Business News

After the Fitness Factory gym in Newburyport closed unexpectedly on Saturday, March 20^th, thousands of members were forced to decide where to go next.

Read more: Fitness Factory refugees check out alternatives

Four businessmen have been working on creating a favorable and supportive business environment in Newburyport for startup companies that plan to provide green or clean-tech products or services. The proposed enterprise incubator is called the Newburyport Clean Tech Center.

Read more: Enterprise incubator hatching in Newburyport

A furniture store and a women's clothing consignment store will be moving into the space at 11 Market Square, formerly occupied by Native Sun.

Read more: Market Square attracts two new shops

Proposed changes to Newburyport's wind energy conversion ordinance have received mixed reviews from residents and city councilors. The amendments to the rules, spurred by complaints about the 292-foot turbine at Richey Woodworking from people in the nearby residential neighborhood, were supported by the Planning Board on March 17 - with recommendations.

Read more: Mixed reviews to proposed wind turbine rules

The trustees of the Port Plaza Realty Trust, which owns the Storey Avenue shopping center where Shaw’s is located, are opposing the plans by Panera Bread to build a 100-seat restaurant and retail space on an abutting property.

Read more: Port Plaza owner fights Panera Bread restaurant

Oregano Pizzeria and Ristorante will get outdoor seating again this summer but outdoor alcohol service at the restaurant is still up in the air following the March 15 City Council meeting.

Read more: Oregano tries again for outdoor alcohol service

The Fitness Factory is closing its doors on Saturday, March 20 after years of helping area residents to keep fit. Owners Kate and Craig Hudson said in a statement to members that the economy and competition in the fitness business are partly to blame.

Read more: Fitness Factory to close its doors

LocalGinger.com, a website that helps businesses easily promote their products and services using social media, is expanding throughout the North Shore. The company, which launched in Newburyport just four weeks ago, had an encouraging reaction from business and consumers and the company plans to expand aggresssively throughout the year.

LocalGinger.com is designed to feature "a deal a day" from local venues, restaurants and businesses.

Kendra LaPreste, the owner of Studio Salon and Spa on Pleasant Street in Newburyport recently ran a deal that gave LocalGinger customers a $45 pedicure for $22. The offer resulted in 84 sales in just two days. Said LaPreste: "I was very pleased to receive the list of buyers and see that 80 percent of them are new customers for me. This was an easy way for me to try a new kind of promotion without any up-front expenses. I'd certainly run another deal with LocalGinger again in the future."

A business such as Studio Salon sets up an exclusive deal with LocalGinger, typically a 50 to 75 percent discount for a product or service. The deal requires a certain number of purchases to kick in. Once the required number of purchases is reached, customers who signed up all get the deal.

"We had a great launch here in Newburyport," said LocalGinger co-founder Arik Keller. "Businesses are seeking new ways to reach a broader audience and our ability to feature limited time, exclusive deals to our members has resulted in new business for our merchant partners."

The Newburyport Education Foundation (NEF) is looking for sponsors for its 6th Annual Spelling Bee to be held from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, April 9 at Nicholson Hall. All proceeds benefit the Newburyport Public Schools.

Over the past five years, the NEF Spelling Bee has raised more than $100,000 for the schools. This is a fun community event with more than 20 adult teams already signed up. Sponsors are needed to sponsor a round, support a nonprofit team, or buy option cards for nonprofit teams. Ads may also be purchased to be placed in the program book. 

For more information and to sign up to be a sponsor, call Jenn Grinnings at (978)979-0152 or Catarina Ferreira at (603)305-8492, or visit www.NewburyportEF.org to download a registration form.

Two long-time organizations that support the Newburyport public schools have joined forces and are launching an initiative to connect the business community even more to benefit city schools. The Newburyport Education Foundation (NEF) and the Newburyport Education/Business Coalition (NEBC) have merged to become the NEF Business Coalition.

Read more: School support groups merge