corinne takes us through a history of the museum, some of the events and programs they host, and highlights some interesting items in their collection. Be sure to check out Art After Work every Thursday from 5-8pm for live music in the Winter Garden Café and free admission to the galleries!Today's episode of Coffee at the Barre is sponsored by our friends Ethos & Able Creative! You can visit them at eacreative.co, email dante@eacreative.co, or text Dante at (781) 710-2294.

Small business owners know better than anyone that we all need organization in our lives, and this week we have the perfect solution! Lauren McCall hatched the idea for Simplify by Lauren during her time working as a teacher and personal assistant. Simplify has been in business for 9 months, and has since become Lauren's full time career! She started spreading the word through social media and referrals, and was able to hire 3 additional employees. Simplify has grown incredibly quickly in such a short amount of time. Lauren has a unique approach and goes in depth with clients to find out their wants and needs in an organized space, even down to her little clients' playrooms. As Lauren continues to expand Simplify, she has kept her mission of building a sense of community at the forefront of everything she does. Simplify offers free consultations in MA & NH! Email simplifybylauren@gmail.com for more information! Today's episode of Coffee at the Barre is sponsored by our friends Ethos & Able Creative! You can visit them at eacreative.co, email dante@eacreative.co, or text Dante at (781) 710-2294.

Today we are joined by a leader in the restaurant and catering industry! Keri Laman started Tidewater Catering in 2000 and is celebrating 22 years in business this year. Keri takes us through the history of her company and highlights what it takes to maintain and grow a successful business. She credits her success to her problem solving skills, and she discusses the need to take calculated risks to grow your business. Keri started the company as strictly a catering service, but in 2005 was presented with the opportunity to expand into corporate cafes. Today, Keri owns and operates Tidewater Catering Group, party services, 5 corporate cafes, the Riverside Room event space, and 2 retail cafes, Waterworks Café and Unity Café. She is about to re-open Bayona Café in a new location, and all of her businesses are located in Manchester, NH! Be sure to visit Keri's amazing cafés and get in touch with Tidewater for your next event!Today's episode of Coffee at the Barre is sponsored by our friends Ethos & Able Creative! You can visit them at eacreative.co, email dante@eacreative.co, or text Dante at (781) 710-2294.

Alex has some big news to share on today's episode...Join us as Ashley and Alex talk all about Café la Reine's second location! Alex has been working on this project since the beginning of the year, and is excited to finally announce Café la Reine - North End! The new restaurant is located at 53 Hooksett Road in the former Blake's Restaurant. CLR North End will feature a brunch and lunch menu, a full bar, and the full coffee, espresso, and tea menu from the downtown location. Alex anticipates opening in August! Stay tuned, and keep your eye on social for exact opening dates. If you are interested in working at either location, please send your resume and availability to alex@cafelareine.com.  See you there!Today's episode of Coffee at the Barre is sponsored by our friends Ethos & Able Creative! You can visit them at eacreative.co, email dante@eacreative.co, or text Dante at (781) 710-2294.

Today's episode features a unique and new business in Manchester! Kelley-Sue LeBlanc, known to most as KSL, was inspired to open The Sleazy Vegan food truck after experiencing a lack of plant-based options in restaurants, bars and breweries. She has a background in tech and photography, but is super passionate about making whole food, plant-based (WFPB) meals approachable and accessible. Prior to COVID, KSL was working with SNHU on a study to see if Manchester, NH would support a WFPB restaurant. The idea was put on the back-burner until late 2021 when an opportunity to rent a kitchen space popped up! The Sleazy Vegan opened for business on April 1, 2022. They just purchased their first food truck, named "Aggie," and she will be on the road within the next few weeks!  Follow them on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Tik Tok to find out where the truck will be next. Order online for weekly delivery, and be sure to check out their catering menu!Today's episode of Coffee at the Barre is sponsored by our friends Ethos & Able Creative! You can visit them at eacreative.co, email dante@eacreative.co, or text Dante at (781) 710-2294.

Today's episode features a staple in the Greater Manchester community.  Alyssa Van Guilder opened Apotheca Flowers in Goffstown, NH 17 years ago this year! Alyssa grew up in Alaska where her parents owned and operated a cafe. She saw their experience as entrepreneurs, and used this to shape her inspiration for Apotheca. "Apotheca" is latin for storehouse or variety, and the company's mission is to, "acknowledge, uplift, inspire, and impact." You may know Apotheca as a flower shop and cafe, but the business has expanded to include wedding flowers, wedding venues, and a design house.  Alyssa is a self-taught flower designer and artist and she approaches flowers in an art-driven way. Apotheca's design house is located in Goffstown and is used for wedding flowers and events. Alyssa and her team are excited to announce a new event space at the Factory on Willow! The Gardens at the Factory on Willow will host weddings and events designed by Apotheca Flowers. We hope you draw some inspiration from this episode, and give Apotheca a visit next time you're in Goffstown! Today's episode of Coffee at the Barre is sponsored by our friends Ethos & Able Creative! You can visit them at eacreative.co, email dante@eacreative.co, or text Dante at (781) 710-2294.

