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Merrimack Readers' Choice Small Business Tournament

Round Two Begins. Vote for Your Favorite

This week choose between Instant Ambition, Drapoel Salon and Boutique and Swan Chocolates.

 

VOTING IS NOW CLOSED. Thanks for playing.

With Round One of our Readers' Choice Small Business Tournament behind us, it is time to start narrowing down our first round winners to determine Merrimack Patch Readers' favorite business in town.

In round one, we asked you to choose winners from categories of businesses in a related category. This round, we're taking three winners at a time and asking you to vote for the business you think provides the best public service.

One important change for Rounds Two and Three: You will have only three days to vote in each category. Voting for the first three of our 12 businesses ends at noon on Wednesday, so don't delay.

This period, your voting options are:

 

VOTING RULES: Post the name of the small business you think should win that week in comments field near the bottom of this page. Voting begins on Monday at 5 a.m. and runs through Wednesday at noon. We will announce the weekly winner early on Wednesday afternoon. Please post only one vote each week. Votes will only be counted if they are made in the comments section of this story. Votes posted on Facebook and Twitter unfortunately cannot be counted. Voting results posted in real time shall not be deemed official until Patch has reviewed and confirmed all of the votes.

BREAKING A TIE: Each of these businesses also has a listing in our directory where Patch users can rate and review them. In the event of a tie, the winner with the most spot reviews will win. So when you have a couple of free minutes, make sure to click on the link for the business of your choice and write them a quick review. Each of the links above brings you to that business' listing. If you have already written a review of the business you're voting for, it will count. We are looking a cumulative reviews.

Good luck and have fun!

About this column: Help us pick the best of the best of Merrimack. Related Topics: Drapoel Salon and Boutique, Instant Ambition, Readers' Choice, and Small Business Tournament

Other Merrimack Readers' Choice Small Business Tournament Articles
And the Winner Is... Broadway Bound
By Carolyn Dube
POLL: Readers' Choice Final Round is Here
By Carolyn Dube
Broadway Bound Earns Second Spot in Finals
By Carolyn Dube
POLL: Choose the 2nd Readers' Choice Finalist
By Carolyn Dube
POLL: Swan's or Florence's? You Decide
By Carolyn Dube
Readers' Choice Final Four has Been Set
By Carolyn Dube
See all Merrimack Readers' Choice Small Business Tournament articles

Belynda Talbott

7:23 am on Monday, May 21, 2012

Go Drapoel or go bald! Love what you do to me!!!

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Bobbie J Parzych

7:52 am on Monday, May 21, 2012

Drapoel! It's Unique & Stylish! Darlene makes everyone Welcome & Lauri my Favorite Stylists who I followed here does color like no other! I recommend her to everyone!!! Love Love Love this Little Space in Merrimack! Good Luck Drapoel!!!

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Lee

8:03 am on Monday, May 21, 2012

Drapoel ... hands down! :)

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Kelly Smith

9:01 am on Monday, May 21, 2012

I vote for Swan Chocolates. Their service is amazing and in a category some other shops don't even come close to matching.

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Saundra

9:14 am on Monday, May 21, 2012

Swan Chocolates. They are the best.

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Rick Niziak

9:17 am on Monday, May 21, 2012

Swan Chocolates by a landslide.

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William Smith

10:17 am on Monday, May 21, 2012

Swan Chocolates. Without a doubt, they stand head and shoulders above the rest.

Are the owner and staff of a business allowed to stuff the ballot box for their establishment?

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darlene somerville

7:19 am on Tuesday, May 22, 2012

I checked with the editor of the Patch and she said that business owners and staff should definately vote, :)

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Carolyn Dube

7:56 am on Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Hi William,
Anyone and everyone is allowed to and encouraged to vote, even business owners and employees. The more the merrier!

L Franklin

10:35 am on Monday, May 21, 2012

Swan Chocolates - love their upstairs gathering room too.

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Jess G

11:22 am on Monday, May 21, 2012

Swan chocolates for sure. No comparison

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Billy Sargent

11:48 am on Monday, May 21, 2012

Swan Chocolates. Nice folks, friendly, welcoming, take your time atmosphere... unlike another joint what seems to believe their high falutin' name entitles them to have a distinctly European, or at least Quebec-esque approach to customers. Whereas Le Boutique seemed to think they're doing me a favour by unlocking their doors & permitting me the privilege of shopping there, Swan Chocolates is the exact opposite. I hit the store every time I return home, & I order online when an expatriate in Texas.

