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SeaComm Business Newsletter
4th Edition 2020
Business Spotlight: Barking Dog Saloon & West Parishville Metals
Lisa and Romie Clothier started their business; West Parishville Metals in 2010 when they bought the property.
Throughout the years, they have learned by doing and have discovered that the scrap business is cyclical. According to Romie: “The precious metals market can be volatile.” With 90% of business being from other commercial businesses, it is estimated they moved over 5,000 tons of material last year.
Anyone can bring scrap in, even electronics waste and appliances. “If it’s got a cord in it, you can bring it,” adds Romie. While there is no charge for electronics, they also do not pay out for them. As they do send those items out to other places for processing.
When materials are received they are broken down to add the metals to scrap metal. As much as can be recycled is. West Parishville Metals works closely with Upstate Shredding LLC in Owego, where they have the technology to recover an estimated 75% ferrous steel.The 25% waste is then sent through another system and are additionally recovered and recycled.
After years of working so much and not having any fun, they decided to find a solution that would allow them to have fun and still make money. In 2016 the solution became clear and with the help of their son Seth, the Barking Dog Saloon was born.
The unique name is attributed to one of their six dogs. Lacey, the dog, who would bark non-stop. “If you were sitting at the bar you could hear her barking upstairs,” says Lisa. Lacey became the Barking Dog, and they became the Barking Dog Saloon. Lacey has passed on but we have a new “Barking Dog”-Larkin, Seth and his fiancé Chloe’s Weimaraner pup.
The Barking Dog Saloon boasts a friendly bar area, and a comforting family atmosphere. Lisa and Romie live on the property and think of every night as if they were inviting their family over for dinner.
Other than the name, Barking Dog Saloon is also unique in the food that they serve. Romie adds, “We didn’t want to be the same thing as every other [establishment] in town.” The menu is based on what Lisa and Romie have enjoyed when they dine out. “When you go out, you want to eat something that you don’t normally eat at home,” explains Lisa. The quality of food is taken into consideration and Lisa and Romie stand by the policy; “if the food is not right, then don’t serve it.” In addition to a unique menu, they serve beer, wine, and hard cider, specializing in craft beer- thanks to Seth’s vast knowledge of the craft beer industry, however they do not serve liquor.
With the Covid-19 pandemic still in effect Lisa and Romie estimate that they are down about 30% fiscally. But, they have followed and are enforcing all of the rules that have come from the CDC and the New York Governor’s office. The tables are 6 feet apart, and anything that could have even possibly been touched is sanitized from the salt and pepper shakers, tables and chairs, down to the menus.
Lisa and Romie expressed how instrumental SeaComm has been throughout this year and handling the strains from the pandemic. “SeaComm saved our pocketbook, and helped us a lot. We saved a lot of money which is going to help us survive.” Lisa adds, “The Member Business Team are professionals, and they know their jobs, which makes it easier for me to do my job."
Currently, The Barking Dog Saloon opens at 11:30, Wednesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. West Parishville Metals is open Monday-Friday 8:00-4:30 and Saturday’s 8-12 or after hours by appointment.
To learn more about West Parishville Metals you can call (315) 261-4075 and to learn more about Barking Dog Saloon please visit them online at barkingdogsaloon.com or on facebook, “Barking Dog Saloon.”
Manager's Notebook
Resilience: An important quality in the age of pandemic
In the era of pandemics and lockdowns, resilience is the key to coping with changing demands of business and the office.
The Workforce Institute recommends that employees cultivate resilience by learning certain skills.
- Regulate emotion. Facing difficult customers and coping with customer satisfaction demand that employees learn to stay calm.
- Control your impulses. Learn to moderate behavior when you face challenges. Don't press 'send' impulsively. Learn not to burn bridges with inappropriately emotional reactions.
- Learn to look carefully for the root causes of problems. Work out what you can change or control and what you can't. Put your energy into the things you can control.
- Believe in yourself. Address setbacks--or major work changes--by seeing yourself as competent to succeed.
- Practice balanced optimism--the ability to realistically assess what can go wrong or deter success while remaining optimistic.
- Understand what others think and feel.