Today's episode features one of our favorite small businesses, 27 Teas! 27 Teas is an online tea and herbal tisane company located in New Hampshire. Margaret Gay left the corporate world in 2018 to pursue her passion for loose leaf tea. In visiting cafes, she felt as though coffee drinkers had many options for special drinks, but tea and tea drinkers were mostly overlooked. Margaret's company focuses on adding value and options for cafes, as well as educating her customers on the benefits of loose leaf tea versus tea bags. 27 Teas gives back by donating a percentage of profits to The Water Project, located in Concord, NH. Sign up for their monthly tea subscription here! You can also find 27 Teas at Café la Reine, and a few other coffee shops and cafés in the area. Today's episode of Coffee at the Barre is sponsored by our friends Ethos & Able Creative! You can visit them at eacreative.co, email dante@eacreative.co, or text Dante at (781) 710-2294.

This week's episode features a must-try on the West Side, Presto Craft Kitchen! Joe Grella owns Presto along with his family, and was inspired by his restaurant experience to open this family-style takeout spot. After experiencing the hustle of high end restaurants, hotels, kitchens, and more, Joe wanted to create a place that was approachable and family focused. Joe and his wife started a catering business, Custom Eats and Sweets, and were looking for a commissary kitchen in the Manchester area. When they found their space on the West Side, they knew they had to bring some vibrance back to their neighborhood. Presto Craft Kitchen was born out of a love for family, quality ingredients, and the hope to create a community hub. Joe and his family have done just that! We hope you enjoy learning more about Presto Craft Kitchen. Be sure to visit them at 168 Amory St. and follow them on Facebook & Instagram! Today's episode of Coffee at the Barre is sponsored by our friends Ethos & Able Creative! You can visit them at eacreative.co, email dante@eacreative.co, or text Dante at (781) 710-2294.

Today's episode features a favorite among Manchester's small businesses, Ethos & Able Creative! Dante Marino started EAC in 2020 with his brother, Vinny, after seeing so many of their small business friends struggle to afford, and actually enjoy, working with marketing and social media management companies. Dante wanted to create a business that could collaborate with small businesses and support them unlike any other agency. He is extremely passionate about working with and elevating the small, local businesses in our community, and has a knack for getting to know a brand inside and out.  Although EAC was started in 2020, they have worked with an incredible amount of small businesses, and have created an amazing reputation and name for themselves in a very short amount of time. They have truly made it their mission to encourage people to support small, locally owned businesses, and to help those businesses succeed. We learned so much and had so much fun talking with Dante! Ashley and Alex have both loved working with Ethos & Able Creative, and continue to work with them today. If you are interested in learning more, contact them here! 

Second Saturdays are here!Second Saturdays are a downtown small business driven initiative to bring awareness to the local business community.Look for specials, sales, events and more every second Saturday of the month!April is the first month and we anticipate this program to pick up attention and speed as the months go on. Some of the businesses involved include:Barre Life, Café la Reine, Diz's Cafe, Statement Boutique, AR Workshop, Shadow and Soul Emporium, Pop of Color, Adored, Diane Crespo FIne Art, Fisher Cats, Creative Framing Solutions, Smoothie Bus, Boards and Brews, HopKnot, The Bookery, Market Square Jewelers, Studio 550, The Terracotta Room, A&E Coffee and Tea, Thirsty Moose, Wild Orchid Bakery, Blush Beauty Boutique, and Studio Verne. Make sure you follow all of the amazing downtown businesses on social media to stay up to date with their events and deals this weekend. Support local this saturday, April 9!Ashley & Alex have a special cross promotion for this Saturday. Stop into Café la Reine and show that you took a class at Barre Life this Saturday for 20% off your cafe order. Screen shot and send your receipt to Barre Life showing you purchased from Café la Reine to receive 15% off a class pass.  See you Saturday!

We are so excited to welcome Lauren Wheeler of Flagship East Coast to the show! Flagship East Coast is an online shop featuring printed tees, sweatshirts, hats, and more with unique New England inspired designs, including the New England flag! Lauren creates and curates many of the designs herself, and has even added some knits, sweaters, and swimsuits to her collection. Lauren has worked in many industries from fashion to tech, and while she has enjoyed those experiences, she has always been passionate about entrepreneurship and owning her own business.  When COVID hit, Lauren was working from home with her two children, and realized that the time was right to open her shop. She opened Flagship East Coast as an online  store, which allows her the time to balance her work and family life, and to  work on designs for her shop. Lauren has generously gifted our listeners a discount code! Use code "COFFEEATTHEBARRE" for 15% off your order of $50 or more at checkout. The ski all over sweatshirt is Lauren's favorite item, so snag one for yourself today! 

