HUMBOLDT — Five local businesses in the area were each presented $3,000 by Sagehill Community Futures for responding to COVID-19 in unique and innovative ways.
The five businesses were voted on by the public through the Sagehill Community Futures website page “Innovation through COVID-19.”
The businesses selected include Grey Barn Handwerk in St. Gregor, Designer Styles Salon & Giftware in Humboldt, Steve’s Barber Shop in Wakaw, Dog House Spin Studio in Lanigan, and Twisted Tails Bar & Grill in Englefeld.
“Businesses were nominated through an online process and the innovation of what each business was doing through COVID had to be indicated,” said Susan Wehage, Sagehill Community Futures’ chief executive officer.
“What we wanted to do was recognize COVID-19 has affected small businesses. So what the board and staff came up with is how can we help recognize the innovation that businesses have had to do during this unforeseeable time.”
Grey Barn Handwerk’s owner and operator Loriann Wuchner said she felt “extremely grateful” to be voted as one of the top five in the region.
“It was the customers who voted, my customers who voted for me with all the other really wonderful businesses they could have voted for as well,” Wuchner said.
“Knowing that it was the innovation, but the customers really appreciated it because they voted every day for two full weeks is humbling.”
The business specializes in personalized items including t-shirts, mugs, land location signs, official Bronco merchandise, and more.
According to Sagehill Community Futures nomination, since COVID-19 hit the Grey Barn Handwerk launched a whole new product line, which was available to be shipped worldwide, began offering curbside no contact pickup, and increased her presence on social media.
“I had just started my shop earlier this year, and then all the sudden COVID hit. So I went from just having a teeny little Facebook group, to building a website and putting my orders online,” Wuchner said.
“Right now it’s just through the website, we don’t let too many people through our shop— just the odd person, because we just have curbside pickup.”
Wuchner said since COVID-19 began she has actually had a positive upswing on her business which she attributes to people preferring to shop locally.
“I have found that my local community has really stepped up and I have so many more orders this year than last year, and just the local people have said, ‘I want to shop local, what can you do for me?’”
Another of the businesses selected, Designer Styles Salon & Giftware, was recognized for providing delivery and in town pickup, as well as providing product and instructions for clients to use at home, had stylists create short educational videos about the products, created a guessing game on social media and had suppliers send gifts for frontline works.
Steve’s Barber Shop was recognized for revamping the delivery of service from strictly walk-in to appointment, enhancing cleaning between clients, spacing out clients, and ensuring that personal protective equipment is always worn.
Dog House Spin Studio was recognized for renting one of their ten bikes monthly to have at home, including spin shoes and a set of weights, creating videos of leading workouts for members to follow, and added live videos on Facebook to workout alongside.
The final business recognized, Twisted Tails Bar & Grill, offered different methods of payment for customers, increased their social media presence, focused more on delivery, created outdoor seating for customers, and introduced soft and hard ice cream, slush machine and more family take out meal options.
