HELP Our EAST END Small Businesses!!
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#SmallBusinessRelief
I am raising money for Small Businesses and Individuals such as sole proprietors, artists, artisans, crafters, servers, and bartenders in our area who have been greatly affected due to the pandemic. These businesses keep our community going YEAR ROUND and most donate to every fundraiser, little league, school bake sale ect. in the process, it is now our turn to donate to them! Please read my story and how I plan to assist these businesses and individuals with your help!
My name is Brittany and I own a Small Business on the East End of Long Island, New York. A Hand Crafted Candle Company called Hamptons Handpoured. I am one of the many individuals and businesses that have lost a tremendous amount of monthly income due to this horrible virus. Although some of my die hard customers and a couple new have supported me and my business (which is overwhelmingly appreciated!), it is not enough to adapt to our new world and high cost of living on Eastern Long Island.
I have personally lost my wholesale accounts who have all closed their doors and shut down business in order to flatten the curve. This accounts for the greatest portion of my business and income. The next largest portion of my business are custom candles for events such as fundraisers, weddings, baby showers, bridal showers, parties, and store pop ups, all of which have been cancelled or moved to the Fall. I also sell at pop up shops in retail stores and craft shows / farmers markets all of which have also been cancelled. Like others, I do a small bit of business through my online shop but, not enough to pay my mortgage or continue paying my monthly expenses and I've had to offer free shipping to compete with other online retailers all of which eats heavily into any profit at all.
We are a seasonal community which means that the majority of businesses make most of their income during the Spring, (gearing up for the Summer months) and the Summer Season. We are coming off of the winter months where most live off of their savings from the previous season (with spurts of business here and there) and have most likely have just had to pay federal and sales tax. Most businesses like mine, count on the partnerships that have been built up over the years that come to life during these months to pay for their monthly expenses.
I have been asked by my fellow artisans and shop owners if I have heard of any local assistance at this time. I have looked into DOZENS of grants over the past few weeks. The SBA loans are currently out of funds and other national organizations (including Facebook) require that your business have more than one person who works at the business. Since I am a one woman show, most of these opportunities do not apply to me. I also contacted many local groups that I thought would have certain types of assistance programs and most just referred me to the previously mentioned opportunities. And lastly, other local fundraisers of this kind that I have seen are only helping one particular individual business as opposed to many.
I am hoping to donate $500 to ten local businesses in our area in the form of General Giftcards, the first round starting with single person proprietorship such as artisans, makers, crafters, or individuals like servers and bartenders. If there is enough donated I would then like to open up second and third rounds for locally owned storefronts that have had to shut down.
If there is a particular business you would like to support please leave their name in the comments of your donation and if you are a business that needs support, please email Brittany at [email redacted] <3
It is already so difficult to live in our hometown and I would like to see many of us come out on the other side of this!
I am raising money for Small Businesses and Individuals such as sole proprietors, artists, artisans, crafters, servers, and bartenders in our area who have been greatly affected due to the pandemic. These businesses keep our community going YEAR ROUND and most donate to every fundraiser, little league, school bake sale ect. in the process, it is now our turn to donate to them! Please read my story and how I plan to assist these businesses and individuals with your help!
My name is Brittany and I own a Small Business on the East End of Long Island, New York. A Hand Crafted Candle Company called Hamptons Handpoured. I am one of the many individuals and businesses that have lost a tremendous amount of monthly income due to this horrible virus. Although some of my die hard customers and a couple new have supported me and my business (which is overwhelmingly appreciated!), it is not enough to adapt to our new world and high cost of living on Eastern Long Island.
I have personally lost my wholesale accounts who have all closed their doors and shut down business in order to flatten the curve. This accounts for the greatest portion of my business and income. The next largest portion of my business are custom candles for events such as fundraisers, weddings, baby showers, bridal showers, parties, and store pop ups, all of which have been cancelled or moved to the Fall. I also sell at pop up shops in retail stores and craft shows / farmers markets all of which have also been cancelled. Like others, I do a small bit of business through my online shop but, not enough to pay my mortgage or continue paying my monthly expenses and I've had to offer free shipping to compete with other online retailers all of which eats heavily into any profit at all.
We are a seasonal community which means that the majority of businesses make most of their income during the Spring, (gearing up for the Summer months) and the Summer Season. We are coming off of the winter months where most live off of their savings from the previous season (with spurts of business here and there) and have most likely have just had to pay federal and sales tax. Most businesses like mine, count on the partnerships that have been built up over the years that come to life during these months to pay for their monthly expenses.
I have been asked by my fellow artisans and shop owners if I have heard of any local assistance at this time. I have looked into DOZENS of grants over the past few weeks. The SBA loans are currently out of funds and other national organizations (including Facebook) require that your business have more than one person who works at the business. Since I am a one woman show, most of these opportunities do not apply to me. I also contacted many local groups that I thought would have certain types of assistance programs and most just referred me to the previously mentioned opportunities. And lastly, other local fundraisers of this kind that I have seen are only helping one particular individual business as opposed to many.
I am hoping to donate $500 to ten local businesses in our area in the form of General Giftcards, the first round starting with single person proprietorship such as artisans, makers, crafters, or individuals like servers and bartenders. If there is enough donated I would then like to open up second and third rounds for locally owned storefronts that have had to shut down.
If there is a particular business you would like to support please leave their name in the comments of your donation and if you are a business that needs support, please email Brittany at [email redacted] <3
It is already so difficult to live in our hometown and I would like to see many of us come out on the other side of this!
Organizer
Brittany Torres
Organizer
Northwest Harbor, NY
