Enterprising Fourth Graders Launch Dogs Ahoy
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Four enterprising fourth graders from Fox Meadow used their free time during the pandemic to learn entrepreneurial skills and launch their own business. Janie Pease (COO), Alice Hoffman (CMO), Maya Zaitchik (CFO) and Avery Altschuler (CCO) took a crash course in Business 101, wrote a 30 page business plan and used it as the blueprint to start Dogs Ahoy, a local girl-owned dog walking business.
Here’s the story of the genesis of their business club that ultimately led to the new enterprise:
How did you get interested in learning about entrepreneurship?
We got interested in entrepreneurship because when Covid started and we weren’t going to school full time, we decided to do a weekly “business club” with one of our moms. For our business club, we would have a weekly meeting where we talked about one part of starting a business. Each week we would learn about a new topic. Some things we learned about were marketing, finance, communication skills/public speaking, logo and name/branding, budgeting, and teamwork/leadership. Once we learned all these skills we decided to launch our own business. We thought about what made a business successful, and we decided to make a dog walking business called “Dogs Ahoy.”
What are some of the things you learned about running a business?
One of the things we learned about running a business is that advertising is everything because if people don’t know about your business, you aren’t going to be successful. Also, you have to be different from other businesses that do the same thing as you do. And you have to make it easy for people to buy your product or hire you to do something, because otherwise they are just going to go to a different business that is more user friendly.
Why was it important to you to launch a 100% girl-owned business?
It was important to us to launch a 100% girl-owned business because many of the most popular businesses right now are run by men. For example, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, Nike, and many more very successful businesses are all run by men. This made it important to us to have a successful business that is run by only girls to show the world that girls can do it too.
How did you come up with the name and logo for Dogs Ahoy?
Coming up with the logo was hard. We had to think of many ideas until we found the perfect one that popped out to us. We had to think of a simple and catchy logo. We had to think of what we wanted to be on the logo and the colors. For the name, we thought of many different bad, good, and silly names. We thought of “Purple Puppies,” “Puppy Palace,” and others until we finally thought of “Dogs Ahoy.” We thought of this name because we love cookies and dogs so it was perfect! We also thought we might grow our business one day to sell homemade dog treats and a lot more.
What is your marketing plan for Dogs Ahoy?
Our marketing plan includes Instagram, Scarsdale Buzz, flyers, business cards, and business-to-business partnerships.
-For instagram, our account is @dogsahoy4 and we post once a week.
-We have a weekly “Get to know the team” post where we talk about each of our founders.
-We do “dog of the week,” which is where we pick the best dog we walked that week and post a face shot of them and their name on our account.
-We have our moms post on Scarsdale Buzz about our business.
-We made flyers and business cards that we pass out.
-We are in touch with another business that sells dog treats. We made a deal where she gives her customers one of our business cards and we give our customers her business cards. It’s also one girl-owned business supporting another!
What is the most challenging part of launching a business?
We think the most challenging part of launching a business is getting people to know that you exist. For example, if you can make the best hamburgers in the world but no one knows you can, no one is going to buy them from you. You could be one of the best businesses on earth, but not if nobody knows your business exists.
Have you enjoyed this experience, and what is your favorite thing you learned?
We have had so much fun with this business and we have learned a lot. Our favorite thing that we have learned is how to create a brand. Some of things we thought about were coming up with the name for the business, coming up with the color scheme for the logo, choosing the design for the logo, and most importantly coming up with a mission statement. All of this was hard to do but it was really fun! We learned to be responsible, and to show up on time. We also spent a lot of time practicing public speaking, which is a great skill no matter what you do!
If you want to hire Dogs Ahoy for any dog walking services, please contact us at: [email protected].
Scarsdale Artists Invited to Submit Work for Village Wide Art Exhibition
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The Scarsdale Mural Project is calling upon Scarsdale artists of all ages to turn the Village into a community-wide art exhibition based on the themes "Gratitude and Service." Community members' art will be displayed in shop windows Village-wide throughout the month of June and will be used to help inform and inspire the muralist who will be chosen to paint the 2300 square foot wall at 57 Spencer Place on the same theme. Submissions are due by May 15. Details can be found at www.ScarsdaleMuralProject.org.
Here are the details:
The Scarsdale Mural Project, a consortium of local business and civic organizations calls upon you to create a Village-wide art exhibition.
