Scholarships Help the Small Businesses of Snowport Shine

Each year, the Holiday Market at Snowport in Boston hosts a diverse array of talented small businesses and nonprofits, each bringing their unique stories and products to the market. For the past several years, Constant Contact has been proud to partner with the producers of the Snowport market to uplift small businesses and help them get the word out. This year, we’ve had the privilege of naming 12 small businesses Snowport Scholarship winners, giving them the opportunity to be a part of the Snowport holiday market while working with Constant Contact tools and experts to glow up their marketing to suit the season.

See how three of these businesses — Sock Puppet City, Refugee Protection International, and The Blank Canvas Company — are growing and glowing with Constant Contact.

Sock Puppet City: Where Art Meets Whimsy

Marty Allen, the creative force behind Sock Puppet City, has been perfecting his craft for more than 20 years. An artist who creates a number of different types of works, his sock puppet portraits and sock puppets were a surprise success.

“I accidentally found something that really sparked with people,” Marty says, describing how people gravitated toward his sock puppet portraits during an art show. “That was really the moment when I first showed people my portraits and they connected with them. I was sort of surprised!”

What began as an accidental discovery evolved into a thriving business featuring handmade sock puppets and captivating sock puppet portraits, juxtaposing the cozy, whimsical sock puppets with fine art frames for a fun, thoughtful end result.

Getting the word out

As an artist accustomed to selling his creations from a table on New York City sidewalks, Marty faces a unique challenge: how to translate that to a larger audience. “My work works so well in person, so I’m always trying to figure out how to bring my market with me.”

Over the years, he has had success in building a community of fans and supporters through email, building an email list of nearly 2,500 subscribers that he keeps informed about events and pop-ups he takes part in, as well as new products and promotions.

“Marty is fantastic at marketing his puppets and building his brand,” says Constant Contact Senior Marketing Specialist Sarah Woodruff. “His personality really shines through in his content, which helps create a strong connection with his audience.”

Since working together through the scholarship program, Sarah says they have focused on refining Marty’s social media strategy to better target and grow his audience. “Marty is incredibly active online, interacting with fans, sharing behind-the-scenes clips, and promoting his shows. That engagement pays off!”

Not able to attend Snowport? Visit Sock Puppet City on their website or on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok.

Refugee Protection International (RPI): Empowering Refugees Through Craft

For the past decade, Refugee Protection International Founder, President, and Executive Director Jennifer Hill has worked with her team at RPI to create and implement refugee-led aid programs in areas like Ukraine, Gaza, Syria, and others.

Among the many programs that RPI supports is a retail presence for refugee-made crafts, which the team will be selling at Snowport. “In addition to soliciting generous donations from the public, we also support training to learn how to crochet and make beautiful gifts,” explains Jennifer. “And then we bring them here to the U.S., and engage our amazing public.”

With a diverse background and history in supporting conflict-impacted areas, Jennifer heads a small team at RPI, focusing as much of the organization’s funds and efforts into actionable aid as possible, supported by passionate volunteers.

Finding supporters

Early in RPI’s founding, Jennifer relied on friends and family to help amplify the organization’s mission and message. “We would send emails to family and community friends and encourage them to pass us along to anyone they thought might be interested in how we help refugees.” 

In the decade since, augmented by frequent participation at face-to-face events where she and others can share RPI’s message in-person, the organization’s subscriber list has now grown to more than 11,000 supporters. By sharing updates from the areas they serve, RPI helps their donors and supporters see the very real and important impact of their donations and efforts.

“RPI’s dedication to its refugee relief mission is a powerful reminder that a small business can make a giant impact. It’s been a pleasure to work with such a dedicated team,” says Constant Contact Marketing Manager Bethany Crocker. “My efforts around Snowport are focused on ensuring their mission is heard, and I encourage everyone to spend their money on gifts with a purpose this season!”

RPI is looking forward to connecting in-person with shoppers and supporters at the Snowport Holiday Market, where they will also be using their booth space to help tell the stories of the people they support and serve through photographs and updates.

Not able to attend Snowport? Find out how you can support Refugee Protection International on their website.

The Blank Canvas Company: Inspiring Positivity Through Art

Erica Munir, artist and founder of The Blank Canvas Company, is on a mission to spread positivity, empowerment, and strength through her art. Describing her sole purpose as “to empower women through my bold and bright designs,” Erica is well prepared to bring the glimmer and shine for her holiday market glow-up. 

A Connecticut native and lifelong artist, Erica experienced firsthand the rush and joy of artists selling their creations at the Boston Snowport market and knew there was something in it for her. “I knew I wanted to do something with art. I knew I wanted to sell my original paintings,” she recalls. “And then when I moved to Boston, I saw the market scene and people selling prints and artwork, and that was really my moment.”

Armed with a degree in Marketing and Communications and a desire to be one of those artists she saw at Snowport, Erica first set out to define her niche. “I think what makes my art special is there’s this vibrance and positivity that I try to bring. My nanna had that beautiful positivity spark, even in the darkest of situations. I try to bring that positivity.”

Spreading the spark

At the heart of Blank Canvas Company’s marketing is genuine connection: initially relying on word-of-mouth, Erica has grown her communications to include more than 6,400 followers on Instagram and nearly 3,000 email subscribers. She collaborates frequently with other artists, creators, and small businesses, and supports organizations like The Loveland Foundation, Rosie’s Place, and the National Organization for Women. 

For Erica, translating her word-of-mouth marketing into a digital capacity meant sharing parts of her creative process and the events she sells at on Instagram to give her audience a sneak peek and help them feel authentically connected to her. “It’s a slow process,” she says. “But you’re building it to have people there who really want to be there. I’m experiencing that now with my email marketing, too,” she observes.

“Working with Erica has been like starting with a blank canvas and watching it burst to life with color,” says Candy Maki, Constant Contact Marketing Specialist. “Her bright personality and creative spark shine through not only in her work but also in her marketing, which reflects the same energy and authenticity that make her business so special.”

Erica will be growing (and glowing) her subscribers and followers with her art at Snowport, inspiring with brightness and positivity… no matter how cold it gets! 

Not able to attend Snowport? Get a hit of sparkle on Blank Canvas Company’s website or on their Instagram.

Sit back and watch them glow

Supporting these businesses and their fellow scholarship recipients helps make the season bright for Constant Contact and the Holiday Market at Snowport. Through entrepreneurship, community building, and positivity, these businesses demonstrate what it means for a small business to really glow this season! SockPuppetCity, RPI, and The Blank Canvas Co. are not only achieving their business goals but also making meaningful contributions to their customers and the wider community.

As we celebrate these entrepreneurs, we’re reminded of the power of creativity, resilience, and community support. Here’s to their continued success and the joy they bring to Snowport!