Granite State ingenuity

When it comes to creativity, N.H. women are all business

By JENNIFER TREACY

“These are fantastic! Can you make me some? You could start your own business doing this.”

Creative women across the state hear this all the time, and they are increasingly heeding their fans’ advice by turning their talents into their own small businesses.

In fact, 34 percent of New Hampshire’s self-employed are women, with women-owned businesses numbering more than 32,000 in 2006, according to a report by the U.S. Small Business Administration. And that number showed an increase of 14 percent over the previous year.

Resources such as Women’s Business Center aim to help these entrepreneurs and, as stated on their Web site, “build New Hampshire’s economy one women-owned business at a time.”

Entrepreneur Sari Ann Strasburg is the owner of Strasburg Law P.L.L.C. in Bedford and chair of the Women’s Business Center. She knows Granite State women have what it takes to get their businesses off the ground.

“Women are able to weave practicality with design, inject business savvy with enthusiasm, turn networking into an event and make a profit,” she said.

Many of these women are taking their creative talents and setting out to make that profit. There seems to be a trend: Most women start out enjoying and honing their creative interests in their spare time while working a regular day job. Often, they will give their creations as gifts. The lucky recipients’ would want more, asking to purchase their products, and the word would spread. Then they would be encouraged to start their own business.
Eventually, women realize that they could turn what they love into something bigger.

making a decision

This was the case with Brenda Lozier-Hermens, owner of Lozier Glass Studio. While working full time as the lead decorator at her father’s well-known bakery, Frederick’s Pastries in Amherst, she hand-painted glassware in her spare time. Wedding cake customers started asking her to paint their toasting flutes and glass cake separators.

The requests kept coming. With the demand for her beautiful designs, she knew she could start her own business doing what she loved.

Starting the business meant having to make a very big decision about her job, though.

“I had to decide whether to stay or move on,” she said.

After much deliberation, she left the family business and went full time. Working out of the studio she and her husband added to the back of their Amherst home, she launched Lozier Glass Studio in 2005.

“The choice to make my career about creativity and artistic pursuit or the pressure of a retail bakery was an easy one,” she said.

She grew the business by visiting existing shops and galleries, selling her designs wholesale and attending festivals, fairs and shows. Her hand-painted glassware and crystal stemware is now sold in more than 30 retail locations across the country and on her Web site, www.lozierglassstudio.com.

a bolder generation

Lozier-Hermens’ story is becoming a familiar one for women in New Hampshire.

“This generation has certainly become bolder about knowing what they want to do and how to make it happen,” said NH Made Executive Director Laurie Ferguson. “You see them at the business workshops learning how to do business plans, the trade shows getting their name out there and at the networking events, knowing that other women could be their key to their next sales opportunity.”

NH Made is a statewide marketing organization whose mission is to increase the awareness of – and demand for – New Hampshire-made products and services. Ferguson said almost half of its more than 800 members are women business owners.

Entrepreneur Jill Robbins of Windham was frustrated watching her son, who suffers from food allergies, not be able to eat any of the fun food offered at social events. This jump-started her new career.

“I couldn’t ever say ‘yes’ to cookies unless I baked them myself,” she said.

So Robbins started to bake and ultimately wrote a cookbook, “Allergen Free Baking: Baked Treats for All Occasions.” But people wanted ready-made, safe, delicious snacks and encouraged her to produce and sell them.

”I was not at all seeking to start a business,” Robbins said. “At first I laughed – what did I know about the food business?”

Tired of waiting for the big companies to make safe snacks for kids, she soon changed her mind. Nearly eight years ago, she launched Home Free LLC (previously Gak’s Snacks), making organic cookies and cakes out of her new allergen-free kitchen facility. It was an unexpected decision for her to leave her part-time job as a practicing clinical psychologist. Thinking of her son and the other 12 million Americans with food allergies made the decision easier.

Resources such as SCORE provided Robbins with support and information to help grow her business. As a result of her hard work, Robbins’ cookies will soon be available in Shaw’s Supermarkets throughout New England.

To meet the growing need for her products and the expanding distribution she anticipates, Robbins plans on moving to a larger facility in the future.

Read on as more N.H. women tell their stories about starting their own businesses.

nila venne, concord

Nila Ven Jewelry
Nila Ven Jewelry is handmade with sterling silver, copper and brass using soldering and hammering techniques making each piece unique.

