JAN
2022
Small Business News & Events For You
“The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own.” – Benjamin Disraeli, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
CLIENT SPOTLIGHT
Taking the Next Step in Dance
An Interview with Jackie Stanton-Conley of Junction Dance Boutique
To say that Jackie Stanton-Conley was destined to run a dance boutique is not a stretch. As the owner of White River Ballet Academy in Vermont for 14 years, opening a store to serve her dancers and others in the region was a natural next step.

“Ballet is my passion. I've always wanted to go as far as I can and accomplish as much as I can. I feel like opening this boutique is an obvious next step in my career. I'm a dreamer and I have many more aspirations that I intend to fulfill," she said.

Last month, Stanton-Conley opened Junction Dance Boutique in a newly renovated space next door to her ballet academy. The store gives Upper Valley dancers a space to try on and buy dance shoes, leotards and other gear.

Opening the store was a long time coming for Stanton-Conley, who said she’d known she wanted her career to revolve around dance since she was a child. She and her sisters grew up dancing and after high school, she moved to Philadelphia and danced professionally for three years. 

After she and her twin sister were in a car accident that resulted in career-ending injuries, Stanton-Conley decided to shift her focus to teaching and choreography. After moving to Vermont, she began teaching for Vermont Ballet Theater School and eventually opened White River Ballet 14 years ago.

She considered opening a dance boutique for many years, but it was only recently that she decided it was time to make it a reality. The process began after the region’s main dance store - owned by her friend - closed about two years ago. While her friend offered her the business, Stanton-Conley said she wasn’t ready at the time.

Back in July 2021, however, she knew it was time and reached out to SCORE for help. Over the six months that followed, she and her mentor, Bruce Butler, worked tirelessly to create a business plan that helped her find and prepare a space and open the store successfully.

That experience, she said, was a profound one and a big reason why she was able to open the store confidently.

“I know the dance world so well, but to approach a new business in the right way was crucial,” she said. 

The mentor relationship she built with Butler, was just as powerful and something Stanton-Conley said she will always be grateful for.

“He is a lifetime friend,” she said. “I feel like I've found somebody really special in my life…We worked until the very end. We were exhausted. We pushed and pushed and pushed. I will never forget everything he gave me and continues to give me.”

Junction Dance Boutique is located at 87 Maple Street, Suite 8, White River Junction, VT 05001. The shop is located in the back of the building next door to White River Ballet Academy. Visit them online at https://www.junctiondanceboutique.com/.
SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES
In January, SCORE is recognizing National Mentoring Month - celebrating all of the mentorship and learning opportunities available locally and nationwide. Get your business off on the right foot in 2022 with mentorship opportunities and these resources from SCORE.
Explore some of the biggest trends expected to impact and influence small businesses in 2022 so you can prepare for a great year. From growing support for local business among consumers to a bigger focus on talent acquisition and retention, there are a lot of trends to watch in the new year. Click here to access it now.

Whether you're hoping to start a new business in the new year or want to refocus on your current business, having a strong business plan is critical to your success. Learn more about how to write a strong business plan. Click here to access it now.

Looking for new ways to grow your business in the new year? From investing in SEO content to leveraging market research and e-commerce strategies, this post has fresh ideas to scale in 2022. Click here to access it now.
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

How can you continue (or begin) to focus on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in 2022? This article from Entrepreneur.com offers key insight into trends to watch in the new year.

Whether you've been working hard to prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion in your business already or want to make DEI a focus in 2022, it's important to stay up to date on strategies and trends you can leverage in the new year.

From using data to hold your business accountable to your DEI goals to continuing with flexible work options to open up your ability to recruit a more diverse workforce, there are many ways you can make diversity a priority this year.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
We offer a variety of virtual workshops and webinar series. Use the button below to visit our workshops page to view the calendar of events and register.
Meet with a SCORE Mentor
Need Help With Your Business or Business Idea?

Mentors at Merrimack Valley SCORE are here to provide you local, expert advice.
Visit our website or call (603) 666-7561 now to request a mentor.
Volunteer with SCORE
Help Make Dreams Come True.

Small businesses need your help! Become a volunteer with Merrimack Valley SCORE and help build the Southern New Hampshire business community. If you enjoy engaging with others and sharing your experience and expertise, please contact us!
SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. We have been doing this for more than 50 years.

Because our work is supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and thanks to our network of 10,000+ volunteers, we are able to deliver our services at no charge or at a very low cost. Learn more about SCORE.
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.
SCORE Merrimack Valley
Email Us | Website | Tel: (603) 666-7561
275 Chestnut Street, Suite 133, Manchester NH 03101
Connect With Us: