ATHOL – Some 200 people attended Thursday night’s inaugural Small Business Showcase, which featured entrepreneurs representing five small businesses.
At the end of the night, Arlene and Dale Belliveau of Athol Trading Post were awarded the top prize of $10,000, while the $5,000 People’s Choice award went to Beth Jaillet of MacMannis Florist & Greenhouses.
Competitors at the showcase were among 10 businesses that participated in the Remaking Main Street small business training program, sponsored by The Polus Center, Athol Credit Union and NewVue Communities.
The winner of the $10,000 prize was chosen by three judges – Luis Cisneros, CEO of Athol Credit Union, Theresa Kane, executive director of the Polus Center, and Ray Boulanger of NewVue. The People’s Choice Award was decided by a vote of those in attendance.
In making their business pitch, the Belliveaus told the judges they hoped to used the prize money to make improvements to their storefront at 501 Main St.
Before the competition, Arlene Belliveau told the Athol Daily News, “We’re thinking about a brick veneer with some nice lettering. We just think it’s something that will help the look of downtown Athol. When people see a nice exterior, they want to stop by, they want to come check out what’s in the store. And then they go from one business to another business, and that’s definitely important.”
The Belliveaus also hope to open a café at their location within the next three years. They have been in business at the site of the former Tintagels Gate for 10 months.
Jaillet has owned MacMannis Florist & Greenhouses for a little over two years.
“One thing we’ve added to our business is workshops,” she said. “We’ve been inviting the community to participate in different workshops; anything from floral design to planting, caring for plants and it has been wonderful.”
Jaillet is working with Emily Veroch-Isrow of the Emily Hope Creative Studio to add photography services and workshops.
Jaillet told the judges she planned to expand the number of workshops available to the public, and the prize would help support the renovation of an existing garage into a dedicated space for the workshops. Jaillet said her overall goal is to “encourage community connections and preserve MacMannis’ longstanding role in the Athol community.”
Among the other competitors was Paula King of Sweet P’s Creative Cakes. King said she was going to pitch the judges on a gourmet desert mobile food trailer.
“It would act as another revenue stream so I can launch a successful business in Athol,” King said.
King is currently running her business out of the LaunchSpace incubator kitchen, which recently opened at the former Pleasant Street School. The mobile food trailer, King added, “Would look like a mini-Airstream with a kind of retro, 1960s vibe.”
She said she’s been baking for birthdays, weddings, and other events for 10 years and wants to make it into a career.
Also in the running was Fringe & Stone at 468 Main St. Owner Rebecca Cacioppo was unable to attend, so the pitch was made by her husband, Sergio. Showing no sign of nerves, Sergio Cacioppo told the judges his wife would use any prize money to expand her products.
The business specializes in clean-burning soy candles, bath and body products, handcrafted jewelry, upcycle clothing, and allergy-friendly treats for those with certain food allergies. There are also plans, said Sergio Cacioppo, to expand online sales and community collaborations. The hope is to become a destination boutique that contributes to economic growth in downtown Athol.
The final pitch came from Cynthia McMullen, owner of Slow Craft, a mobile pop-up studio that brings hands-on creative craft projects to independent bookstores, libraries and other local venues.
The business, she said, is great for kids, but also provides a space where “adults and families can slow down, connect and explore their creativity.” Any prize money, she said, would go toward expanding her inventory of supplies and her overall outreach in order to make “tactile art accessible to everyone.”
Other sponsors of the Small Business Showcase include Athol Savings Bank, Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, Whipps, Inc., Heywood Hospital and Athol Trading Post. Other contributors were Clinton Savings Bank, Evergreen Estate Planning, Noel’s Nursery, TNT, Los Agaves Grill, Over the Top Bakery, Starbucks and the town of Athol.