HV Vibes - Your Hudson Valley Business Intel Tuesday, July 1, 2025

The newsletter that turns local insights into business wins

🏔️ THIS WEEK'S VIBE

Setting the stage for summer success

Happy July 1st, Hudson Valley! We're officially in summer mode, and the energy across our region is infectious. From sweet new boutique openings in Columbia County to fresh opportunities for community recognition, local businesses are making moves that matter.

The timing feels perfect—with heat waves behind us and July 4th weekend ahead, it's prime time to spotlight the entrepreneurs turning summer momentum into lasting success.

💡 LOCAL INTEL: REAL WINS IN THE VALLEY

🛍️ Marton & Davis Opens Home Décor & Candy Boutique in Chatham

On June 30, Melissa Davis and Sherri Marton—both former Columbia County Historical Society board members—opened Marton & Davis at 33 Main Street in Chatham. The boutique offers curated home goods, gifts, bath products, antiques, and an exclusive line of imported Swedish candies, honoring the building's history as a former candy kitchen.

The strategic timing: Davis and Marton say the timing feels perfect with the Crandell Theatre reopening and Shaker Museum progress nearby. They're riding the wave of local revitalization rather than creating it from scratch.

The lesson: Sometimes the best business move is positioning yourself in the path of existing momentum.

🏅 Ulster County Launches Community Recognition Award

The Ulster County Human Rights Commission has launched its inaugural Community Recognition Award, inviting nominations for individuals and businesses that uplift human rights, equity, and inclusivity in the county. Winners will be honored in December as part of International Human Rights Day observance.

The opportunity: This isn't just civic recognition—it's a new way for meaningful business and community initiatives to get spotlighted.

Deadline: October 1, award event week of December 10.

The insight: Smart businesses are already documenting their community impact initiatives. This award creates an official platform for that work to get recognized.

🎯 STRATEGY SPOTLIGHT: FROM OPENING DAY TO ONGOING IMPACT

What Marton & Davis got right

The Heritage + Curation Play: Marton & Davis didn't just open another gift shop. They created a story that connects past (candy kitchen history), present (curated local goods), and future (Swedish imports that honor the building's legacy).

The Revitalization Alignment: Instead of fighting for attention, they positioned themselves within existing energy—Crandell Theatre reopening, museum progress, Main Street momentum.

The Takeaway for Your Business:

• Research your space's history for authentic storytelling angles

• Align with local revitalization efforts rather than going it alone

• Combine heritage with fresh offerings to appeal to both nostalgia and discovery

Action step: What story does your business location tell? How can you honor that while adding something new?

🧰 RESOURCES WORTH YOUR TIME

Links and intel that matter

For New Business Owners:

• Marton & Davis Hours: Thu–Sat 11am–6pm, Sun 11am–5pm at 33 Main St, Chatham

• Ulster County Community Recognition Award: Nomination details and deadlines

For Strategic Planning:

• Crandell Theatre Update: Reopening expected fall 2025—perfect timing for Main Street energy

• Local Heritage Research: Columbia County Historical Society resources for business storytelling

For Community Engagement:

• Human Rights Commission: New leadership under Joe McDonald brings fresh energy to community recognition efforts

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That's this week's valley intel. See something we should cover? Reply and let us know.

Building the community,

Ed Weeks, Jr. MBA
Your Hudson Valley Business Intel Source

Also check out my other newsletters:

• Revenue Stack: B2B sales strategies and AI-powered growth tactics (Mondays & Wednesdays)

• The Fractional Fix: Operations optimization and business efficiency insights (Fridays)

P.S. - This Thursday's edition will break down how a local Hudson Valley business used community partnerships to increase their summer revenue by 40% in just two weeks. If you're curious about the specific strategies that work in our market, you won't want to miss it.

🔗 USEFUL LINKS:

• Ulster County Business Resources

• Community Recognition Award Info

• Subscribe to HV Vibes

HV Vibes is your source for Hudson Valley business intelligence. Published Tuesdays and Thursdays.