EDITOR'S NOTE
 Small businesses can succeed on the Seacoast Lack of affordable housing continues to challenge workers, employers
Published: December 2007
Starting a business is a scary proposition, even when one has done the appropriate planning, financing, marketing and all of the other footwork that goes along with taking that leap into the future.
It is especially true when one considers the high percentage of small businesses that fail within their first or second years.
But small businesses continue to be created in the Seacoast and there are success stories.
|
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE
If you know of someone who would like to be on the mailing list for SEACOAST VENTURES: A Business Journal, they may Contact LINDA HOLWAY at 1-800-439-0303, or via e-mail.
|
|
HOW TO ADVERTISE
Want to get the name of your business to almost 12,000 business professionals on the Seacoast? Contact TOM TORREY at 570-2134, e-mail ttorrey@seacoastventures.net, or LINDA HOLWAY at 1 (800) 439-0303, e-mail lholway@seacoastventures.net
|
|
ONLINE TOOLS
Want to determine what the estimated startup costs will be for a business? Use our handy online calculator on the SEACOAST VENTURES web site. www.seacoastventures.net/tools/bizstart.html.
|
|
For instance, Michael McCord profiles two businesses that have made it through their first year and are planning for the future — Whalen Public & Media Relations, BridgeView Marketing.
In this edition of Seacoast Ventures we take a look back at some of the trends in new businesses in 2007, and a peek at the future as well.
Pease International Tradeport saw continued growth and the airport itself finds itself busier than the year before with a increase in private jet business and the startup of daily commuter flights between Portsmouth and Columbus, Ohio, via Skybus. (See story.)
The Seacoast as a whole showed modest growth.
And the numbers of young workers in the state grew 3.9 percent between 2004 and 2006, which while not exactly a trend, it is good news.
But it won't do any good to attract and keep young workers in the state if they don't have someplace to live.
Economists and demographers continue to raise the alarm over the desperate need for work-force housing in the Seacoast.
There are efforts being made to address the issue, but Stephanye Schuyler, chairman of the Workforce Housing Coaltion of Greater Portsmouth, says, "The area needs businesses and businesses need workers. Workers need housing; without housing, workers leave. Without workers, business and the tax revenues they bring to our communities go away." (See story.)
One trend that Exeter demographer Peter Francese continues to warn against is related. Francese has been saying all year that towns want to restrict new housing to exclude families with children.
He has said the number of retirement couples is outpacing those with families, which is not a good thing. (See story.)
With the high costs of energy this winter, there is increased talk of the need to go green in our businesses, governments, schools, public buildings and personal lives.
One option being offered these days is biofuels for home heating. In Entrepreneur Watch (See story.), we talk to Andrew Kellar, the founder of Simply Green in Stratham.
Another businessman who has made a considerable financial commitment to go green is Jim Varney, the owner of cleaners that bear his name. (See story.)
Varney has taken the chemicals out of his dry-cleaning process and is now using a solvent consisting of water, air and sand.
In our At the Helm feature, Dana Lariviere, president and CEO of Chameleon Group of Portsmouth, is interviewed about his company that specializes in outsourced sales and marketing solutions. (See story.)
Reach CAL KILLEEN via e-mail or 570-2243.
|
