SBG's next meeting is October 5th on Zoom. Details to follow.

The Sandwich Business Group

The Sandwich Business Group is a nonprofit organization founded in 2005 to facilitate affordable collaborative advertising and marketing projects for businesses located in Sandwich, New Hampshire. Since then, SBG's mission has expanded with the understanding that the vitality of the Sandwich business community and the vitality of the community as a whole are inseparable, especially in these difficult days.

Some of our businesses cater to visitors, some to residents, and many to both. Promoting the economic and social vitality of our town is a benefit to everyone who cares about Sandwich. We encourage all Sandwich businesses to join the group and participate in as many projects as they wish.
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SBG's new president, Don Sutton,
explains his vision for the organization.

SBG's Mission is to:

  • Provide Sandwich and Associate businesses and organizations with a variety of resources and material support to grow, thrive and sustain themselves.
  • Celebrate our unique heritage while encouraging adaptation and change for growth and stability.
  • Create a welcoming and supportive environment for families, visitors and community groups.
  • Use our influence, skills and resources to assist in building a vibrant community of engaged, caring and committed citizens.

A Letter from SBG's President, Don Sutton


At the 2020 February monthly meeting, I presented what are called the SBG pillars that support the new mission statement and our responsibilities as a 501C6 organization. Everything we do should support our mission statement and the requirements of being a 501C6 organization. I identified three areas of focus for the group:

A. Marketing: This isn't much different than what we have done for years. The majority of your dues is spent on this pillar. We have a diverse set of businesses with different marketing needs. We need to continually look at how best to market the collective products and services we offer in the context of technological change. This function has seen dramatic changes over the past several years and we need to ensure we are reaching potential customers in the best manner possible given our resources.

B. Economic Development: In 2011, the town published the results of a comprehensive review of its Master Plan. The Master Plan has a great deal of material about the demographics of the town as well as desired ambiance/characteristics. While some details may have changed and possibly need to be updated, the general direction is likely still applicable and appropriate for a town like Sandwich. As an organization, we should be looking at ways we can help bring that Master Plan to life relative to the areas that directly affect the business environment in the town.

C. Community relationships: How should we interact with other organizations both public and private in town and also our neighboring towns? Rather than live in a system of silos, we will be looking for where we can cooperate and support the various activities in town, neighboring towns, and the region. A broader view of community relationships will highlight the variety and depth of talent and expertise which can provide a synergistic effect for all of us.

If we can be successful in these three areas, I think we can easily show how we have supported our mission and supported the primary purpose of 501C6 organizations which is to improve the business environment/ conditions. We have the most experience in the marketing area, but there are resources we can draw upon to help in developing the goals/activities that will improve results in all three areas.

I am asking for people to sign up to work in areas in which they were interested. Whether it be developing goals/activities for economic development, community relations, or marketing, we need your help. Please let me know if you are willing to participate in any of these areas. Pass this info along to anybody you think might be willing to help us. Our by-laws do not preclude non-members from participating in our activities.

Keep Calm and Small Business On

We are still in the midst of a pandemic. Our lives and businesses continue to be impacted, some more than others. Here is helpful Covid-19-related information for small business from NH SBDC: https://www.nhsbdc.org/covid-19-assistance. And here is a helpful link from the SBA: www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources.
The annual meeting of the Sandwich Business Group was held January 12, 2019 at the Corner House with about 25 members in  attendance.  Many thanks to Lexi Townsend and the Corner House for a delicious buffet. Officers for 2020 will be: Don Sutton – President,  Jon Greenawalt – Vice President, Mary-Ann Schmidt – Treasurer,  Vicky Galkina – Secretary

Thank you, Don Brown! After more than a decade of leading the Sandwich Business Group with diplomacy, intelligence and good humor, Don Brown has stepped down as President. He will be missed. (And we hope he won't wander off too far...) SBG owes him a huge debt of gratitude.

​And thanks to Adam Nudd-Homeyer for his contributions to the group.

Thanks to Jon Greenawalt for stepping up as Interim President while the group found a new President and for all the ways he supports Sandwich Business Group.
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Dick Seery and Jon Greenawalt at the SBG Annual Meeting