May 19, 2020

Edmonds Entrepreneurs get Innovative, Part Two

Over the last several weeks, business in downtown Edmonds has been anything but usual. Since the shutdown of dine in eating, most retail, bars, and salons/spas was ordered by Governor Inslee on March 16th, the landscape of our downtown economy has shifted drastically.

With any challenge or crisis, an opportunity to pivot and adapt presents itself. Some of our business owners have come up with innovative and creative ways to adjust how they serve customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is part two of this story, you can read part one here.

Connecting business needs to service providers with grants

One of the most innovation programs that has come about due to the COVID-19 shutdown is the business-to-business WISH program through the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

WISH (When Inconvenient Stuff Happens) provides small grants of up to $1000 to connect businesses impacted by the shutdown with service providers. Whether a business needs help with their website, legal services, social media, or pretty much anything – the Chamber Foundation connects a business in need with a professional service provider and funds the project.

According to the Chamber Foundation website,“The idea is to help the grant recipient better position themselves for long-term success after this interruption abates, while at the same time bringing new business to the service provider. In this way, each grant – though small – doubles its impact.”

Local downtown businesses like Walnut Street Coffee, J.Rankin Jewellers, Kelnero, HouseWares, Glazed & Amazed, Waterfront Coffee Co., Chanterelle, and Driftwood Modern have taken advantage of this creative solution.

Words of inspiration for the community

With our entire community facing so much uncertainty, seeing uplifting and positive messages are more meaningful and important than ever.

ARTSpot has created a Post-It Note Project where passersby can share words of inspiration or encouragement on a post-it note for their store window. Doodles are also welcomed.

They shared on their Facebook page that while the store was closed, they still saw people out walking in front of the store and missed the daily interaction with customers. So the post-it project idea was born.

If you aren’t able to make it down to the store, you can text or message the store directly with what they’d like to share and ARTSpot will create the post-it for them.

Buy a shirt, support a business

My Edmonds News publisher Teresa Wippel has created an innovative way to show – and wear – your support for local businesses with the Keep Edmonds strong t-shirt project.

With the purchase of each t-shirt $10 is donated to a local business or nonprofit of the purchaser’s choice. Many downtown Edmonds businesses are options including Alley Bell Music, Bellissimo Beauty Bar, Crow, Edmonds Bookshop, Rebekah’s Boutique, and more.

Shirts are available for pickup at Hamilton Printing near Harbor Square when they are ready. To order your shirt, visit the website.

Garden Market re-opens

The popular Edmonds Garden Market has opened and will be running each Saturday from 9am to 2pm until June 13th.

The market has made some changes in light of COVID-19 including limiting the number of patrons, asking people to shop solo (not bring extra family members), practice social distancing, and to go cashless if possible. The entrance to the market is now at 5th and Bell and the exit is on Main Street, effectively keeping the flow of foot traffic in one direction only.

In the coming weeks, more businesses will begin to open with guidelines in place for social distancing and other safety measures. For a list of businesses offering takeout or curbside services, visit loveedmonds.com. To learn more about all of the great businesses in downtown Edmonds, visit edmondsdowntown.org.

By Kelsey Foster, photos by Matt Hulbert

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