Back to Local: Exeter businesses roll out special deals to bring shoppers home

A beloved bowling alley with nearly eight decades of history. A nonprofit helping girls run toward confidence. A downtown bookstore nearing its 35th year.

These are just a few of the Exeter businesses participating in the Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Back to Local campaign, an initiative designed to encourage residents and visitors to explore the wealth of local establishments.

“Rising costs and shifting trends have made it more important than ever to support the businesses that are the heart of our community,” said Jennifer Wheeler, president of the Exeter Chamber of Commerce.

The initiative is the “brainchild” of Samantha Theobald, the chamber’s director of membership.

“We want to also include businesses and organizations that aren’t food-centric,” Theobald said.

“We’re encouraging them to go out and about and keep their dollars local, so it’s a win-win for the businesses, for us in town and for the chamber as a whole,” she added.

Where Exeter comes together — one frame at a time

Robert Ficara is the fifth owner of the 79-year-old Exeter Bowling Lanes at 6 Columbus Ave. The local institution, which also includes Shooters Sports Pub and a courtyard, specializes in candlepin bowling, a variant commonly seen in Canada and New England.

Exeter Bowling Lanes is offering customers free bowling shoe rentals. The business, according to Ficara, has stayed relatively steady over the years.

“One of the important things about our business, whether it’s the pub and the beer garden or whether it’s the bowling center, is that we specialize in bringing people together face to face,” he said. “Not on their phones; not on their computers.”

The “old-school” establishment, in keeping with its mission, is relatively analog, not accepting credit cards and keeping score with pen and paper.

Characterizing Exeter as diverse in its people and businesses, Ficara said his establishment was both a specialty experience and a place that locals frequent.

“I think that someplace like the Chamber of Commerce being able to assist every business in their marketing and exposure, regardless of what they sell, regardless of who they sell or service to — things like going local was important,” Ficara said.

“One of the biggest things that I learned from my parents is that I know how important it is to be involved with the community and to be in a position where, not only we can give back to the community, but where we can offer reasons for people to find us,” he added.

George & Phillips: An Exeter staple for 105 years

One participating business is George & Phillips at 179 Water St, a tennis and running specialty sporting goods store celebrating its 105th anniversary this year.

The owner, Bert Freedman, is the grandson of the store’s founder. He said small retailers face mounting challenges, notably online shopping, in today’s business climate.

“It’s very difficult to keep going,” he said. “Actually, this will probably be — I’m the last generation — because I have my kids doing something else, because I knew they wouldn’t be able to make a living going forward.”

He added: “We’re not planning on closing any time soon.”

Though he is not currently a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Freedman said he joined the Back to Local campaign to “help the full downtown.”

On purchases through September, Freedman is offering customers a 10% rebate certificate that they can use in October and November for early holiday shopping.

“I think they think everybody makes a ton of money doing retail, and rents keep going up and everything else goes up, and we need customers walking in,” Freedman said.

“A vibrant downtown is important to the whole psyche of a town,” he added.

Water Street Bookstore gives back to the community

Each month, Water Street Bookstore hosts a “Community Day,” an idea originating from general manager Stefanie Schmidt that has become “one of our reader patrons’ favorite things about the store,” according to owner Dan Chartrand.

September’s Community Day saw 10% of sales donated to Girls on the Run.

Participating in Back to Local, Chartrand said, “fits perfectly with that mission of building a diverse and vibrant community around the written word.”

“We measure everything we do against that mission; we don’t really look at sales until after the fact,” Chartrand added.

The chamber’s effort to build connections in the business community elevates every business, Chartrand said. One example was Exeter’s growing dining scene benefiting his bookstore, which now does a significant portion of its business in the late evening hours.

“We succeed based on all the different connections that we make with both for-profit and not-for-profit businesses — that’s such an important part of our business philosophy,” he said.

Other events the bookstore is hosting this month include an author talk and book signing with Kristin Koval and Kerry Nichols, two lawyers-turned-writers, on Sept. 14, and the Read More Women book club on Sept. 16.

Girls on the Run is offering free tote bags

The statewide chapter of Girls on the Run, a nonprofit that empowers 8- to 13-year-old girls, is headquartered in Exeter and has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce for two years, according to Executive Director Jen Hubbell.

An early obstacle for the organization was finding community coaches, said Jessica Therriault, the program manager. They contacted the chamber and local businesses to raise awareness and found a community network to support them.

Participating in Back to Local, then, was a clear way to increase outreach to community members who may be unaware of the organization and its mission, they said.

“Our goal is to inspire as many girls as possible in New Hampshire to live their lives with confidence. And the best way that we can do that is to make sure that people know about us and that families are aware that we are a resource for their daughters,” Therriault said.

“Doing things like participating with the Chamber of Commerce is a really great way to get involved with our community and to make sure that we can then reach out and assist,” she added.

Girls on the Run is offering free tote bags to community members who visit its office. The organization also offers scholarships and mentorship opportunities.

“I think being a part of Exeter — it just feels right,” Hubbell said.

Sea Dog Brewing Company serving lunch special

Going out to lunch and in-person connection over a meal has become increasingly uncommon because of changing work habits, said Brian Castle, the general manager of Sea Dog Brewing Company at 5 Water St.

The restaurant’s Back to Local offer, a burger and beer for $20, is meant to bring people together for an affordable experience to break up their workdays, Castle, a partner in the restaurant, said.

“What I think it really is trying to achieve is just getting people in the door that maybe haven’t been to these locations before, maybe aren’t thinking about going to Exeter for a night out,” he added of the campaign.

He added that he sees other businesses downtown as “complementary of each other,” not necessarily as “competition.”

By patronizing their local businesses, consumers have a positive ripple effect, Castle said. This can include supporting a teenager’s first job and creating economic incentives for housing and further development.

“You’re supporting local; you’re supporting your friends, your neighbors. The money that you’re earning in your town is being put back in the town,” Castle said.

New Yoga studio offering free class for community members

Sharon Gordon, who opened Sanctuary Yoga & Wellness six months ago, is a recent member of the Chamber of Commerce. Located at 109 Water St. facing the river, Gordon said it was initially “isolating” and joined the chamber to connect with other business owners.

With her children older and in school, Gordon said the time was right to take the leap and start her own business.

“So far, it’s been great. I really think it’s all about — from my personal experience — what you put out there,” Gordon said. “You can’t just sit back in your place of business and expect people to come by with casseroles and welcome you. To me, you’ve got to go out there.”

For the Back to Local campaign, Gordon’s studio is offering a free yoga class for community members to experience her practice.

“It’s an easy way to connect with people,” she said of joining the chamber.

For a full list of participating businesses and exclusive customer offers, visit the Chamber of Commerce’s website.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald. Reporting by Brandon Ng, Portsmouth Herald.