Each business can tailor their own listing to whatever they want to put on it. It’s a really powerful tool.”

Richard Talipsky, Portsmouth's director of business development

PORTSMOUTH — With the holiday shopping season now upon us, the town has produced a new tool to help Portsmouth residents spend more locally.

It’s called Buy Local 02871, and a new website (https://buylocal02871.com) makes it easy for local businesses to get the word out about who they are, and what they offer.

“With significant help from the Portsmouth Economic Development Committee (PEDC), the town has built a new website to promote local Portsmouth business,” Richard Talipsky, the town’s director of business development, said during a brief press conference at Town Hall on Tuesday.

The website is in its infancy, so about only 20 businesses are currently listed, but all local companies have been urged to get their free listing on the site.

“We’re open to any brick-and-mortar business. One of the caveats is that it has to be a business registered in Portsmouth,” said Talipsky, adding that the town has already reached out to many of them. “About 100 to 150 businesses were personally invited to subscribe.”

“We’re building awareness coming off Small Business Saturday,” said Jenn Little, the town’s social media consultant. “The process has been streamlined and we’re willing to help any business.”

Joe Forgione, who chairs the PEDC, agreed. “Our mission says we want to attract and retain community-friendly businesses to the Town of Portsmouth. We’re giving them the ability to promote themselves,” he said.

Forgione said the website is a “classic example of teamwork,” and thanked Talipsky, Town Administrator Rich Rainer, Jr., and members of the Town Council for getting behind the project. (Three new council members — Sondra Blank, Mary McDowell, and Sharlene Paton — attended Tuesday’s event.)

Listing details

A basic, free listing includes a description of the business, address, phone number, website, e-mail address, a featured image and company logo.

A premium listing — which is free until Dec. 31, 2025 — adds on features such as video, an image slideshow, extra links, social media information, a Telmo bubble (a video widget that allows for personal video messages to customers), and more.

The premium listings will be free for just over a year, Talipsky explained, because the project is supported by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds of 2021, which run out at the end of next year. “Sometime in the second year, we’ll transition to a free program and a premium program,” he said, noting a $40 annual subscription for the premium option “would be reasonable.”

Getting listed is simple, Talipsky said. Go to the home page and click on “Add My Business,” pick a plan, and then enter your basic information. 

“When you submit that, you will be offered a personal Zoom phone call with our web developer (Lars Mohlin) to talk with you directly to construct your particular subscription. Each business can tailor their own listing to whatever they want to put on it. It’s a really powerful tool,” he said.

Talipsky showed an example of one such listing by Maritime Solutions Inc., which leases out boats and inflatables from its East Main Road location. MSI’s page not only features a video explaining what it offers, but also a second promo video that supports the “buy local” ethos.

Many of the businesses currently listed are sure to be familiar to most residents — Tremblay’s Bar and Grill, Clements’ Marketplace, Greenvale Vineyards, etc. 

Do you know the Bow?

But how many Portsmouth folks know about The Bow Bar, a company that can deliver to any special event a stylish mobile bar that has five taps dispensing craft cocktails, beer, wine, or any other beverage? 

Founder and owner Addison Caproni transformed a 1969 Italian Piaggio Ape — a three-wheeled light commercial vehicle that was initially marketed as a VespaCar or TriVespa — into a sophisticated mobile bar. You can read all about the company on buylocal02871, which also features a link to the company’s own website.