Coffee at the Barre

We are so excited to welcome Lauren Wheeler of Flagship East Coast to the show!
Flagship East Coast is an online shop featuring printed tees, sweatshirts, hats, and more with unique New England inspired designs, including the New England flag! Lauren creates and curates many of the designs herself, and has even added some knits, sweaters, and swimsuits to her collection. Lauren has worked in many industries from fashion to tech, and while she has enjoyed those experiences, she has always been passionate about entrepreneurship and owning her own business.  When COVID hit, Lauren was working from home with her two children, and realized that the time was right to open her shop. She opened Flagship East Coast as an online  store, which allows her the time to balance her work and family life, and to  work on designs for her shop. Lauren has generously gifted our listeners a discount code! Use code "COFFEEATTHEBARRE" for 15% off your order of $50 or more at checkout. The ski all over sweatshirt is Lauren's favorite item, so snag one for yourself today! 

We are so excited to have Brandie Wells on the show today! Brandie is a clairvoyant and psychic medium, and is the owner of Shadow & Soul Emporium. Shadow & Soul Emporium is a metaphysical retail store. It is unique because Shadow Emporium and Soul Emporium are actually two different shops. Brandie opened them to help people understand the complexity of metaphysics in a light and airy way by melding the shadow self with the soul self, and to bring tools of self healing to the Manchester and Keene, NH communities. Brandie opened the original Soul Emporium in Keene in 2018, and after receiving requests for additional products, she opened Shadow Emporium two doors down about a year ago.  Last summer while out to lunch with a friend, Brandie saw the space on Hanover Street and was called to open in downtown Manchester. Brandie's advice to aspiring small business owners is to find the need, fill the need, assess your competitors and see how you can complement them! We hope you visit Shadow & Soul Emporium soon, and be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with their many events coming up!

This week Ashley and Alex talk with Chris Tien, owner of the online boutique Alex & Theo! Alex & Theo showcases artisans that create their products in small batches. Chris likes to feature U.S. and International vendors, many of them woman owned, to help promote small artists and creators. Her online shop highlights vendors who use sustainable materials, pay fair wages, help women, and donate their profits to those in need.  After a cross-country move and a transition to remote work, her love for home decor led Chris to launch her business in 2020. You can find the cutest bohemian and Scandinavian home decor on her site, at pop up events, and at Wild Orchid Bakery on Elm St. Be sure to follow Alex & Theo on Instagram, and stay tuned for new products coming soon!

This week we have a brand new business on the show! Leah and Tom Bellemore are a husband and wife team who were inspired by their travels to open Vine 32. Vine 32 is a unique wine bar located in Bedford, NH. They feature wines from small boutique vineyards with a focus on sustainability and the experience of cultivating wine. Leah and Tom are in the process of opening, and expect to launch in early March! Leah has succeeded in designing an inviting and comfortable space that makes wine more approachable for the next generation of wine drinkers. Vine 32 will feature a rotating selection of 32 self-serve wines in as little as 1 oz pours, a tapas and charcuterie menu, and a rotating selection of local baked goods. Follow Vine 32 on Instagram and keep your eye out for their grand opening!

We're back after a brief January hiatus, and are ready to take on 2022 by welcoming SO many more small business owners to the podcast!

Today we are joined by a special guest! Meaghan Peters is the owner of Crosby's Coffeehouse, located in Wrentham, MA. Meg and Alex were introduced by a mutual friend, and have maintained a long distance friendship throughout COVID and Meg's process of opening Crosby's. Once the podcast launched, Meg became an avid listener of Ashley and Alex's show, often messaging with questions about the topics we covered. We start this episode off by sharing Meg's inspiring story, and then we flip the script! Meg asks Ashley and Alex some burning business questions, and discusses the life and struggles of small business owners in this current climate. According to Meg, "It's one thing to say you want to support small business, and it's another thing to practice it daily."

Thank you for listening! Stay tuned for new episodes every other Thursday, and be sure to send your questions and guest requests to [email protected]. 

