When the worst of times is the best some businesses finding big opportunities in current market

It can be a scary time to be a small business owner, but the good news is that many local businesses are finding ways to stay afloat and even — yes — thrive.

"It's been stressful, it's been very hard at times," admitted Susan Brown, owner of Lakes Region Floral Studio in Laconia. She started her business about eight years ago, and in 2007 purchased the Union Ave. building where her business is now located. She reached a point last year when it became apparent that the business environment that stretched out before her would be different than that which she'd already experienced.

So, after realizing that her business would take a loss if she operated in the same way she did in 2008, she resolved to see how she could make the best of 2009.

"It'd be easier to sit back and complain, but you can't," she said. On days when her floral designers had some extra time, she had them create bouquets to donate to local libraries, where they could display the flowers on their counters along with some information about the company. They also sent "thank-you" bouquets to some of their regular customers.

This past February was a worrisome time for the studio, because the Valentine's Day sales usually provide a needed mid-winter bump, and it was looking like that bump would be much lower than in previous years. Instead, the floral studio achieved its usual sales for the holiday, thanks to a new partnership with other businesses like hers. She teamed up with a salon and a bakery to offer a gift package including chocolate covered strawberries, a floral arrangement and a gift certificate for a salon visit.

"It went very well, and it felt good working with other businesses," Brown said. "I came out of it feeling good — a cautious optimism, it's going to get better."

While Brown's business is on pace to keep an even keel despite the down economy, some businesses are experiencing growth during a time of recession.

At the Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion in Gilford, director of marketing Chris Lockwood said season ticket sales are up 30-percent for this time of year, and more tickets are being sold with packages that include VIP parking and a buffet dinner. "People still want to have their entertainment, want to have their fun," he said.

Lockwood's explanation for increased business is that people who usually take an exotic vacation are instead looking to enjoy themselves locally, and save money in the process.

The venue is able to keep its shows affordable this year, which is due largely to the artists' recent willingness to sell tickets for less, as long as they're able to sell them at all. "The artists get it, they need to keep their tickets affordable so their fans can come see them," Lockwood said. For example, the REO Speedwagon/Styx/.38 Special tour, one of the biggest classic rock packages, embarked on a national campaign to make a certain number of their tickets at every show available for $13.25. At Meadowbrook, that meant that about 100 of the lawn seats, which usually sell for $35, were available at less than half-price, and the difference was swallowed by the artists. "That was a direct result of the band saying, 'we're going to take less money for those seats.'"

Dave Rotonnelli, the manager of Appletree Nursery in Sanbornton, is looking forward to the rapidly approaching planting season. He said his business goes "100 miles per hour" until mid-summer, and then slows down.

He's not sure what his numbers will look like this year when he closes his books, but the way he sees it, there's reason for optimism. The lower price of oil, for example, will likely save him $4,000 this year. The lower price of gasoline will leave his customers with a few extra dollars for another shrub. And it's encouraging that he's continuing to meet people who just moved to the area and want to improve their property. "There really are people out there who still want to spend," he said.

And last year, he found a way to extend his busy time for a few weeks by offering a new service. "A lot of the bigger nurseries won't go to your house and plant five shrubs," he said. It wasn't most profound inspiration — he said every year customers would ask him how much it would cost to have the shrubs installed. Eventually, he asked himself, "Why am I telling people 'no'?" When he started saying "yes" last year, the landscaping end of his business took off.

Baron's Major Brands, an appliance retailer that has a location in Belmont, is expecting a banner year in 2009. The family-owned business has been around since the first store opened in Lawrence, Mass. in 1947. All five of the business's locations are now found in New Hampshire, including a new location that opened in Manchester in November of last year.

Dave Souter, vice-president for Baron's, said their sales for the first quarter of this year are "up significantly" from where they've been in years past. "We believe in our marketplace, we can continue to grow," he said.

Souter said two of his cousins run the business. He said they began to notice that their revenues were beginning to fall relative to expenses, and instead of cutting costs to meet lower sales they sought to find new ways to increase revenues.

Part of this was the opening of the Manchester store, which will allow them to serve new customers. Yet, they also decided last year to start selling televisions, which allows them to serve some of their existing customers in a new way.

That proved a fateful decision, especially when Circuit City, one of the biggest players in the TV game, went out of business. "Call it wisdom or good luck, either way, we'll take it," said Souter.

The business's strategy all along, said Souter, is designed to provide customers with what he called a "recognized value" for things that people need, recession or no. "They still need laundry, they still need a fridge, they still need a range. Provide customers with a recognized value, and they'll buy... We are a business that is thriving in this economy."