As we pull out of a difficult year, help your neighbors reflect upon and celebrate the most wonderful parts of our lives and community: life itself, health, science, our loved ones, people helping and serving one another and our own ability to help others, to name a few. Help us celebrate life and enhance our Village with your art by submitting original drawings, and paintings that respond to the question:
What do "Gratitude and Service" mean to you?
Art must be on either 8.5"xII" or II "x 14" paper and should be in marker or poster paint (so it is vibrant enough to enjoy through a shop window).
Leave a .5" border so that it can be "framed" by our committee for display.
Please include on a separate sheet a brief (50 words or less) explanation of the work that can be displayed alongside it.
The artist's full name, age (if by a school-age child), and email address should be written in pencil on the back of the submission or on an attached sheet of paper.
Submission deadline: May 15 by mail (or dropped off in-person) to:
Attn: The Scarsdale Mural Project
The Scarsdale Improvement Corporation
14 Harwood Ct # 304
Scarsdale, NY 10583
Artworks will be displayed in the windows of participating shopkeepers throughout the month of June, 2021 and on the website www.scarsdalemuralproject.org and may also appear in online and print publications. The original piece can be picked up from the shop where it is displayed during the first week of July. In submitting art, participants agree to have their art displayed with their first name, last initial, and age (if by a school-age child).
All pieces will be shared with the muralist whom the Scarsdale Mural Project will engage to paint the side of 57 Spencer Place to inspire the upcoming mural "Gratitude and Service."
During the mural painting, the artists of select submissions may have the opportunity to meet individually with the muralist to discuss their art.
Muralist Needed To Paint Prominent Wall in Scarsdale Village
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As part of continued revitalization in Scarsdale's downtown, a consortium of civic groups is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) calling for a professional mural artist to create a vibrant mural in downtown Scarsdale this Spring, pending final Village authorization. The theme of the mural will be "Gratitude and Service."
The Scarsdale Mural Project consortium, which currently includes the Scarsdale Improvement Corporation, Scarsdale Rotary Club, the Downtown Revitalization Committee of the Scarsdale Forum and a growing number of local groups, invites artists who are experienced muralists to apply and community members to circulate the RFP. The application deadline is April 26. Three finalists for the project will be selected by May 3, and after a more detailed submission, the muralist will be selected by May 24. The winning artist will receive an $18,000 budget to cover their fee and project expenses.
The Mural Project Consortium encourages community members to help make the project a success by encouraging talented artists to apply and by becoming a project sponsor with a tax-deductible contribution at www.scarsdalerotary.org.
The approximately 2,300 sq. ft. wall, which the Scarsdale Mural Project consortium aims to have painted in June 2021, is at 57 Spencer Place on the side of Akai Lounge, a building owned by Scarsdale Improvement Corporation, in Scarsdale Village. A New York-based artist is preferred for the project, but not required.
The mural is intended to celebrate gratitude for the essentials: life, health, science, happiness, loved ones, and essential workers. If "Gratitude" is being thankful for what we have, "Service" is sharing it with others as countless essential workers, small businesses, and volunteers in our community and around the world did this year to carry us through difficult times and into a brighter future.
As a visual centerpiece in the Village, the mural will create yet another reason for people to visit the quaint downtown, and also partake of shopping, services and dining experiences there. The mural project is one of several planned improvements for the downtown being phased in over the coming months.
For the RFP and to learn more about the project, visit www.scarsdalerotary.org.
The Race is On: 350 Run in 15K and 4 Mile Runs on April 11
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Almost 350 runners participated in Scarsdale’s annual 15K and 4 mile runs on Sunday April 11 both starting on Brewster Road in front of Scarsdale High School and circling through Fox Meadow and Greenacres. Fortunately the rain held off until the run could be completed.
Seven chose the “virtual run” option and submitted their own times to avoid running in a crowd.
The event is a big undertaking for the Village and according to Brian Gray of the Recreation Department, "This run is an all hands on deck program which requires all Department of Parks Recreation and Conservation staff to put on successfully. We also could not put the program on without assistance from the Department of Public Works, Scarsdale Police department, Scarsdale Fire Department, and Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corp."
The event drew runners from preteens to those 80 plus and there were winners in many categories.
The male winners of the 4 mile run was John Flannery who completed the course in 19:39, followed by Tyler Sipprelle who placed second at 25:24.
The female winners of the 4 mile run were Christine Lee at 27:48 and Lizzie Hurshman at 28:32.
For the 15 K run, the overall men’s winners were Sean Luzzi at 50:31 and Jake Colman at 53:02.