Ashley and Alex close out 2021 with Boards & Brews! Boards & Brews is THE board game cafe in downtown Manchester, NH. Manchester natives Keating Tufts and David Casinghino opened the cafe three and a half years ago. They have created an inviting space that welcomes all, from serious board game enthusiasts to casual gamers.  Keating collected and stored games for about three years before opening Boards & Brews, and has amassed a collection of over 2,000 games. They truly have something for everyone! Boards & Brews has an extensive cocktail menu, specialty coffee, and plenty of snacks to accompany your game night. Walk-ins are welcome, and you can visit their website to book a reservation. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram for upcoming events, and be sure to stop in next time you're downtown! 

This week Ashley and Alex welcome Judi Window to the show! Judi and her husband, Gary "Diz" Window, are the owners of Diz's Cafe, an amazing addition to the downtown restaurant scene. They signed their lease on January 6, 2020, and opened on May 29 during the height of COVID. Judi is a 5th generation Manchester resident, and has an unmatched sense of love and pride for our great city! While Diz's might be fairly new, the Windows are no strangers to food service. Diz has worked in the food service industry since he was 16. He and Judi have been resident managers of several motels with full service restaurants, and have worked together in many food service roles throughout the years. Diz's Cafe is known for scratch-made comfort food, and great drinks with a family flair. When you dine at Diz's, your meal will be served on historic dinnerware that has been passed down through Judi's family. Some of the pieces are relics from the original Rex Theatre! Follow Diz's Cafe on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on the latest events and specials. We encourage you to visit Diz's Cafe for one of their ever-popular theme nights, or to enjoy mimosas and brunch on the weekends! 

This week Ashley and Alex have their first small business owner guest of season 2 on the show! Hillary Rankins is the owner of The Inside Scoop, an amazing local ice cream shop located in Bedford, NH. The Inside Scoop has become a staple in the Greater Manchester community, and they just celebrated 10 amazing years in business! Each year, the Scoop holds a toy drive in collaboration with New Hampshire based band Recycled Percussion, and they need your help! Now through December 20 you can donate unwrapped toys to fill the mobile storage unit parked at The Inside Scoop, 260 Wallace Rd. Bedford, NH. You can also Venmo monetary donations to @InsideScoopBedford, and Hillary will do the shopping for you! Thank you for listening, and for your generous donations. We hope you treat yourself to something sweet this holiday season at The Inside Scoop!

We're kicking off season 2 of Coffee at the Barre with our favorite day of the year, Small Business Saturday! Ashley and Alex talk all things small business with Cole Riel, Member Engagement Coordinator for the Greater Manchester Chamber. There are so many retail stores, restaurants, salons and spas offering some great deals this time of year. Stay up to date with the Chamber's blog post listing all of the Small Business Saturday deals you'll find in the Manchester area on Saturday, November 27. We encourage you to spend locally and shop small this holiday season!

Coffee at the Barre is hosting a Small Business Saturday Bingo Challenge from Friday, November 26 - Sunday, November 28! Visit our Instagram, screenshot the bingo board, and complete the tasks to show your support for small business. Once you've completed a bingo, post to your story, tag @coffeeatthebarre, and you'll be entered to win an amazing prize pack including some fun and exciting items from some of our past guests! Good luck, and happy shopping! 

We are so excited to welcome more retail to downtown Manchester! Today Ashley and Alex talk with Leslie Boswak, owner of Lilac and Finch. Lilac and Finch is a cute new shop in the North end of Elm Street that is owned and operated by Leslie and her daughter, Stephanie.  After starting a body care business and renting a booth at the Mall of NH,  Leslie wanted to make her venture into retail more official with a permanent location downtown. Lilac and Finch opened in September of 2021! Leslie is passionate about bringing in hand-made items from New Hampshire, New England, and all over the U.S. Her experience as a maker inspires her to support small business and our local community each and every day. We hope you take some time to walk down Elm, and enjoy some local shopping at Lilac and Finch!