North Shore business association collaboration could be crucial

When small business closures, due to Covid-19, seemed to be inevitable by mid-March, leaders of several North Shore business associations knew they had to come together to help local businesses stay afloat. After several meetings, the four associations — the Gold Coast Business Association, Glen Cove Chamber of Commerce, Glen Cove Business Improvement District and North Shore Hispanic Chamber of Commerce — came up with an idea.

They sent out a survey to all of their members on March 24 asking for contact information, open status and services they are providing while businesses are closed. Glen Cove Chamber administrator Yajhayra Reyes has taken that information and created a document which is regularly updated as more businesses include themselves. As the list expands, it is regularly shared via social media and email listings.

Hummingbird Boutique in Sea Cliff is one of the businesses whose information has been distributed, and co-owner Laraine Gordon said being a part of the GCBA could play a crucial role in the business’s survival moving forward. Running a boutique remotely is difficult, she said, because the experience of coming into Hummingbird and enjoying its ambience has been one of the keys to its success since it opened in December.

Gordon, who is also a practicing psychotherapist, said her wellness skills have come into play now more than ever. She said everything Hummingbird sells is available online, but a particular focus has been put into the wellness kits she puts together, which include essential oils, kombucha, natural sanitizing spray and more. Its closure has provided a significant challenge to Hummingbird, she said, but the support being provided by the North Shore’s business associations has been encouraging.

“I’m not really surprised to see them come together in the way that they are,” Gordon said, “because everyone has always been so supportive. It’s always been a benefit of having a business there, in that everyone is so open and welcoming of each other.”

American Community Bank in Glen Cove has also taken the opportunity to put themselves on the list, but not only for their own benefit. Matt Nartowicz, vice president of the bank’s Nassau branches, said he wants to make sure local small businesses know that they can use the bank’s expertise to get help from the United States Small Business Association’s different types of loans and grants, specifically through disaster relief loans and paycheck protection programs.

“We’re doing everything we can so the community can keep their staff and keep their doors open during this difficult time,” Nartowicz said.

Nartowicz said having one centralized location where people across the North Share can see what services local businesses provide could be crucial in their survival. He said businesses should be encouraged that there are always people looking out for them and that they can all work together to ensure their survival.

When businesses thrive,  everybody in the area benefits, said GCBA President Steve Warshaw. He and his colleagues are working to make sure that continues.

“Right now, [the focus] is to put out the fire,” he said. “We want to support everybody and the message is to stay safe, stay home and, if you’re a business and you could help your neighbor, we want to support you in whatever way we can.”