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Casey

12:39 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012

Drapoel Salon and Boutique

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Nancy Blandino Morin

1:18 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012

Drapoel!!!!! Friendly staff, very talented haridressers, most considerate and private pedicures and massages. They give you courtesy yummy coffee, they have some of the most unique clothing and jewelry too! Drapoel!!!

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Sarah Lojko

2:44 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012

Instant Ambition has made me like coffee more! Thanks for all the choices!

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Tim Curran

2:49 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012

Instant Ambition! On a side note, can't you just code a poll into the site?

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Carolyn Dube

8:02 am on Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Hi Tim,
Yes, we can embed polls that people can click on to vote, however the way they are built, people have figured out how to vote more than once and I decided not to use them for this because, unfortunately, people who know how to do it use it to their advantage. I believe I made the right decision on this because we had polls on other sites when this game started that had literally more than 500,000 votes on it and just a couple of the choices were in the hundreds of thousands range. Its unfair to disqualify a business because a customer or customers are dishonest, but it was impossible to tell who really won.

Corin Rieke

3:54 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012

Drapoel all the way... head and shoulders above any other in service and quality.
Staff is always friendly and smiling, will offer a beverage, and they always have new products and services that they inform me about without making me feel pressured to buy something else beyond my haircut. Won't go anywhere else for a cut, and I live in Manchester where there are salons on every corner... still I drive down to Drapoel. TRULY AN ASSET!

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Bonnie Houle

4:15 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012

Drapoel. It took me years to find the very best.

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Nancy

7:14 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012

Swan Chocolates...hands down!

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Laurie DePaulis

7:31 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012

Swan Chocolates by a mile. Friendly staff, great pastries and coffees. THE BEST chocolates and gelato alll made in house, in small batches. The new seating area upstairs is beautiful and a great meeting place to relax with friends or a great book.
Now with the new Cakes, cupcake line, in so many yummy flavors you just have to try them yourself to see how great they are.

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mom of 2

8:04 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012

Swan Chocolates is the BEST!! Wonderful atmosphere, great service and AMAZING treats.

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Dawn Pierce

9:09 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012

Swan Chocolates! Absolute heaven run by angels!

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Kristin Larose

9:53 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012

Drapoel! It is the best you'll never leave without feeling like a million!!!

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Scott Walles

7:30 am on Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Swan Chocolates- Hands down!!!

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Cynthia Boger

9:25 am on Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Drapoel is unique, professional and full-service. One stop head to toe services!

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Sara M. Skaggs

9:38 am on Tuesday, May 22, 2012

My vote goes to Drapoel! Rebecca does an incredible job with my hair! :)

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Elaine Loomer

9:49 am on Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Swan Chocolates for quality goods in a small town atmosphere.

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Jack Strong

10:08 am on Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Swans of course.. Chocolate rules !

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Richard Murphy

10:50 am on Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Drapoel Salon and Boutique. I drive up from Boston to get my hair did there.

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Jennifer Stitt

12:02 pm on Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Definitely Drapoel Salon and Boutique, the best salon in the U.S. I think! Truly! Darlene and her staff are terrific.

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Adam

12:04 pm on Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Drapoel! I followed Rebecca to this salon after being with the same salon for 4 years. I am very glad I did. Drapoel's service and staff are leaps and bounds above the rest (especially Rebecca ;). Id recommend this salon to anyone looking for a new and unique experience!

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Thomas J Gibson II

12:45 pm on Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Dropoel Gets it right all the time!! Hotties!!

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Jenny Mangini

1:31 pm on Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Drapoel!! best hair cut ever!!! thanks rebecca:)

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jerry pratt

7:36 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Swans all the way ! ...nothing beats their service and products ...

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Kate G

9:28 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Swan Chocolates! Truffles, coffee, cupcakes, and ice cream. How can you go wrong with that?!

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Laura

9:28 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Without a doubt drapoel. They are so friendly and wonderful there :) Even came in on their day off because I had been sick and missed my appointment

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Jillian

9:31 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Drapoel!!!!! Great energy and a great owner!!!

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cindy kyle

10:04 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012

drapoel is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Susan Hill

10:14 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Voting for Drapoel, of course!

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Michael Durant

11:52 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Swan chocolates rulesss!!!!!!!!!

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Carolyn Dube

12:01 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Voting is now closed. Thanks for playing.

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In This article

  • Drapoel Salon & Boutique

    Drapoel Salon & Boutique

    634 Daniel Webster Hwy, Merrimack, NH
  • Swan Chocolates

    Swan Chocolates

    436 Daniel Webster Hwy, Merrimack, NH
  • Instant Ambition

    Instant Ambition

    380 Daniel Webster Hwy, Merrimack, NH (Skyline Mall)

See More on Patch

 

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