The overall women’s winners were Betsy Eickelberg at 56:39 and Erin Gunther at 1:06:33
Here are the top runners by sex and age:
4 Mile Run
Men 14 and under: Rishi Shadaksharappa, 28:21
Men 15-19: Zacharie Friedman 27:15
Men 30-39: Tyler Sipprelle 25:24
Men 40-49: Josh Tenzer 29:39
Men 50-59: Carl Bauer 26:28
Men 60-69: Stewart Shabman 36:11
Men 70-79: Wayne Rubin 33:39
Men 80+ Leonard Rich 52:31
Women 14 and Under: Caroline Gilbride: 35:16
Women 15-19: Lizzie Hurshman: 28:32
Women 20-29: Zoe Zelkowitz: 36:13
Women 30-39: Leena Gyftopolous: 29:44
Women 40-49: Julie Graham: 29:15
Women 50-59: Allison Bauer 31:27
Women 60-69: Judy Rubin 32:59
15 K Run
Men29 and Under: Jake Coleman 53:02
Men 30-39: Tim Dowling: 1:00:28
Men 40-49: Shangyuan Luo: 55:47
Men’s 50-59: Thomas Connors 1:02:47
Men’s 60-69: Jeffrey Lehman 1:11:80
Women 29 and Under: Erin Gunther: 1:06:33
Women 30-39: Aliyah Frumin: 1:10:29
Women 40-49: Chen Zou: 1:08:35
Women 50-59: Marla Wasserman: 1:25:14
Women 60-69: Diane Calderon: 1:29:49
See all the runners and their times here:
The Dining Tent is Back in the Village!
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(See below for a note from the Scarsdale Business Alliance about the return on the dining tent in Scarsdale Village.)
Scarsdale diners, hunkered down at home for the winter, now have something to celebrate. Scarsdale Business Alliance (SBA) is thrilled to announce the re-opening of its Dine the ‘Dale outdoor dining space, located in Scarsdale Village on Spencer Place between Harwood Court and East Parkway.
Are you ready to see friends and neighbors again, while dining on some of your favorite Scarsdale restaurants’ best dishes? Take a break from cooking and come dine in Scarsdale Village, either under the 2500 square foot tent located on Spencer Place or in the adjacent uncovered area.
Last year this initiative was a huge success, creating a safe destination for multi-generational community members to gather, dine and socialize, while bringing vitality to our downtown center and supporting local businesses.
Scarsdale restaurants are so excited to welcome their customers back to the Village. Scarsdale diners can take a seat at one of the safely-spaced picnic tables to enjoy table service from some establishments, delivery from others, or take-out from any of Scarsdale’s dining establishments. Alcohol table service in the tent area is available from Yeomiji, and alcohol delivery service is also available from Popojito, Scarsdale Metro and Westchester Burger Co. Just scan the QR codes located on signage throughout the tent to access menus and order food.
Enthusiasm for the large outdoor food space has been growing, as both restaurant owners and residents have anticipated its opening this week. Of course, to ensure everyone's safety, diners will have to follow social distancing and safety guidelines, including wearing a mask when not seated.
The Dine the ‘Dale tent adds to the outdoor dining areas already offered by some of Scarsdale’s favorite restaurants. Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to eat out while supporting our Village center restaurants and local businesses. As Scarsdale continues to fully reopen, this initiative is just another step towards bringing our residents together while still staying safely apart.
The SBA is extremely grateful to Scarsdale Improvement Corp., the lead sponsor of this initiative. Presenting sponsors include Houlihan Lawrence, Morgan Stanley, Scarsdale Foundation and White Plains Hospital. Platinum sponsors include Advocate Brokerage Corp., Chubb, Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty, Spencer East Realty and Wilson & Son Jewelers. Silver sponsors include Clean Design, Eye Gallery, I Am More Scarsdale, Korth & Shannahan, Partyline, Scarsdale Security, The Simon and Lerner Team at Houlihan Lawrence, Vintology Wine & Spirits and Zachys. The SBA is also grateful to all of the community members who have donated to the tent area.
The tent will remain up through August, with the possibility of being extended through November, similar to last year. In addition to being a safe place to gather and dine, the SBA hopes to offer programming during the late afternoon and evenings from local businesses, non-profit organizations and service providers.
The SBA is a non-profit organization, dedicated to supporting the Village of Scarsdale and its local businesses. The SBA works with local merchants, government, property owners, real estate corporations, community members and other local groups to help make Scarsdale a thriving village.
Please consider supporting the SBA as we continue to reimagine outdoor usage of space, making our Village center a destination and supporting our local merchants.