We are so excited to have Brandie Wells on the show today! Brandie is a clairvoyant and psychic medium, and is the owner of Shadow & Soul Emporium. Shadow & Soul Emporium is a metaphysical retail store. It is unique because Shadow Emporium and Soul Emporium are actually two different shops. Brandie opened them to help people understand the complexity of metaphysics in a light and airy way by melding the shadow self with the soul self, and to bring tools of self healing to the Manchester and Keene, NH communities. Brandie opened the original Soul Emporium in Keene in 2018, and after receiving requests for additional products, she opened Shadow Emporium two doors down about a year ago.  Last summer while out to lunch with a friend, Brandie saw the space on Hanover Street and was called to open in downtown Manchester. Brandie's advice to aspiring small business owners is to find the need, fill the need, assess your competitors and see how you can complement them! We hope you visit Shadow & Soul Emporium soon, and be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with their many events coming up!

This week Ashley and Alex talk with Chris Tien, owner of the online boutique Alex & Theo! Alex & Theo showcases artisans that create their products in small batches. Chris likes to feature U.S. and International vendors, many of them woman owned, to help promote small artists and creators. Her online shop highlights vendors who use sustainable materials, pay fair wages, help women, and donate their profits to those in need.  After a cross-country move and a transition to remote work, her love for home decor led Chris to launch her business in 2020. You can find the cutest bohemian and Scandinavian home decor on her site, at pop up events, and at Wild Orchid Bakery on Elm St. Be sure to follow Alex & Theo on Instagram, and stay tuned for new products coming soon!

This week we have a brand new business on the show! Leah and Tom Bellemore are a husband and wife team who were inspired by their travels to open Vine 32. Vine 32 is a unique wine bar located in Bedford, NH. They feature wines from small boutique vineyards with a focus on sustainability and the experience of cultivating wine. Leah and Tom are in the process of opening, and expect to launch in early March! Leah has succeeded in designing an inviting and comfortable space that makes wine more approachable for the next generation of wine drinkers. Vine 32 will feature a rotating selection of 32 self-serve wines in as little as 1 oz pours, a tapas and charcuterie menu, and a rotating selection of local baked goods. Follow Vine 32 on Instagram and keep your eye out for their grand opening!

We're back after a brief January hiatus, and are ready to take on 2022 by welcoming SO many more small business owners to the podcast! Today we are joined by a special guest! Meaghan Peters is the owner of Crosby's Coffeehouse, located in Wrentham, MA. Meg and Alex were introduced by a mutual friend, and have maintained a long distance friendship throughout COVID and Meg's process of opening Crosby's. Once the podcast launched, Meg became an avid listener of Ashley and Alex's show, often messaging with questions about the topics we covered. We start this episode off by sharing Meg's inspiring story, and then we flip the script! Meg asks Ashley and Alex some burning business questions, and discusses the life and struggles of small business owners in this current climate. According to Meg, "It's one thing to say you want to support small business, and it's another thing to practice it daily."Thank you for listening! Stay tuned for new episodes every other Thursday, and be sure to send your questions and guest requests to coffeeatthebarre@gmail.com. 

Ashley and Alex close out 2021 with Boards & Brews! Boards & Brews is THE board game cafe in downtown Manchester, NH. Manchester natives Keating Tufts and David Casinghino opened the cafe three and a half years ago. They have created an inviting space that welcomes all, from serious board game enthusiasts to casual gamers.  Keating collected and stored games for about three years before opening Boards & Brews, and has amassed a collection of over 2,000 games. They truly have something for everyone! Boards & Brews has an extensive cocktail menu, specialty coffee, and plenty of snacks to accompany your game night. Walk-ins are welcome, and you can visit their website to book a reservation. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram for upcoming events, and be sure to stop in next time you're downtown! 

This week Ashley and Alex welcome Judi Window to the show! Judi and her husband, Gary "Diz" Window, are the owners of Diz's Cafe, an amazing addition to the downtown restaurant scene. They signed their lease on January 6, 2020, and opened on May 29 during the height of COVID. Judi is a 5th generation Manchester resident, and has an unmatched sense of love and pride for our great city! While Diz's might be fairly new, the Windows are no strangers to food service. Diz has worked in the food service industry since he was 16. He and Judi have been resident managers of several motels with full service restaurants, and have worked together in many food service roles throughout the years. Diz's Cafe is known for scratch-made comfort food, and great drinks with a family flair. When you dine at Diz's, your meal will be served on historic dinnerware that has been passed down through Judi's family. Some of the pieces are relics from the original Rex Theatre! Follow Diz's Cafe on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on the latest events and specials. We encourage you to visit Diz's Cafe for one of their ever-popular theme nights, or to enjoy mimosas and brunch on the weekends! 

