Why Small Businesses Matter
Shop small, do big things for your community
Why Small Businesses Matter puts a spotlight on the local merchants who donate their time, talent, goods, and services for the betterment of our community. The shop local movement spreads virally as local businesses who are “tagged” have the opportunity to share their story!
You're IT Designport!
Four questions with Jen Meerow Berniker, founder of Designport.
Why did you start your business?
I saw the overwhelm and frustration homeowners like myself felt when moving to the suburbs and having to navigate projects big and small. There are experienced professionals everywhere who have the answers but it's hard to know how to connect with them. We all need recommendations from friends and trusted sources and inspiration from others who have already completed their projects. Also with my professional background as a lifestyle television producer, I found that it was fun and fulfilling for me to create locally-focused content around one of my favorite topics, home design.
What is your best-selling product/service?
Right now we are finding businesses that shoot original content with us which we then share with our audience on our Instagram feed (@my_designport) and our website is seeing immediate results in terms of new business inquiries.
Right now there aren't any local businesses whose products or services we use. We have collaborated successfully with Westport Lifestyle Magazine, MoCA Westport, CT Bites, Ring's End, and Aitoro.
Have you "reimagined" your small business?
Our next launch is the "DP Directory" a highly curated, hyper-local, image-rich listing site where viewers can search by keywords for local businesses that we have featured or partnered with in the home design and renovation space. We are also hoping to grow our newsletter this year and include more special offers from local businesses.
Jen would like to nominate Iris Greenfield and Noa Accupuncture to be featured next!
Visit Designport online here, and make sure to check Jen's Facebook and Instagram page @my_designport
HamletHub thanks Fairfield County Bank for making our Why Small Businesses Matter series possible!