Grant Awards - Winter 2010 Cycle

The Merchants Fund opened offices in the summer of 2007 in downtown Philadelphia after a twenty-five year hiatus outside the City. The board has outlined an ambitious grant-making program to support small businesses in Philadelphia.

Artista - $1,500
This company sells handmade crafts most of which are made by area artisans. The store is located in the middle of the busy hub of restaurants and shops and enhances the mix on Germantown Ave. in Mt. Airy. The two owners are also accomplished crafts people (batiks and handmade books). The grant will be used to purchase display cases to secure jewelry because of a past theft and to purchase various display equipment and materials to improve visual merchandising.

AVEI8HT - $9,105
This company designs web sites and e-commerce strategies for nonprofit and for profit companies. The company is in its teenage years and they have hired a marketing expert to mine their client list for new work, digitize client information, and generally reorganize the company to work smarter including setting up QuickBooks. The owner would like to replace and upgrade computers and servers, hire the part time consultant to keep mining current client lists for additional work and put together a potential client list and leads. In the past new business came their way with no effort. They have already started a redesign of their web site and branding. Retired computer equipment will be donated to Northern Liberties Neighborhood Association Community Center.

Aztec Signs - $3,600
Located in Mayfair this mature company has been adversely affected by the economic downturn. Clients are making do with the old signs, awnings and wraps (cars and buses). He needs an additional printer to supplement production when the big machine is tied up with a big job which is very time intensive. Fast service is important to remain competitive in a tight economy.

Bario-Neal
The two owners went to college together and migrated to Philadelphia to pursue jewelry making. The key value proposition of their company is to repurpose and reclaim gold and silver both of which are mined and refined in highly toxic processes. Custom design work has become a growing source of revenue from people looking for green, unique gifts, engagement rings and wedding bands. Currently they work out of the Spring Garden artists’ studios and the new retail space will allow them to work and sell at the same time. The new location at 6th & Bainbridge space is raw but the price is right and it is a great corner. They are doing a lot of the work themselves along with committed family members. They are applying to the City for help with the facade.

Dairyland - $9,500
Located on Ridge Avenue for over 30 years (current owner purchased from his brother-in-law 11 years ago). The landlord forced him out in February and he moved to Main Street, Manayunk. He took over a Rita’s Water Ice location which folded (Rita’s mandates are very strict about what you can sell and the product line was not diverse enough for Main Street.) Dairyland sells ice cream which the owner makes himself with local products. He intends to enhance his brand with a "Buy Local" push. He did some preliminary enhancements to the space including adding candy cases from Asher's Chocolates (a local brand). He has a second phase of improvements he wants to undertake: banquettes, new floor, painting, convection oven, counter tops, upgrade the electric service, and coffee equipment. He has taken out a home equity loan to finance the move and to pay down debt. He will continue to test new food offerings so that he has a cross season menu and to get the right mix for Main Street. He understands that what worked on Ridge will not be enough on Main. He is working with the City for funds for a new awning.

Fabric Horse - $9,300
City Paper Article
The owner of Fabric Horse makes utility belts aimed at the eco-conscious and hip urban biker. The owner was recruited with cheap rent to open a retail space at the Piazza in Northern Liberties. Like most of the small artisan companies brought to the Piazza she had a short term lease in return for the rent break. The leased the space to a new tenant at market rate. She is returning to her roots and moving in with R.E.Load bags in Chinatown. She uses the scraps from R.E.Load to construct her product and in the past she was the production manager. R.E.Load has introduced Fabric Horse to international wholesaling and the products are complementary. The owner has a two part recovery strategy: 1. The web site has grown by time but not with value or intent. She needs to completely revamp the site and gear up her retail and wholesale e-commerce strategies. 2. She wants to purchase a membership at NextFab which is a professional product development workshop at the University City Science Center. The workshop will give her access to a variety of industrial machines including laser cutters and the opportunity to explore a variety of materials.

Feast Your Eyes Catering - $10,000
This husband and wife owned company has renovated a commercial space in Kensington including new kitchens and a catering hall. They are committed to green practices. With the support of New Kensington CDC TMF advocated that this company be included in the qualified facade zone because it is on a transportation node and a major contributor to the renewal of the community. The new Kensington High School for the Arts is across the street. With the completion of the facade including new signage this will be a striking addition to Front Street under the El.

