Westport is not a good place to do business.
It’s a great place.
That was one of the takeaways from Tuesday night’s first “In Good Company” event.
Sponsored by Stifel Investment Services and the Westport Downtown Association, it was the initial outside event held at hi’Amba, the buzzy new restaurant/market on Jesup Road.
Socializing at hi’Amba, before the panel.
Three rock star panelists — hi’Amba and Kawa Ni restaurateur Bill Taibe, PopUp Bagels founder Adam Goldberg, and Savvy + Grace owner Annette Norton — shared their success.
And their struggles.
The former far outweighed the latter. All gave great props to local officials they’ve worked with, like 1st Selectman Jim Marpe, for creating a business-friendly environment.
They offered equal praise to the town itself. Residents support small businesses that reach out and treat them well, they said.
And the mix of sharp, creative and energetic Westporters spurs owners to innovate and grow.
(Full disclosure: The event was moderated by “06880” founder and executive editor Dan Woog — hey, that’s me!)
Panelists (from left) Bill Taibe, Annette Norton, Adam Goldberg; moderator Dan Woog.
Panelists’ stories revealed common themes that apply to businesses of all sizes and stages. Among them:
- Ask for help, and choose your advisors carefully. Trusted relationships matter. Knowing who to call can be as valuable as having the answer yourself. Goldberg cited help from Taibe, for example, in the days when he and a few friends were making their first bagels by hand.
- Be good to the people around you. Employees, customers, neighboring businesses and community partners all play a role in long-term success.
- Build a strong team and lead by example. Culture starts at the top. Great leaders are willing to do the work they ask of others.
- Difficult times reveal real support. COVID was a particularly difficult time. In the weeks when Westport completely shut down, customers gave Norton a $5,000 check. Marpe shopped there often, buying gift certificates. That, and similar support by others, enabled her to stay open — and ultimately thrive.
- Prove profitability before pursuing scale. Growth is most sustainable when built on a solid foundation. PopUp Bagels now has dozens of locations. in over 20 states. They’ve outgrown their slogan, “Not famous, but known.” That growth followed initial success, selling the product from a leased kitchen. It was not what Goldberg set out to do, but he took each step carefully.
- Approach equal partnerships thoughtfully. A 50/50 partnership may appear balanced, but it led to one of Taibe’s first failures. Success often depends on having a plan for resolving disagreements.
- Understand what makes Westport unique. Success here requires appreciating the character, people and culture of the community.
- Recognize the power of collective action. Business owners working together can have a meaningful impact on the community.
For me as moderator, one of the most interesting takeaways was the recognition that, as Westport changes — with new residents pouring in from (often) New York and Brooklyn, and younger families joining older ones — an exciting vibe makes this one of the most attractive communities around.
“In Good Company” audience. (All photos/John Videler for Videler Photography)
Our restaurant scene rocks. Taibe’s newest venture is a smash. But he welcomes competition. It makes him work harder and better — and everyone benefits.
We may look nostalgically on the mom-and-pop shops we’ve lost. There will always be a place though for a place like Savvy + Grace. Amazon is a difficult competitor, Norton acknowledged. But her personal touch, and unique knowledge of what Westport customers want, is impossible to duplicate.
And PopUp Bagels is just one example of the startup entrepreneurial culture that is everywhere in town.
From individuals and couples starting businesses in their home offices (and kitchens), to a few collaborating on new ideas — leveraging market knowledge, AI and intuition to build companies that solve old problems, create new niches or take us in directions we didn’t know we wanted to go — Westport is in a great spot.
We are “In Good Company” for sure.
(“06880” was a start-up once too. Like all local businesses, we rely on the community to keep us in business. If you enjoy this hyper-local blog, please show your support by clicking here. Thank you!)