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It’s no secret that if one could earn a decent living fishing, I would happily throw my computer into the sea, grow a two-foot long beard and leave the civilized world behind. Alas, it is not to be, but I do try to fish as often as I can and a good tackle shop to fuel my passion can be hard to find.
Upon moving to Rhode Island four years ago, the first order of business was to find a local source of fishing tackle and more importantly a place I could trust to provide honest information (i.e. not just trying to turn a buck.) Enter the The Saltwater Edge Fishing Co., located in Newport, RI. From their huge selection to their extremely knowledgeable staff, they have a great customer experience down pat.
They also have an impressive online presence and carry everything in the store online as well. Product stock is well-managed, so you know whether an item you’re interested in is actually available or when it might be. Given the size of their inventory, this is no small feat and its something that sets them apart from every other online tackle shop out there. They also offer delivery in two days or less to anywhere in New England for in-stock items.
The Saltwater Edge Fishing Co. has customer experience nailed and for that I am happy to use their services almost exclusively. Customer retention is getting harder and harder to come by these days and treating your customers well and providing a pleasant, predictable experience is key. These guys have me hooked.
The Saltwater Edge
47 Valley Rd.
Middletown, RI 02842
p: 1-866-793-6733
w: www.saltwateredge.com
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Tags: Contests, salt water edge, small business, small business super hero, small business week
Well, as a newbie at BatchBlue I hate to buck the food trend, but that’s what being new is all about, right? Shakin’ things up? That being said, I think my favorite small business would have to be Adored By Us—a children’s consignment store in Cranston, RI. I’m not a fan of spending lots of money on clothes and toys that my toddler will quickly either outgrow or ruin, so this is my favorite place to be when it’s shopping time. I always find great deals on gently used clothes, shoes, toys, books, etc. for my toddler. I especially love the $1 bins by the cash register which keeps me flush in daycare clothes—at $1 a piece who cares if the clothes come back covered with glue and glitter!
The shop is well organized, not overly stuffed and very kid friendly. The owner has often jumped in to help me find just what I’m looking for. And most importantly, they have no problem shutting the front door and letting my little guy go wild trying out all the new toys in the middle of the store while I am busy shopping. It’s about the sanest shopping experience you can have with a toddler in tow.
I also love that this is a very family friendly work environment! It’s definitely a “by moms for moms” type of place. They work around their family schedules and occasionally have their own children in tow – which is a great additional source of entertainment for my little one.
So if you’re looking for an easy shopping experience (with or without a toddler tagging along), I highly suggest Adored By Us.
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Tags: adored by us, Contests, small business, small business super hero, small business week
Whenever I’m asked for a good place to eat in Rhode Island, my first answer is always La Laiterie. The fact that it’s within walking distance from both my office and my home makes me feel extremely lucky. It seems like I can’t visit the place without finding a new favorite cheese (can you say “BatchBleu”?), beer, or entree. Their taste and attention to detail give me full confidence to try *anything* there and expect great results. Case in point, I’m not a big seafood eater, but the octopus I tried there on a recent visit was amazing!
All this would certainly be enough on its own to earn my nomination as a BatchBlue Staff Favorite, but it gets better. Chef Matt Jennings has been doing a fantastic job bringing this relatively non-technical business into the social media space via his Twitter account. You all know how much we love Twitter at BatchBlue, and every time Matt tweets it seems to make me hungry for some damn fine food. And I know where to get it!
LA LAITERIE
188 Wayland Avenue,
Providence, RI 02906
w: http://www.farmsteadinc.com/lalaiterie.html
p: 401-274-7177
p.s.
For their commitment to excellence, I almost called them the Apple of food, until I realized that Apple Computer was already named after a food.
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Tags: Contests, la laiterie, small business, small business super hero, small business week
I’m noticing a trend among BatchBluers. We seem to have an affinity for the small, local FOOD retailers. 
So to keep with the trend, I would have to say my favorite local just-the-right-size business is Krazy Korner Bagel store in Seekonk, MA.
While the bagels are great (and have been the official sustenance of the BatchBlue staff meetings for the almost 3 year history of this company), they won their place in my heart for a different reason: the customer service. The nice folks who run the store have gotten it right with the personal touch. They know by name several of us BatchBluers, they have our standing Monday morning order ready at the waiting and they know how to treat us like a trusted friend, not just a credit card.
A good example of their above-and-beyond customer service is an experience I had there about a year ago. I arrived to pick up the regular order only to realize that my wallet was not in my purse (my then 1 year liked to play that trick on me periodically). When I looked at the bagel server confoundedly, she said, “Don’t worry. You can come back and pay for it later.” She then sheepishly added, “my boss lets me do that.” I was not surprised that a small business that enjoys our regular business would extend this type of courtesy. What struck me was that each of the employees, including the cashier, was empowered with this level of customer satisfaction granting.
Small businesses get it. Customer relationships are being started and nurtured on many different fronts at many different times and by many different people. The trick is not to post a friendly customer service policy and install expensive systems. The trick is to trust the people who are on the front lines and empower them to take good care of the customer.
KRAZY KORNER BAGEL & DELI
23 Circle Drive
Seekonk, MA 02771
p: 508.336.5204
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Tags: bagels, Contests, krazy korner bagels, small business, small business super hero, small business week
As a (somewhat) virtual company, the BatchBlue crew is always on the lookout for a nice place to work or meet. There are really only two requirements—strong wifi and stronger caffeinated beverages.
We’re based in Providence, RI and there’s no shortage of nice coffee shops in the city. But my dirty little secret is that I’m actually the one member of the Crew who lives over the line in Massachusetts. I was quite happy when I found out that Cuppers Cafe was opening in Somerset—which just so happens to be where I live.
Cuppers has quickly evolved from a converted-gas-station-with-name-painted-on-windows look into a pretty spiffy establishment. It is well-decorated, the wifi is strong, the beverages are good, and the baked goods are tasty. But, as with many small businesses, what sets it apart is the people. When I start to frequent a coffee shop, I’m always interested to see how long it takes the staff to remember my order. For owner Mark Ulrich, it was very quick. As soon as he sees me open the door, Mark gets a large black Assam ready.
Between the birth of our third baby, paternity leave, and some other matters, I recently went about six weeks without visiting Cuppers. However, the next time I went in, Mark said hello as if I was there the day before and asked “large black Assam?”
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Tags: coffee, Contests, cuppers cafe, small business, small business super hero, small business week
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