This week Ashley and Alex have their first small business owner guest of season 2 on the show! Hillary Rankins is the owner of The Inside Scoop, an amazing local ice cream shop located in Bedford, NH. The Inside Scoop has become a staple in the Greater Manchester community, and they just celebrated 10 amazing years in business! Each year, the Scoop holds a toy drive in collaboration with New Hampshire based band Recycled Percussion, and they need your help! Now through December 20 you can donate unwrapped toys to fill the mobile storage unit parked at The Inside Scoop, 260 Wallace Rd. Bedford, NH. You can also Venmo monetary donations to @InsideScoopBedford, and Hillary will do the shopping for you! Thank you for listening, and for your generous donations. We hope you treat yourself to something sweet this holiday season at The Inside Scoop!

We're kicking off season 2 of Coffee at the Barre with our favorite day of the year, Small Business Saturday! Ashley and Alex talk all things small business with Cole Riel, Member Engagement Coordinator for the Greater Manchester Chamber. There are so many retail stores, restaurants, salons and spas offering some great deals this time of year. Stay up to date with the Chamber's blog post listing all of the Small Business Saturday deals you'll find in the Manchester area on Saturday, November 27. We encourage you to spend locally and shop small this holiday season!Coffee at the Barre is hosting a Small Business Saturday Bingo Challenge from Friday, November 26 - Sunday, November 28! Visit our Instagram, screenshot the bingo board, and complete the tasks to show your support for small business. Once you've completed a bingo, post to your story, tag @coffeeatthebarre, and you'll be entered to win an amazing prize pack including some fun and exciting items from some of our past guests! Good luck, and happy shopping! 

We are so excited to welcome more retail to downtown Manchester! Today Ashley and Alex talk with Leslie Boswak, owner of Lilac and Finch. Lilac and Finch is a cute new shop in the North end of Elm Street that is owned and operated by Leslie and her daughter, Stephanie.  After starting a body care business and renting a booth at the Mall of NH,  Leslie wanted to make her venture into retail more official with a permanent location downtown. Lilac and Finch opened in September of 2021! Leslie is passionate about bringing in hand-made items from New Hampshire, New England, and all over the U.S. Her experience as a maker inspires her to support small business and our local community each and every day. We hope you take some time to walk down Elm, and enjoy some local shopping at Lilac and Finch! 

As we get closer to the holiday season, the air is cooling, the trees are changing, and it's time to cozy up at home with your favorite scented candle! This week Ashley and Alex talk with Avery Stallings, owner and founder of Incandescent Co.  Avery started her candle company after becoming interested in the craft during the long COVID winter of 2020. She started experimenting with candle making in her mother's kitchen, and quickly went on to develop her brand! Incandescent Co. launched in March of 2021 and features non-toxic, clean burning, naturally scented soy candles that are available for purchase online, at craft fairs around the state, and at some local stores (including Café la Reine!). Follow Avery on Instagram to stay up to date, she releases new scents every season! 

Ashley and Alex spend today's episode reflecting and recapping the last almost year of the Coffee at the Barre podcast! Many of our guests have gone on to move, expand, and improve their businesses, all while surviving through a pandemic. There have been many lessons learned throughout the past year, and we learned that many of us share similar struggles as small business owners. Do you know a small business owner we should interview? Or maybe you'd like to come on the show!? Send us a dm, or email us at alex@cafelareine.com or office@barrelifenh.com. Cheers, thanks for listening!See below for links to businesses mentioned on this episode, and others we have interviewed!Greater Manchester ChamberManchvegas Brew BusSundar Esthetics and EnergyLoon ChocolateWild Orchid BakeryJLA AnalyticsThe Terracotta Room444 Hands Innately Integrative Massage and Energy TherapyLo Tide Clothing Co.NH Fisher CatsBonfire Country BarTo Share BrewingHop KnotIndustry EastSprout Law603 Charcuterie Beeze Tees Campo and Republic Shopper's Pub and Eatery Queen City CupcakesPop of ColorThe Shaskeen Irish PubThe Weekly Dion Radio ShowThe BookeryBarre LifeCafé la Reine

Ashley and Alex welcome Theresa Zwart, owner of 603 Charcuterie, to the show! Theresa started 603 Charcuterie with a single instagram post. With the encouragement and support of her friends and family, she launched on Christmas Eve, 2020, and is approaching one year in business! Theresa started out by selling charcuterie boards to order, and began teaching charcuterie classes over Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic. She now offers classes at her commercial kitchen space, and at local wineries, breweries, restaurants, and more! Theresa is currently working to take 603 Charcuterie to the next level by offering catering services, including single serve options, charcuterie cones, and grazing tables. She is also launching some brand new 603 Charcuterie merch very soon! You can follow 603 Charcuterie on Instagram and Facebook. Sign up for an upcoming class, and treat yourself to a night of meat, cheese, wine, and fun! 