Four Worlds Bakery - $10,000
This artisanal bakery is moving out of the shared kitchen at Kaffa Crossing Cafe to a retail space on Woodland Avenue. His bread is naturally fermented and uses local ingredients. The baker-owner is a former lawyer who set out to learn bread baking from master bakers including the baker at Le Bec Fin who taught him to make the perfect croissant. The new shop will allow him to sell retail. He recently put together a sublease with Buttercream the "Cupcake Lady". He is also working with Joe Cesa formerly of Joe Coffee Bar to use the space to roast artisanal coffee and sell retail. The space will allow the owner to meet the demand of potential new clients and diversify his base with wholesale and retail.

Fourth River Signworks - $10,000
This sign company is looking to expand the base of operations by opening a storefront at Catharine St. and Baltimore Avenue at the tip of Cedar Park. He will offer his full line of commercial signage as well as a line of custom designed house numbering signs. He also has a line of reclaimed wood from African coffee containers from his landlord who works on the docks. He will offer finishing and design services or raw product. The enhancement of this facade will be a real plus for the avenue. He has been working with The Enterprise Center to tighten up his operations and bookkeeping.

The Herbiary - $8,400
The original store is located in Chestnut Hill and the second location opened in the Spring of 2010 in Reading Terminal Market. This store sells an extensive array of herbs and natural products. The husband wife owners plan a marketing and web overhaul including an e-newsletter template, updated photos of product and to develop online shopping which is perceived as particularly important to develop sales with travelers at Reading Terminal.

High Point Cafe - $7,500
This vibrant neighborhood cafe is located at the hub in Mt. Airy where the original Weaver’s Way Coop is located and is owned by a charismatic owner. A second location is at the Allen Lane train stop. All the baking is on premise and of excellent quality. TMF contributed toward the complete overhaul of her floors before the Health Department issued a final warning of closure.

Metropolitan Bread - $3,550
The owner is a licensee to the Metropolitan Bread Company with two locations: Walnut Street in West Philadelphia and Germantown Ave in Chestnut Hill. TMF funded expanded seating-- new banquettes and 4 tables to yield an additional 18 seats for peak times like weekends when people walk away if it is too crowded at the West Philadelphia location. Metropolitan is a recognized local brand and recently he and the owners have undertaken a retooling of the web presence, and ecommerce strategies including adding Face Book, Twitter and list serv promotions and newsletters. The loyal kitchen crew in West Philadelphia produce all the prepared foods for both stores.

Paradiso - $9,500
This Italian restaurant is one of the lead settlers of new companies making Passyunk Avenue a destination. The lunch time review was great and the spaghetti alle vongole was tasty. The menu is carefully crafted at a moderate price range. The owner makes a lot of the pasta but she needs a commercial pasta machine to make large batches to save money and market her product. The boutique grocery across the street has committed to carrying her line of sauces and fresh pasta.

South 9th Street Business Association - $5,000
TMF paid toward the construction of 5 new market push carts. The prototype has been around for about a year and has been rented to crafters and small businesses. The new carts are a clean, sleek design that is a vast improvement over the traditional carts. The strategy is to attract more a variety of companies types to create buzz, additional traffic and to support small business growth. The Business Association is undertaking an ambitious plan for expansion and growth to make the market not only a local destination but a tourist attraction of the first order.

Tactile Design Group - $10,000
This black-owned and Small Business Administration 8 (a) is a web and full service design, marketing and branding company which has grown exponentially in the past few years. In order to compete for Federal contracts he needs to building infrastructure (computers, cameras, furniture) and the capacity of his employees to undertake big projects (training and manuals).

WondergyThe Potato Chip Challenge - $10,000
The potato chip challenge was created by a now retired Physic teacher to stimulate creative thinking about how to package and ship a potato chip within a science curriculum (correlated with National Science Education Standards). The original challenge was the basis for creating Pringles—stackable chips in a can. This project has potential to position the company with a nationwide recognizable brand and a fun promotion with a strong educational component consistent with their vision. The economic downturn has been very difficult for this company. Entertaining children has taken a back seat to a lot of necessities but they have developed other products for company trainings, product promotions and conventions.

Worn Yesterday - $2,000
This consignment shop for children’s and maternity wear has been a staple on Main Street in Manayunk for 24 years. The owner was located directly across the street. When a better space opened up across the street and the rent was a good deal she jumped at the move. TMF helped her with a bright new awning which will complete her new look. The new space has a beautiful Victorian bow front. The new space lends itself well to great displays. Resale is hot a market niche in the current market.