Start Up: My artistic journey began with sculpting one-of-a-kind dolls out of polymer clay, but I knew there was still something different out there for me. About six years ago, I began taking jewelry-making classes at the N.H. Institute of Art in Manchester. Forming the metal, soldering and hammering were a perfect way for me to express myself. I sold my first piece of jewelry at the school and was hooked.

Go Forward: My little business has grown ever since. As much as I love making jewelry, it has been a struggle to incorporate the time I need to spend on my craft with family, friends and a part-time job. It hasn’t been easy for me to be a business person. I mainly sell my jewelry at art and craft shows around the state, but I’ve gotten a lot of sales through word-of-mouth and promoting my Web site.

Look Ahead: I hope that soon I will have a studio outside of my home and eventually a studio gallery, a place to show and promote all kinds of art. Maybe someday I’ll be asked to display my jewelry in a museum. Why not, right?

diane bell, milford

Expressions Gallery
Expressions Gallery is a custom picture framing business that also offers original art, note cards and gifts.

Start Up: I had worked at a poster and frame shop for a few years, and I wanted to try it on my own. When I first opened in 1993, I worked 6 to 7 days a week with no employees.

Go Forward: Joining our Chamber of Commerce and the Business and Professional Women’s Club helped me make contacts that grew my business. My husband and I adopted a baby girl in 2001 and my focus shifted away from the business. In 2007, it was time for a change. The retail business kept me away from my family too often, so I got rid of 90 percent of my art and gifts and now work part time. It can get crazy, but my customers appreciate where I stand on family time.   

Look Ahead: Someday I may decide to let the business expand again and become an employer, but for now I’m enjoying having weekends off.  

jaime m. wood, hillsboro

The Funky Monkey Media Group and NH Images
The Funky Monkey Media Group is a full-service graphic/Web and media company. NH Images is a photography/ videography company specializing in weddings and events.

Start Up: Prior to managing my company full time, I worked as a graphic/Web designer and photographer. I launched my own business in 2004. In 2006, I began a partnership with Peter Clayman of NH Images photography to offer videography as an additional service to the company.

Go Forward: My main business comes from word of mouth, trade shows and Internet advertising. My businesses have grown significantly each year.  
Look Ahead: I am now a new full-time mom to my first child. Eventually I would love to have a few full-time employees and possibly studio space so I can spend more time with my son. 

rhonda young, gilmanton

Creative Connection
Creative Connection offers art glass jewelry and home décor, specializing in hot glass techniques.

Start Up: I left my full-time job in 2002. I enjoyed creating part time and people enjoyed my creations so I started it full time.

Go Forward: I began handling all the necessities, including financial management, advertising and marketing, Web site maintenance, ordering and selling.

Look Ahead: I envision someday opening an art glass studio, where the public can learn about hot glass techniques. I am also excited that my New Hampshire-shaped pins may go into the N.H. State Capital Gift Shop, pending Senate committee approval.

christine hanisco, kingston

The Dippy Chick Company
The Dippy Chick Company makes party dips in fun packaging.

Start Up: After high school, I worked as a self-taught graphic designer for many years. When I was pregnant with my first son, I wanted a change and became a real estate agent. In 2004, pregnant with my second son, I realized that real estate was too demanding of my time so I started my business.

Go Forward: I figured I’d just do it part time and sell my dips at craft shows and farmers’ markets on weekends, but it has ended up being a full-time-plus job. I am selling to stores and able to stay home on weekends.

Look Ahead: My husband is going to leave his career and join me as a partner. He has come up with some very good meat rub seasonings that we plan to market soon. We also plan to add more gluten-free and other allergen-free products in the near future. Someday we hope to open a store.  

lucie watt, tina toran & kimberly sherman, merrimack

wavyo
wavyo produces bags that are versatile, stylish and made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled soda and water bottles.

Start Up: wavyo launched this year and is the fruit of a partnership of three women, very different in many ways, each bringing unique expertise and a personal touch to the company. 

Go Forward: We look forward to when we can work wavyo full time and support our families. We are designing more bags, working on our marketing strategy and will soon attend events to sell our designs. In the meantime, we have placed our bags in local retail stores and are selling them online.

Look Ahead: We see our business growing as we expand our bag collection and diversify into other eco-friendly products.  

carolanne caron, merrimack

Mom’s Munchies
Mom’s Munchies is a bakery that specializes in care packages containing varieties of cookies, breakfast breads, munchies and whoopie pies.  

Start Up: Everyone said they loved my baking and care packages. My husband encouraged me to help busy moms out there get home-cooked goodies without fuss. Mom’s Munchies was born in 2004.