This week we are joined by Mike LaCava and Nick Carnes from Shopper's Pub & Eatery! Shopper's opened in July of 2019, but the pub has a long history. Mike's family opened Shopper's in Waltham, MA, back in 1937. Mike met Manchester native Kyle York, whose family owned Indian Head Athletics, back in college. When the store closed, Kyle approached Mike about opening Shopper's in their building, and the rest is history! The space includes memorabilia from Indian Head, the city of Manchester, and Shopper's in Waltham. Shopper's claim to fame is their pizza, Nick says they make the best in Manchester! Be sure to try the Sicilian pizza, the wings, and order from their huge craft beer selection.  While you're there, enjoy the 20 TVs, Keno, Golden Tee, Lawn Darts, the patio, and claim your table for Trivia with Bill Seney every Tuesday night at 7pm! 

Welcome back! This week we are joined by Nicole Swartz, owner and lead attorney at Sprout Law.  Nicole specializes in trademark law, and her company guides clients through the trademark process from start to finish! Nicole attended Tulane Law School, started a skincare business, and was inspired by her experience in that business to help other women protect their businesses and their brands. She started Sprout Law about six years ago, and has been helping people all over the country trademark their brand names, logos, tag-lines and hashtags ever since! Nicole has a passion for starting and running businesses, and has made it her mission to make sure women protect their brands. Be sure to follow Sprout Law on Instagram for trademark and branding tips, and to stay up to date on the most recently filed celebrity trademarks! If you are interested in working with Nicole, apply for a free trademark consultation. Thank you for listening! 

We are so excited to finally welcome Kenny Frasch to the show! Kenny owns The Hop Knot in downtown Manchester, NH. He re-opened the bar and restaurant two years ago after the original owners closed the franchise. Kenny and his family saw the perfect opportunity to take this turn-key restaurant and make it an important part of our community.  The restaurant is no longer a franchise, it is truly a family owned and family run business! True to its name, pretzels are the theme at The Hop Knot. The menu features pretzel buns, pretzel bowls, knot dogs, stuffed pretzels, and pretzel pizzas. Be sure to try a pretzel with cool ranch seasoning! Kenny hosts many events at The Hop Knot, including Trivia on Thursdays with Bill Seney and monthly drag shows. Be sure to follow The Hop Knot on Instagram, and stop in for pretzels and a pint! 

This week we have Peter Macone on the show! Pete is a partner in two downtown staples, Republic Cafe and Campo Enoteca. Republic celebrated 10 years in 2019, and  was one of the first farm-to-table restaurants in the state. Campo opened in 2014, and features an Italian and Roman menu, including house made pastas and breads. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they made the decision to move the two restaurants under one roof. Republic & Campo are both located at 969 Elm St. in downtown Manchester, NH. Pete discusses his restaurant's take on farm-to-table cuisine, his hopes for downtown Manchester, and his love of the Manchester restaurant community. You can find Pete at the restaurant nightly, or on the weekends as a reggae DJ, @dj_ras1, at some of his favorite local breweries. Be sure to follow Republic and Campo, and stop in for an amazing dinner, drink, or dessert! 

This week Ashley and Alex chat with Jeremy Hart and Dan Haggerty, owners of Industry East!  Industry East is not your typical bar. Jeremy and Dan describe it as a place that they would like to hang out after work, and designed it with the service industry in mind. The bar opened on February 2, 2021, but they secured the space back in July of 2019. Jeremy and Dan walk us through what it was like to work on opening during COVID, and some of the unique challenges they faced with permitting and finances throughout the process. Be sure to check out their ever-changing cocktail and food menus, and follow them on Instagram for weekly specials! 

This week Ashley and Alex discuss how to continue supporting your favorite local businesses, even "post-COVID." Time and time again we've heard "I used to love that place, it's so sad that they're closing!" But if you support and frequent your favorite places, they will be less likely to close down. Alex brings up the current struggles facing the restaurant industry, and highlights how customers can be more understanding of the lack of staff that results in slower or different service. Ashley points out that the guidelines set forth by the state of NH have been dropped, and how difficult it has been for businesses to navigate the polarizing and difficult climate of masks, distancing, etc. Some people believe COVID is over, but we are here to bring the lasting effects on our business community to your attention! We urge you to please be kind, please be understanding, and keep supporting your favorite local businesses. Don't wait until it's too late! 

