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N EW HAM PSH I R E B USI N ESS R EVI EW
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N H B R.C O M
IN BRIEF
NH’s chambers of commerce ‘challenged’ by Covid
Chambers of commerce across represent about 55% of revenues and proceeds from events New Hampshire have been at the about 45% to fund his chamber’s annual operating budget forefront of efforts to help businesses of $750,000. weather the economic fallout from “Revenues from dues are drying up,” said Gifford. the coronavirus outbreak, but despite Likewise, John Nyhan, president of the Hampton Area their own strained finances, they find Chamber of Commerce, said that many of his 500 members themselves without a place in the are in the hospitality sector — restaurants, lodging and enqueue for assistance. tertainment venues — where operations have been severely From the onset of the pandemic, affected by both the initial closures and subsequent restricchambers have served as liaisons tions. NASHUAthe REGION LAKES REGION UNTRY and brokers between the state agenMoreover, the chamber draws a major share of its revenue cies in Concord and local business from summer events, especially the annual Hampton Beach communities. Karmen Gifford, presi- Seafood Festival, which Nyhan said funds a quarter of the dent of the Lakes Region Chamber of budget. Commerce, said that for weeks offiWendy Hunt, president and CEO of the Greater MerriKarmen Gifford, cials from between 20 and 25 chammack-Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce and chair of BUSINESS TECH, ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING, HOSPITALS, BANKING, PERSONAL FINANCE, ENERGY president of the bers regularly have taken part in a the New Hampshire Association of Chamber of Commerce OW: FEATURE JUMPS, FLOTSAM, LAW, OPINIONS, THE LATEST, ABOUT TOWN LakesSTORY RegionAND Chamber of IN BRIEF, call, initially with Gov. ChrisNEWS, Sununu and since with Executives, said the chambers, which operate on “bareW: REAL ESTATE + CONSTRUCTION, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, TOURISM, CHARITABLE GIVING, MORE ONLINE Commerce, says her organiTaylorCALENDAR, Caswell, LAST commissioner of the Department of bones budgets,” have reduced staff and trimmed hours to W: AREA GRAPHICS, another TOURISM choice, WORD zation’s sources of revenue Business and Economic Affairs. “We are a conduit,” make ends meet. “It’s very frustrating,” she said. “We’ve nev‘are drying up’ during the she said, “a channel of communication between the er worked harder to put out information — and not just to pandemic. state and businesses.” members but to all businesses in our communities. We need “We’re challenged,” said Tim Sink, longtime president some financial help.” of the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, “but I’m exIn May, Gov. Chris Sununu announced that $60 million in cited by the role we’re playing. Chambers are convenors. federal funds distributed through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief We bring people together.” and Economic Security (CARES) Act would be designated Some 40 chambers of commerce are scattered around to nonprofit organizations. the state, slightly more than half of them employing salaried However, the wording of the CARES Act appears to permit staff and the rest drawing on volunteers. funding to some nonprofit organizations while denying it to “Most operate on a shoestring with little or no cash re- others, including chambers of commerce, which are classiserves,” said Sink. He explained that dues from members fied differently by the IRS. — MICHAEL KITCH
Fireworks business fizzles without public displays For Steve Pelkey and others in the pyrotechnic business, the Covid-19 outbreak could not have come at a worse time. Pelkey, owner of Atlas PyroVision Entertainment in Jaffrey, said his business spends 10 months out of the year planning for the Fourth of July and other summer occasions, like concerts, sporting events and festivals. But while New Hampshire has been taking small steps toward reopening its economy, Pelkey said there’s no telling how long it will be until the large events that keep his business afloat will be allowed to take place again. “Approximately 70% of our business is public displays and event performance,” Pelkey said. “The remaining 30% of our business is consumer firework sales out of our stores.” Atlas PyroVision, based in Jaffrey, has been in business since 1949, and Pelkey’s family purchased it 30 years later. Pelkey himself took over the business in 1986 before purchasing it outright in 1990. He said the company is behind about 70% of all professional pyrotechnic dis-
Ernesto Burden Vice President/Publisher eburden@mcleancommunications.com, ext. 5117 Jeff Feingold Editor jfeingold@nhbr.com, ext. 5118 Liisa Rajala Associate Editor lrajala@nhbr.com, ext. 5158 Bob Sanders Staff Writer bsanders@nhbr.com, ext. 5136 Mista McDonnell Business Manager mmcdonnell@nhbr.com, ext. 5114 Jodie Hall Creative Services Director jhall@nhbr.com, ext. 5122 Nancy Tichanuk Senior Graphic Artist ntichanuk@mcleancommunications.com, ext. 5116 Robin Saling Graphic Artist rsaling@nhbr.com, ext. 5124 Kimberly Lencki Advertising Sales Director klencki@mcleancommunications.com, ext. 5154 Karen Bachelder Sales Executive kbachelder@nhbr.com, ext. 5148 Cynthia Stone Sales Executive cstone@nhbr.com, ext. 5146 Connie McCullion Sales Executive cmccullion@nhbr.com, ext. 5121 Ronnie Schlender Special Projects Sales Representative rschlender@nhbr.com, ext. 5150 Angela LeBrun Sales & Marketing Coordinator alebrun@mcleancommunications.com, ext. 5120 Emily Samatis Event & Marketing Manager esamatis@mcleancommunications.com, ext. 5125 Heather Rood Business and Sales Coordinator hrood@mcleancommunications.com, ext. 5110 Morgen Connor Digital Media Specialist mconnor@mcleancommunications.com, ext. 5149
plays in New England. On May 11, retail facilities were allowed to resume in-person operations with some restrictions, and that includes vendors who sell fireworks for personal use. Those businesses report strong sales since they reopened, just in time for summer, their busiest season. Even with having to operate at less than 50% capacity, Phantom Fireworks of Hinsdale is doing a brisk business, manager Mary Bebey said Monday. “Right now we are very busy,” she said. “Now everybody knows we’re open,
Jaffreybased Atlas PyroVision, says it’s struggling to make ends meet as the novel coronavirus wreaks havoc on the entertainment industry. Seventy percent of its business is public displays and event performances, with just 30% from consumer firework sales at its four locations.
and they’re coming in.” Stateline Fireworks in Winchester opened with a sale and was “slammed,” said co-owner Pamela WilcoxDapkus. The store has been able to call back all of the 17 mostly part-time employees laid off when retail establishments were forced to shut down to stem the spread of Covid-19, she said. Pelkey said the retail element of his business has been off to a slow start at his four locations, but added that it’s normal this time of
year. He said annual trends show a steep uptick in sales between late May and the weeks leading up to the Fourth. “It’s certainly not enough to sustain us until the next season,” he said. “Unlike a lot of industries that can deal with a phased-in rollout of reopening, [our busy season] is one time of the year and it’s done. There’s no second Fourth of July.” — MIA SUMMERSON/ GRANITE STATE NEWS COLLABORATIVE
Brook Holmberg Vice President, Consumer Marketing brookh@yankeepub.com Sherin Pierce Vice President, Retail Sales sherinp@yankeepub.com
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