Amanda Brinkman returned to film follow up Small Business Revolution segment ‘Bristol Borough One Year Later’
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
Boy, does time fly.
It seems like only yesterday Bristol Riverside Theatre was filled to bursting with borough residents on the edge of their seats. After weeks of nonstop voting and flooding social media with their “Pick Us” campaign videos, it was time for the moment of truth. Deluxe Corporation was ready to announce which town would receive a $500,000 makeover on season two of its Hulu series Small Business Revolution.
In case you’re new to the area (or have been living under a rock), we’ll spoil the ending — Bristol came out victorious. Now, more than one year later, businesses and individuals alike have been reaping the revolution benefits, with Bristol quickly earning a reputation as one of Bucks County’s top spots to visit.
To celebrate this milestone, honorary Bristolian Amanda Brinkman, Deluxe’s chief brand officer and face of SBR, returned to her home away from home to film the follow up segment “Bristol Borough One Year Later.” On May 2 and 3, Brinkman’s famous blond hair and heeled combat boots could be spotted making their way along Mill Street, checking in with the six businesses featured on the series.
From March through June of 2017, Deluxe’s film crew captured the stories of Discover, Learn and Grow, Hems Truck and Auto, Annabella’s Italian Restaurant, Keystone Boxing, Polka Dot Parlor and Miguel’s Barber Shop. More than 100 local businesses met with Brinkman and her team, but there was something special about these owners’ passions that truly wowed her. Each was paired with an industry expert from Deluxe, who assisted them in everything from the creation of social media accounts to the modernization of websites, all with the goal of attracting a wider clientele.
“We did not have a marketing plan, and connected to that, our website was outdated,” said Annabella’s co-owner Robert Angelaccio. “We didn’t have the expertise to know how to attract new customers and continue to engage returning customers.”
That all changed thanks to SBR, which gifted Angelaccio with a vibrant page that instantly translates the restaurant’s menu, history and atmosphere to potential diners. Today, Annabella’s also enjoys thriving Facebook and Instagram accounts, which boast a combined total of nearly 2,000 followers.
The other five businesses received similar upgrades, with each episode of Small Business Revolution spotlighting their individual journeys.
Brinkman’s recent visit reiterated her initial thoughts after her first encounter with the borough last year — the people of Bristol already started a movement, SBR simply helped push it forward. During a closing ceremony at the Wharf on May 3 (which utilized the new speaker system installed by SBR), Brinkman addressed an intimate crowd gathered to bid her farewell.
“I’m amazed to be back and see this momentum,” she said. “The revolution was already underway. You came together as a community and will continue to propel forward.”
Bristol Borough Raising the Bar president Bill Pezza shared a similar sentiment.
“Our job is to make sure we sustain this momentum,” he said.
Pezza went on to explain how his volunteer-based organization is working to achieve this. Currently, its key initiative is the purchase of a tram, which he said will transport locals and visitors from the Mill Street parking lot to their desired destination, whether it’s the shops, restaurants or Bristol Riverside Theatre.
Also in attendance were council president Ralph DiGuiseppe and Mayor Joe Saxton, who thanked everyone who made the SBR experience a success, especially Bristol’s “surrogate first lady” Brinkman.
“I’m so blessed to be a part of this,” Brinkman said. “You opened your homes, businesses and lives not just to us, but to everyone watching.”
According to Brinkman, the Bristol community also served as an inspiration to small businesses across the country fighting to stay afloat in the modern-day era of technology. It showed that even longtime professionals like Angelaccio, who has been in the restaurant industry for more than three decades, can adapt.
“You affirmed other business owners going through the same struggles,” she said. ••
Watch Small Business Revolution: Main Street at deluxe.com/small-business-revolution/main-street/season-two/episode-one-bristol-borough.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at [email protected]