This week we welcome Jenni Share of To Share Brewing Company! To Share Brewing was founded in 2018 by husband and wife Aaron and Jenni Share. They relocated from the DC area to Manchester in 2013 so Jenni could take a job at SNHU, and fell in love with the state of New Hampshire, and the city of Manchester. They decided the best way to give back to the community that had given them so much was to provide great craft beer to the people of New Hampshire. To Share Brewing Company is about community and providing a safe space for all people to put their differences aside and come together over a pint of great, locally produced craft beer. Jenni and Aaron also own a multi family in Manchester, and Jenni still works full time for SNHU!  You can find To Share's offerings at the brewery, at local restaurants, and in cans at stores like The Packie and Berts Better Beers. Follow To Share on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on beer releases, live music, and events!

This episode has been requested often, we are finally talking about cash flow! Cash flow can be scary and overwhelming when you own a business, and sometimes it can feel like you're living week to week just trying to get a handle on things. Alex and Ashley share some apps, tips and methods that have worked for them over the years. Some big takeaways are doing your own books via Quickbooks, safely paying down business debt and credit cards, and  getting your staff involved in budgeting. We hope you enjoy this episode and we look forward to your feedback!*Disclaimer - Ashley and Alex are sharing tips that have worked for them over the years. These are in no way professional opinions or advice. It is recommended that you seek the advice of professional attorneys and CPAs when running a business.

This week we welcome Pat Mills of Bonfire Country Bar to the show! Pat has been managing Bonfire since it opened in 2016, and recently purchased the bar with his business partner, Jim Pliakos, of The Shaskeen Irish Pub. Pat takes us through all of the fun offerings at Bonfire, from live country music, to the game room downstairs, to their new drink offerings. Bonfire has everything you need for a fun night in downtown Manchester! We also chat about some of the challenges small businesses run by owner/operators face in our downtown, and some of the amazing connections Pat has made within the downtown community. We hope you enjoy this episode, and be sure to visit Bonfire's Facebook page for updates!

The second episode of our Business Tips Series is all about social media! While Ashley and Alex are not social media experts, they share some of the tips and tricks they have learned over the years to make Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other platforms work for their businesses. Social media is constantly changing and can be overwhelming! Ashley and Alex share some tools they use to make life online a little easier. Reach out to us on Instagram with your favorite tips, and be sure to follow @coffeeatthebarre for new episodes! 

This week we are joined by Erik Lesniak, VP of Business Development for Manchester's Minor League Baseball team, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats! The team is affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays, and Erik has been with the Fisher Cats since the very beginning. When the pandemic began, the MLB stopped all baseball games, so Erik had to get creative to keep the organization afloat. He gives us some insight into what it was like to host graduations, distanced concerts, and other events throughout 2020. Erik also highlights that minor league teams are small businesses, and that it is up to us as a community to buy tickets, attend games, and show our support to make sure the Fisher Cats are a part of our community for years to come! After the year they've had, everyone at the organization is excited to kick off the 2021 baseball season this week. Erik is a champion of downtown businesses, he is always sharing photos of his takeout and travels around town. He is also a long time volunteer at Families in Transition & New Horizons. We hope this episode gets you excited for the Fisher Cats season, and for summer in Manchester, NH! 

This week Ashley and Alex chat with Lauren Perrault! Lauren is in the process of launching Lo Tide Clothing Co., an online boutique featuring surf inspired clothing. Lauren is Alex's sister, which means all three sisters own and operate their own businesses! Lauren started her career in marketing and event planning, and while she loved connecting with people, she felt that something was missing in her work. She is passionate about helping people find clothing that speaks to them and makes them feel comfortable and uniquely themselves. Lauren takes us through the start up process, describes her original plans for the business, and highlights some of the challenges she's faced launching an online business during COVID. Give this episode a listen for some insight into a business in its pre-launch stage. Be sure to follow Lo Tide on Instagram, and enter your email on shoplotide.com to stay in the loop!

After putting out a poll on Instagram this week, we have heard your requests! Ashley & Alex will be sprinkling in some episodes that dive deeper into some topics we have discussed. We'll cover things like marketing, funding sources, cash flow, promotion, bookkeeping, etc. This week's topic is networking! We know networking can be intimidating and a little scary, but with things opening up more, networking will once again become a critical tool to spread the word about your business. Self promotion, while difficult, is key, and we share some of the ways networking has worked for us! DM us on Instagram, let us know what you think of this episode, and send us some topics that you would like to hear us discuss. Thanks for listening!