- Adaptability. Willingness to change in the face of adversity or circumstance.
From a psychological perspective, resilience also means adopting positive emotion, according to Psychology Today. That may mean you have to seek out the things and situations that have made you feel positive, happy, engaged or grateful. Even old movies or sitcoms might put you in that mood. Exercising or dancing could help you feel joy. Completing a home project might help stir a sense of competence.
"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." -Thomas Edison/h4>
How Small Businesses Can Be Ready For This Holiday Shopping Season (admist the pandemic)
(BPT) - Nearly every business has been disrupted by COVID-19 in some way, which makes this year's holiday shopping season more important than ever for many small businesses. Small business owners have demonstrated incredible resilience and creativity this year, and there are ways they can prepare for a holiday shopping season unlike any we've seen before.
For consumers, the season is already underway - and the way to reach them is online. More than 70% of U.S. adults said they planned to do more than half of their shopping digitally this year, and those shoppers are open to buying from small retailers, especially local small businesses.
Below are a few ways businesses can be digitally ready to reach customers this holiday shopping season from Kim Spalding, Google's global product director for small business ads.
Create a strong digital presence and keep customers informed
To help you get ready for the holidays, Google has created a holiday hub where business owners can get personalized recommendations to reach shoppers where they are across search, shopping and maps.
Sixty-six percent of people in the U.S. who plan to shop this holiday season said they will shop more at local small businesses. This is great news for business owners, especially as they can stand out by personalizing the customer experience.
During this holiday season, you can add links to your online store so shoppers can easily place a pickup or delivery order when researching your business on Google, and also let customers know the added safety precautions you're taking throughout COVID, like offering plexiglass at checkout.
Show up when shoppers are searching
For small businesses owners, it's critical for your products to be in front of consumers searching online.
If you don't yet have a website, Smart campaigns can automatically build a landing page with your phone number, hours, photos and even your reviews. Platforms like Wix and WordPress also offer free accounts that help small business owners build affordable websites.
Adapt to changing customer behavior
To keep your finger on the pulse of customer trends in real time, Google has a new tool called Rising Retail categories which shows a list of the fastest growing retail-related search categories on Google at a national and state level - including the most popular queries related to each category.
We know customers want to shop locally and support small businesses. And this is even more evident this holiday season, so be sure to get your business in front of the people who are looking for your products and services.
Jerry Manor
Business Development Manager
Direct Line: (315) 764-0566 ext. 546
jmanor@seacomm.org
Jonathon Manor
Business Development Representative
Direct Line: (315) 764-0566 ext. 814
jomanor@seacomm.org
Quick Tip:
Remember to change your passwords frequently to prevent from being hacked!
Check out more business tips at www.seacommblog.com
Locations
Main Office
30 Stearns Street
Massena, NY 13662
Malone Branch
3349 Route 11
Malone, NY 12953
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Potsdam, NY 13676
Canton Branch
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Canton, NY 13617
Ogdensburg Branch
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Ogdensburg, NY 13669
Plattsburgh Branch
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Plattsburgh, NY 12901
South Burlington Branch
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So. Burlington, VT 05401
Branch Managers
Joanne Langdon
30 Stearns St. Branch Manager
Terry Torrey
Potsdam Branch Manager
Christine Marshall
Malone Branch Manager
Barbara Bessette
Canton Branch Manager
Danielle Uppstrom
Ogdensburg Branch Manager
Yvonne Alterie
Plattsburgh Branch Manager
John Kerr
Interim South Burlington Manager
Business Development
Jerry Manor
Business Development Manager
Jonathan Manor
Business Development Representative
Emily Bristol
Member Business Loan Officer
315-764-0566 / 800-764-0566
www.seacomm.org
Let us Spotlight your business!
We are proud of our business members and want to share your story! Contact Jerry Manor for more information. Call (315) 764-0566 or toll-free (800) 764-0566 or email jmanor@seacomm.org
SeaComm
30 Stearns St
Massena, NY 13662
*This publication does not constitute legal, accounting or other profesional advice. Although it is intended to be accurate, neither the publisher nor any other party assumes liability for loss or damage due to reliance on this material.