The ground-breaking Trail Map is one strategy set in motion by The Sphere Northampton, with support from an entrepreneurial ecosystem grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
The Sphere Northampton will be unveiling its highly anticipated Trail Map at the ‘Navigating Wellness’ Salon on Tuesday, October 17th at Spill The Tea Sis Apothecary in downtown Northampton.
In 2021, two women set out to find funding to support women entrepreneurs in Northampton. After looking at city + census data, they realized that no one knows exactly where and who these entrepreneurs are, especially after the burgeoning of small businesses after the pandemic. There was squishy data at best, and most of that data pertained only to brick-and-mortar storefronts.
With The Sphere Northampton’s Trail Map, that is no longer the case.
The Trail Map, which began simply as part of a vision, is now a visual map that identifies women and nonbinary-owned businesses in the greater Northampton area.
The Sphere Northampton is dedicated to its mission to connect and uplift driven women and nonbinary entrepreneurs so they can unleash their potential, thereby impacting their community and the local economy. By promoting these connections and supporting entrepreneurs, The Sphere intends to set a domino effect into motion that will nurture economic prosperity in the Pioneer Valley.
The creation of the Trail Map is outlined in The Sphere’s strategic plan as a method to connect and support motivated professionals, The Sphere Network. The Trail Map provides a quick and easy way to seek out these connections, whether the business is a physical storefront or cloud based.
Information for the map was gathered earlier this year in the ‘#GetOnTheMap campaign’, a study conducted in collaboration by The Sphere Northampton and Arts Equity Group. An important purpose of this study was to gain insight into the community that The Sphere Northampton serves in order to create relevant programming and content.
Join The Sphere Northampton for its Trail Map reveal, taking place at the Navigating Wellness Salon on October 17th. Alongside the reveal, The Sphere’s Salon will be navigating the relationship between well-being and entrepreneurship.
The evening will include home organizing experts, a wellness practitioner, tarot card readers, and even massage therapists offering free services to attendees. The Navigating Wellness Salon will have the perfect mix of fun and practical ways to help you relax and take care of yourself.
Tickets for the Salon are available online.
Leading up to the Salon night, a scavenger hunt will take place to highlight some of the women and nonbinary owned businesses who participated in the #GetOnTheMap campaign. There will be 9 businesses in downtown Northampton providing clues. The scavenger hunt is NOW through October 17th, where prizes will be given out to winners during the Salon.
Find more information by visiting The Sphere Northampton’s facebook page and learn about upcoming events by joining The Sphere’s email list.
Email list signup: www.spherenorthampton.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thespherenorthampton
Instagram: www.instagram.com/thespherenorthampton