Bethany Chabot of 444 Hands Innately Integrative Massage & Energy Therapy joins us this week! Bethany is a Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Reiki Level 2 practitioner. After leaving the graphic design world in 2004, she built her business from the ground up and opened in Merrimack in 2007.  Bethany always felt called to heal with energy and touch, and she has been healing in the Southern NH wellness community for the past 16 years. Bethany won Best Massage Therapist in the Hippo Press Reader's Poll in 2018, 2020, and 2021.  She has a passion for helping our community through clothing drives, her work as chair of social media and government relations on the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), and creating online wellness groups like March with Us to Wellness on Facebook. 444 Hands is located in Merrimack, NH. Bethany is currently accepting new clients via direct referral from current clients. We hope you enjoy this episode, thank you for listening!

A day late, but we're here! Ashley and Alex recap the first half of the podcast year. We revisit some of the business owners we have interviewed and how they got started. Some of them are even in the process of expanding! It has been a tough year all around, but we are so impressed and inspired by the resilience and innovation shown by the businesses in our community. We are so grateful to have connected with these businesses and our listeners, and we aren't going anywhere. Stay tuned for next week's episode! 

This week Ashley & Alex talk with Chelsea Stoddard! Chelsea is the owner of Queen City Cupcakes and Pop of Color, both in downtown Manchester, NH. Chelsea is celebrating 10 years of cupcakes this year! In 2011, she opened a bakery on Elm Street called Queen City Cupcakes, and was an instant success. Seeing a need for retail downtown, she opened Pop of Color just a few doors down in 2016. Pop of Color carries their own handmade gifts, as well as locally made items from small artisans throughout the country. We hope you enjoy learning about one of our favorite retail shops! Chelsea and her family hope that downtown Manchester will grow into a place where people can come from near and far to spend the entire day shopping small (and eating cupakes of course)! 

This week Ashley and Alex chat with Tim Pipp, owner of Beeze Tees Screenprinting! Beeze Tees  has been in business since August of 2010 and has grown quickly ever since. What started as a hobby during college, quickly became the place to go for the Monadnock Regions when it comes to custom apparel and promotional items. Tim's first location was in Keene, NH, and he recently opened a storefront at 36 Hanover Street in downtown Manchester, NH! Beeze Tees specializes in screen printing, embroidery, promotional products, and more. Tim's storefront also features NH themed apparel and souvenirs. Although the Manchester storefront is new, Tim jumped right into helping his neighboring businesses through the pandemic with the Shop Local tee shirt initiative.  We hope you stop in and visit Beeze Tees soon! 

Ashley and Alex catch up this week to discuss the highly requested topic of time management. Disclaimer - we are not experts and these are our opinions, but we have come up with some good tips over the years!Some of today's tips include writing things down, using color coding and bullet journal style, and how to use a physical planner. Alex discusses how she schedules her day to make sure she has time for the things she loves besides work. She also shares how the practice of Yoga and Ayurveda have helped her develop a routine and establish grounding throughout the week. Ashley suggests working during the time of day that best maximizes your ability to get work done, and that may mean taking mornings or nights off from work. Ashley likes to get things done right away to help minimize tasks, and she shares how she uses email to stay on top of her to do lists. Overall, it is important to delegate tasks, respect others' different styles of work, and set days and times aside for certain tasks. Ashley and Alex mention some programs that help them stay on top of things! Those are linked below along with some books mentioned on today's show. We hope you enjoy this episode, and invite you to DM us on Instagram with your tips and tricks for time management!Quickbooks OnlineHomebase Scheduling SquareMailchimpMindbodyThe Idiot's Guide to AyurvedaHow to Raise a Plant and Make it Love You BackInk & Volt Planners

Today we have a special St. Patrick's Day edition of Coffee at the Barre, featuring Neal Brown of The Shaskeen Irish Pub! The Shaskeen opened in 2005, and is one of the longest running businesses downtown. Neal worked at The Shaskeen for 11 years, and became a co-owner in 2015. He grew up in Belfast in the North of Ireland, and is living his dream of owning an Irish Pub in the U.S. Neal tells us about his life in Belfast, a brief history of St. Patrick's day and its traditions, and all about The Shaskeen's food, drinks, and entertainment. Neal is running a few St. Patrick's Day specials this week! Be sure to get your orders in today for their Takeout Tuesday special: 2 cans of Guinness, 2 pint glasses, and corned beef dinner. Check out The Shaskeen on Facebook, and Instagram, and next time you're downtown be sure to visit, “One of the best pubs in one of the best parts of the world.” Thank you for listening, and happy St. Patrick's Day! 

