ATHOL — It’s been a little over three years since Debbie Allain-Thomas first opened the doors of Else Where at 1485 Main St. in Athol. The business provides UPS, FedEx, and U.S. Postal Service drop off and shipping services, photocopying and faxing, and other services for businesses and individuals throughout the North Quabbin area.
As she was busy getting her new business off the ground and later, as more and more customers came through the door, Allain-Thomas never found the time to hold a grand opening event. That will change Thursday when the grand opening of Else Where takes place at 11 a.m.
Local dignitaries are expected to be on hand including state Sen. Joanne Comerford, D-Northampton, state Rep. Susanna Whipps, I-Athol, Athol Town Manager Shaun Suhoski, and Athol Lions Club King Lion Becky Fortin. also will offer some closing remarks.
“I’ve never had a grand opening,” Allain-Thomas said. “I didn’t want to use the word ‘re-opening’ because re-opening indicates I’d closed at some time, and that certainly was not the case. I wanted more of a customer appreciation, but I’ve had those before — like around Christmas time I have a customer appreciation. But I’ve never truly had a grand opening.”
When the business first opened, Else Where was a one-person operation. But Allain-Thomas has since been able to hire a couple of employees, a sign that things have gone well for the business.
“When I first opened in July of 2019, and of course that was pre-COVID,” she explained, “my goal was to get through that Christmas. I just had UPS at that time, and photocopy and fax. I actually was still working part-time at Mount Wachusett Community College.
“Then, in January of 2020, I applied for FedEx and FedEx denied me and said there was no retail need in the area. I did pick up United State Postal Services; I sell stamps and can generate labels for first-class mail, priority, select ground, etc. Pretty much anyone can do that but I do have an Endecia account, which is like Stamps-dot-com — it’s a sister to Stamps-dot-com.”
Allan-Thomas was open less than a year when COVID-19 hit but its effect on Else Where, unlike other businesses, turned out to be positive.
“I was still working part-time,” she continued. “I had altered hours so I could still do my remote teaching in the morning. Then by five o’clock every night I was toast and needed some time to go grocery shopping and do other errands. So, I had some altered hours and still ran the business through that.
“But COVID helped tremendously. I was considered essential. I had to get online and define what was an essential business, so I fell under transportation and something to do with office services because I was doing photocopying and faxing. So, it brought a lot of attention. I was still open. The library, the senior center, all those places were closed and photocopying and fax services were actually needed more than ever because everybody was working remotely.”
The goal for 2020, Allain-Thomas said, was similar to that for 2019 – get through Christmas.
“Actually, that was a very busy Christmas, just because a lot of people couldn’t travel for the holidays. Grandparents who would normally travel to spend holidays with their grandkids were now shipping their presents. I don’t know how I did it. My sister Brenda came up for an extended work-from-home situation and actually helped me; so, the two of us got through that Christmas.
“Then, in January 2021, I applied for FedEx again and withing three weeks I was up and running with FedEx. So, that worked out really well. And I also upgraded to a software system, and I joined a retail shippers association. They offer a lot of support.”
The new software, said Allain-Thomas, offers her greater flexibility when it comes to providing customer service. Many of her customers run small businesses locally.
“Some of them sell on e-Bay,” she said. “I’ve met a lot of artists and home crafters, and some direct sellers working out of their homes who come here on a weekly basis with orders they’ve sold and need to ship out. So, that’s added to the traffic flow in here.”
While Allain-Thomas has made her mark running a successful local businessperson, she has also contributed time and resources to various community causes and organizations.
“I don’t have a lot of money, even on behalf of my business, to donate,” she said, “so, if you come in and ask for a $50 donation, the answer is going to be ‘no.’ But I can certainly do $50 worth of printing for you. I feel good being able to contribute in that way to all of these things I feel are very important in my community. If it comes through the door, I’m on it.
“And even though I have a very limited schedule, I will gladly sit somewhere and sell tickets for somebody all day, or physically being at an event to help out with whatever kind of task is needed. I was just at the haunted hayride, both nights, and, of course, River Rat; the Millers River Challenge I’m physically at because of when it’s held — I don’t happen to work that day. Sometimes, I’ll have folks watch the store so I can go off and do volunteer work.”
While Allain-Thomas had refrained from joining any specific local organizations, wanting to provide equal time and resources to as many as possible, she has since joined the Athol Lions Club, in large part due to her involvement with the River Rat Race. She also belongs to the Athol Women’s Club.
“Then I’m an unofficial member of every other organization out there,” she said.
Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.