GRCA Commerce Quarterly Summer 2020 - 41

in your community

GreaterReading.org
GREATER
READING

BUSINESSES

hamburg:

Hamburg is open
for business!
By Deena Kershner, Executive Director, Our Town Foundation

2020 has certainly proved to be a trying time for everyone. Back
in March when businesses were asked to close for two weeks and
everyone was encouraged to stay at home, most of us didn't envision
that the COVID virus would affect our livelihoods through the
summer months and into the fall. But it did, and most of us are
adapting to the new "normal" the best we can.

Out with the Old ...
As the Director of Our Town Foundation,
Hamburg's non-profit community revitalization, I personally am making use of the time I
normally spend on organizing the numerous
events we host throughout the year by updating
all of our marketing materials. The hamburgpa.
org website that provides information on all
new customers by doing so. Since reopening their store with regular
the businesses and activities in the Hamburg
hours, they have increased sales. Their theory is that with more people
area has received a complete makeover. The
staying at home they are getting tired of their old furnishings and
Historic Hamburg Visitor's Guide that is
looking to refresh their décor with some new items.
distributed at several Pennsylvania Welcome
Hamburg Antiques transitioned to doing more business through
Centers and high-traffic destination points
eBay
during the shutdown; however, the owners say, "This is not
within the area has been updated and reprintthe
way
we want to do business - we want to see our customers on
ed. With a volunteer's assistance, a brochure
a
one
to
one basis. We want to go from insensibility to sensibility
highlighting the many trails in Hamburg was
and
get
back
to our old normal where it was before COVID-19."
drafted, and the rack card for the Art & Craft
Gallery of Hamburg was redesigned. I've been
The Blue Coast, a beach themed boutique, delved into Facebook
busy purging files, both on the computer and sales with curbside pick-up during the shut-down.
in the old-fashioned filing cabinets. The stacks
"It is something I wanted to eventually do, and the shutdown forced
of papers and files on my desk are finally
me to act sooner," the owner said. She will continue to market her
diminishing, a task that was long overdue,
merchandise through social media.
but I could never find the extra time to go through them all. I am
sure many others can relate to that task!

Let's Eat!
Getting Social
Hamburg's downtown business district is adapting and thriving
through the pandemic. During the shutdown, several business
owners made renovations to their shops to better accommodate their
patrons when they reopened. The Lazy Dog Vintage Market moved
their entire check out area to the front of the store and converted
available space into additional booths for their consigners. They now
boast more than 80 vendors and have increased their sales through
marketing on social media. Necessities New & Used Furniture
offered live Facebook shows while in the red phase and they gained

Hamburg's eating establishments have all created new policies.
The 1787 Brew Pub has increased its outdoor seating, while Russo's
eliminated its indoor seating and is doing take-out ordering only
with curbside pickup if desired. Before COVID-19, the Four Twelve
Coffee Shop had been planning on changing up their menu to go
with one that was more seasonally based. The shutdown gave them
time to think about that approach and fast forward those changes.
The pandemic has forced us all to make changes - some may be
temporary and some may be permanent. But we will all get through
this if we support one another. Shop Local! Eat Local!
41

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GRCA Commerce Quarterly Summer 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRCA Commerce Quarterly Summer 2020