Go Forward: This is my third business, but when I did start my first business, it was because I loved what I did and had the experience to handle the accounting side of the business. (I used to be a CPA.) I also just had my first child and couldn’t imagine anyone else raising her.

Look Ahead: My future goals are to continue to promote and expand our on-site concession services. 
 

elayne belkas, danville

Elayne’s Garden Organics
Elayne’s Garden Organics produces USDA-certified organic body care products.  

Start Up: In 2003, I left an accounting career due to a layoff from my employer and started Elayne’s Garden. I still do accounting consulting for small businesses.

Go Forward: The NH Made organization has given me so many opportunities to network with other small, women-owned businesses. A few of us have partnered to start Flourish Fundraising, offering our locally made products to local non-profits for their fundraising endeavors. Also, The Small Business Center encouraged me to print a high-end retail catalog that has proven to be an excellent marketing tool. As an accountant, I always thought success should be measured in dollars. I have found that I am much more fulfilled with all the people I have helped and that have helped me a

long the way.

Look Ahead: My future plans are to offer my products wholesale to larger entities, i.e. Whole Foods, as well as more international markets.

katy brown, concord

muchacha K handmade & the Concord Arts Market
muchacha K handmade creates fabric handbags and custom bridal accessories including fancy clutches and jewelry rolls. Concord Arts Market is a brand new venture – a weekly outdoor arts market that kicked off this fall.
  
Start Up: I launched my company in 2005. I was taught by my grandmother who, if she could see this all now, would have a good chuckle. I did not leave my “day job” behind to start my businesses, but my life has become anything but typical.

Go Forward: In the mornings, I work as a paralegal. I am also working on a master’s degree. The rest of my time is spent promoting and building the arts market and taking as many handbag orders as my ridiculous schedule allows. Technically, I could leave my day job, but the thing is, I really like it, and it fills a different need for me than my creative pursuits do. In addition to my own market, I sell my products at other events, online and to retailers and now have a global customer base.

Look Ahead: I plan to bring the Concord Arts Market back next spring as a weekly event. Once I am finished with school, I plan to grow muchacha K handmade through additional advertising and networking.

judy forty, mason

Alpine Angels
Alpine Angels makes all-natural, long-lasting goat milk soap at its farm in Mason.

Start Up: My daughter wanted a cow for her ninth birthday. The best my husband and I could do were two Alpine goat kids. After breeding them, we had gallons of milk. Little did I know that a book about soap-making, 6 cups of goat’s milk, the necessary supplies and my kitchen sink would launch my new career in 2002. What I didn’t know at the time was that the soap business would become an inspiration and a propelling force for me. After suffering with the challenges of cancer for many years, I was faced with a life-changing decision. I chose to amputate my leg to save my life. I needed to find new ways to feel fulfilled. Soap-making was something I could do. I started the business on a shoestring using my creativity, a computer and copier, and the drive to succeed.

Go Forward: My daughter has gone off to college, so I am now the sole caretaker of the goats. I use a milking machine to milk the goats morning and night. Although the work is difficult, I find the time spent with the goats very rewarding. My soap is now sold at many retail locations, farmers’ markets and online.

Look Ahead: More people are becoming aware of the environment and the quality and benefits of goat milk products, and I see my soap being part of that growth.

new event: concord arts market

Frustrated because she always had to travel over an hour to display and sell her creations at events, Katy Brown, owner of muchacha K handmade, started thinking about launching a local event of her own. She knew other artisans would be thrilled by the prospect.

“There are so many creative people in the Concord area and in New Hampshire,” she said. “I really want the local and state community to be aware of that and to see how they can support local artists right here at home.”

Finding a location for her outdoor market idea was the trickiest part. She focused on area parking lots and received a lot of “no’s” from landlords.

“I wanted something very central in downtown,” she said.

Ultimately, Brown landed the perfect location – the parking lot for the Department of Justice, 33 Capital St., Concord.

“Concord is the state capital – it deserves really stellar destination events to draw visitors and to help New Hampshire be seen as a culturally modern and rich place,” Brown said.

For a minimal fee, vendors who have applied and been selected by Brown and her committee bring their own canopies, set up their displays and sell their creations. The market is free to shoppers who enjoy live music as they peruse.

The event made its debut this fall with an array of handmade products, such as blown glass, handbags, accessories, paintings, multimedia art, baskets, pottery, books and jewelry.

Brown’s goal is to have the market continue next spring as a weekly event.

For more information, visit www.concordartsmarket.com.

Jennifer Treacy is a freelance writer who lives in Brookline.