10-8-08

Walpole Artisans Seek to Boost Local Business

By Chuck Bingaman, Contributing Writer

            Seeking more trade in their store and in others locally, the Walpole Artisan Coop last week initiated action to get Walpole businesses working together.

            In a meeting to which they had invited local business people, the Artisans started the brainstorming that, they hope, will result in a more coordinated effort to help visitors to Walpole appreciate the many businesses and attractions that are available in the town even if they are not obvious to outsiders.

            According to Priya Allaire, a member of the Coop, “We get many shoppers in our Coop store that ask about other things to see and do in town, but we are not yet prepared to give them well-thought out answers and supporting printed materials.”

Walpole Artisans Coop member Barbara Tarantino wields the marker to record business cooperation ideas at last week's discussion at the Coop shop.  Sue Bingaman photo.

            Even though initial turn-out from other businesses in Walpole was scanty the first night, those present did roll up their sleeves and begin brainstorming about ways to make the most of visitors to the town and to the Coop shop in particular.

            Out came the newsprint pads and colored makers and forward came the ideas.  Among the first ideas thrown out for discussion was the possibility of capitalizing on the evident need for a visitor information source in Walpole by making the Artisans’ Coop shop itself a very visible source of such information.  Advocates of that idea saw it as a chance to attract more visitors to the shop itself and exposing them to the many works of fine art on display and sale there. 

            Others suggested that a visitor information sign might be added to the front of the shop, either in an official state program, if there is one, sponsored by the state of New Hampshire or simply a one-of-a-kind sign. 

            Barbara Tarantino, a painter and member of the coop, suggested that several shops in Walpole might offer discount coupons to their customers for redemption at other town shops, thereby encouraging visors to drop in at other businesses nearby.  She reported seeing such a coupon at Little Anthony’s Seafood Restaurant in Winchendon, Massachusetts recently for a discount on purchases at a nearby gift shop.

            Glass blower Chris Sherwin suggested the possibility of placing a visitor information sign on South Street near the entrance to the village on Rt. 12 to direct outsiders to the Coop shop and the information they can use.

            Local real estate agent Sue Bingaman noted that the recently published Walpole Civic and Business Directory contains a comprehensive list of Walpole businesses that could be invited to participate in further discussions of business cooperation. 

            Coop members present agreed to convene another meeting after calling local businesses to urge their participation in implementing cooperative plans.

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