Local Business Support
Supporting Salem entrepreneurs
Salem Main Streets champions the wide diversity of business in Salem’s downtown district, from traditional brick-and-mortar restaurants and retail, to personal services and second-floor businesses, to emerging businesses without a location to call home. Our business support is free to any business located in or operating within the downtown district.
We offer free technical assistance workshops, one-on-one strategy consultations, social media promotion, and initiatives like window contests and sidewalk sales for all downtown Salem businesses.
Next Meetings:
- Pedestrian Mall Peer Group - Tuesday, July 28, 9:00 am, NAGLY in Witch City Mall - RSVP to Kylie
- Salem Business Town Hall - Tuesday, Aug. 11, 8:30 am at Peabody Essex Museum - RSVP here
- Haunted Happenings Business Meeting - Friday, Sept. 18, 10:00 am, NPS Visitor Center - RSVP to Kylie
One-on-One Consultations
One-on-One Consultations
Salem Main Streets staff is always available to meet one-on-one to discuss individual business challenges or opportunities, vet new business ideas, or to help bring your business to the next level.
- Our staff has a diverse background spanning a variety of retail, food service, vending, nonprofit, and government work - and if we don’t know the answer to your questions, we’ll help you find someone who does!
- Our board member, Carol McLaughlin, provides free retail design consultations for branding, layout, accessibility, and visibility.
- One-on-one consultations are free to anyone currently doing business in the downtown (even those without storefronts!), as well as those considering a business and scouting locations.
Contact Kylie (kylie@salemmainstreets.org) or Elise (elise@salemmainstreets.org) to schedule a time to chat.
Peer Support
Peer Support
No one knows how to support our businesses better than…our businesses! There’s truly no place like Salem, and our engaged local business community is the best resource we have to help you navigate our City’s unique rhythms and practicalities.
We hold peer group meetings at least quarterly to address a range of topics and technical assistance needs, from storefront designs to supporting a diverse staff and customer base to neighborhood-specific challenges…and more! These meetings are always free and open to all downtown businesses.
In addition to our quarterly meetings, Salem Main Streets manages a Facebook group for downtown retailers and personal service businesses, and frequently coordinates additional business meetings based on specific City-related information (such as Haunted Happenings) or other timely topics that may arise.
Upcoming meetings will always be listed on this page.
Initiatives
Initiatives
Salem Main Streets operates multiple initiatives throughout the year designed to bring attention to the downtown businesses and encourage local spending. From our Holiday Window Contest to the Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival to our Fashion Show Fundraiser, SMS is always looking to promote our small businesses to an invested local audience.
Contact Kylie at kylie@salemmainstreets.org with questions about any of our initiatives.
COMMUNITY Resources