If you enjoyed our episode on how to support small businesses, you'll love today's episode! Ashley and Alex welcome Raquel Castillo to the show.  Raquel started Manchester, NH Business Showers as a community initiative with her Leadership Greater Manchester class.  She came up with the idea after seeing how family and friends support one another with wedding and baby showers. Her goal is to support new businesses with a "shower" as well! Raquel has so many great suggestions on how to show your support, from spreading the word, to liking, following and sharing on social media. Visit Manchester, NH Business Showers on Facebook, and follow them for events, like the upcoming Trivia Night to support Makin' it Happen on March 16.We would also like to thank our listeners for helping us reach 1,000 downloads last week! Thank you so much for your support, and thank you for supporting local! Link to apply for Leadership Greater Manchester: http://www.manchester-chamber.org/chamber/about/leadership-greater-manchester/

This week we welcome the owners of The Terracotta Room to the show! Alexis and Nicole took on the task of opening a retail store during the pandemic, and the result could not be more amazing. The Terracotta Room is full of unique plants, handmade pottery, and sustainable gifts and home goods. Alexis and Nicole share with us their mission to educate their customers on sustainable practices, and how making small changes in your life can make a huge impact on the planet. Be sure to visit The Terracotta Room on the North end of Elm Street, 1361 Elm St. Suite 102, and make your sustainable dreams come true!

This week Ashley and Alex are dropping some small business knowledge! We discuss what it means to support a locally owned small business, versus a franchise or a large corporation. Small business owners work so hard to bring you the best of the best food, fitness classes, and products. It is so important to support these small businesses with your dollars, because otherwise they will cease to exist! Outdoor dining begins at Café la Reine and all of downtown on March 15. Outdoor classes from Barre Life begin May 1 and run every Saturday through September at Stark Park! Make sure you vote for your favorite small businesses in the Best of New Hampshire, and the Hippo Best of 2021. And don't forget to share with us your favorite ways to support small businesses! It is important to note, these are OUR opinions, so feel free to give us feedback on our Instagram, @coffeeatthebarre.  Thank you for listening! 

This week we welcome Julie Alig to the show! Julie is a data analytics expert, and recently opened her own firm, JLA analytics. Julie has a passion for making data interesting, and will help you understand the data within your small business in order to become profitable! This episode is full of great information, so have a pen handy, take some notes, and contact Julie at www.JLAAnalytics.com to book a consultation! 

This is the second episode in our Valentine's Day mini-series! This episode features Shelly-Anne Storer, owner and head baker at Wild Orchid Bakery in Manchester. Shelly-Anne started baking back in Trinidad, where she sold banana bread out of her kitchen. Fast forward to today, Wild Orchid Bakery opened in late 2020, and has since taken off! The bakery features a variety of baked goods, Trinidadian specialties, and a selection of gluten free and vegan items. She is a huge supporter of small business, and knows the true value of local businesses supporting one another.  We hope you have a great Valentine's Day, and treat yourself or someone you love to Loon Chocolate and Wild Orchid treats!

This week we have not one, but TWO amazing guests to celebrate Valentine's Day! Episode 13 features Scott Watson, owner of Loon Chocolate. Loon recently relocated to downtown Manchester, and we couldn't be more excited! From craft brewer to chocolatier, Scott opened Loon in 2018 with the intent to make great chocolate from start to finish. Scott and his team source single origin cacao beans, roast, shell, and grind them to perfection. Scott is a self proclaimed foodie, and is an amazing example of following your passion in life, no matter when and where it takes you. Be sure to check out Loon Chocolate on Instagram and Facebook to follow along with Loon, and Scott's best friend Jackson! 

This week Alex interviews her co-host, Ashley! Ashley owns Barre Life, a barre, yoga and fitness studio located in downtown Manchester, NH.  Ashley discusses what it's like to own a fitness studio, and how her business was able to pivot during the pandemic. Ashley talks about taking over Barre Life, her journey to owning a fitness studio, and some tips on purchasing an existing business. Between being an entrepreneur, working at a Manchester based start up, and her involvement in Leadership Greater Manchester, Ashley's investment in the Manchester community is admirable. 

This week we welcome Ben Dion to the show! Ben is the host of The Weekly Dion radio show on WMNH 95.3 FM. He has hosted The Weekly Dion for 4 years now, and has had guests from all over Manchester, ranging from politicians, to business owners, to other radio show hosts. Ben is a life-long Manchester resident, and he is a huge supporter of everything MHT! Fun fact, we broke the news of Coffee at the Barre  for the first time ever on Ben's show! Be sure to check out The Weekly Dion every Thursday night live at 6pm. You can catch the show on 95.3 FM, wmnhradio.org, Facebook Live, and Apple Podcasts!

This week Ashley interviews her co-host, Alex! Alex owns Café la Reine, a coffee shop and cafe located in downtown Manchester, NH.  Alex gets real about what it's like to be a small business owner. She shares her struggles, what she loves most about being an entrepreneur, and tips for aspiring business owners. She also discusses time management and what it's like to own a business and teach barre and yoga at Ashley's studio, Barre Life, all while taking on clients in her new business, A. Horton Consulting, LLC.