In the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, Topsail Steamer owner Danielle Mahon took advantage of a recovery loan to develop a nationwide shipping program as a means of growing and diversifying the business.

“The idea behind it was to help owners figure out how to make their businesses more resilient in the face of future disasters,” Danielle Mahon said. “It helped us test the process and get our shipping business off the ground.”

But shipping fresh seafood pots across the county is not an easy undertaking given all the materials involved and the logistics of e-commerce and shipping.

In January of this year, the company sent one of their steam pots to Goldbelly, a Manhattan-based online retailer that specializes in shipping regional gourmet food experiences nationwide.

According to Mahon, they accept only about 1% of the small businesses that apply for partnership, but Topsail Steamer was asked to sign on as a partner, and their products went live via Goldbelly’s website March 5.

“The timing could not have been better in light of what has happened,” Mahon said. “This partnership has allowed us to expand the shipping side of the business while easing the burden of all the logistics.”

Mahon said the partnership has allowed her to ship roughly 65 pots a day and keep her entire staff working. In fact, she recently hired four new employees to facilitate shipping from the company’s Surf City location.

“I can’t say enough about Goldbelly and the support that they provide small businesses,” Mahon said.

For Mahon, the impact of COVID-19 has been minimal, and she considers herself very fortunate, particularly because so many other businesses are struggling.

“We’re fortunate in that our model is designed for take-out, so the changes we’ve had to implement have been very minimal,” Mahon said. “We’re a company that encourages people to eat at home with their families and that’s exactly what’s happening right now.”

Mahon said business at both locations is right about where it should be for this time of year, though most orders are smaller in size because folks are not gathering for larger group meals and celebrations.

“We’ve had customers tell us that enjoying one of our steam pots is like having a mini vacation right at home,” Mahon said. “They may not be able to go to the beach, but we can bring it to them.”

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