After Job Loss, Hoboken Couple Launches Business In Quarantine

HOBOKEN, NJ — It's likely that many New Jersey residents considered launching a new project while isolating amid coronavirus in the last few months, but it's not always easy to do, particularly when considering potential financial and health concerns. Still, a Hoboken couple was able to put their heads together for a new venture, and recently announced the result: The Seedling Agency.

Christopher Scali, a former TV news anchor in Casper, Wy., and Carly Nemeth, a graphic designer, were in home chatting in their Hoboken living room on a Friday afternoon in May when their "conversation began to spark with excitement," Scali said.

The pair had met at a job in New York in 2017 and eventually started dating.

"We started hanging out outside of work," Scali said. "We loved that we had similar interests, in culinary arts, photography, design, travel and media. Over the course in time we feel in love and started dating in early 2018. I moved later that summer and we been inseparable ever since. Talk about a New York Love Story. "

Both of them lost jobs this year.

In May, they were discussing ideas when they decided to combine Scali's experience in editorial and business development with Carly's brand design experience.

Scali glanced at a bag of David's Sunflower seeds on their coffee table, and the name of their agency was born.

The pair "built a website in 24 hours, created social media pages and began outreach almost immediately," Scali said.

"We collaborate with brands to accelerate growth and foster success," he said. "We specialize in branding and outreach. Our network of freelancers have worked in almost every industry. We have copywriters, web developers, designers, audio techs, editors, production."

Scali studied communications and media from Susquehanna University. He started out at Major League Baseball as a broadcast event game logger, moving out to Casper, Wyoming where he was an anchor and reporter for NBC-KCWY. In New York he worked for CBS Interactive and then Timeless Media, where he led PR, business development, and social media.

Nemeth studied at Parsons (The New School) as well as Savannah College of Art and Design. She holds a degree in branding design and strategy. In the past she has done freelance work for startups, pharmaceuticals, nonprofits, FinTech and many large entertainment companies. She has over 12 years of experience.

He said there's a moral in their venture.

"We're all about supporting small businesses," he said. "and we want to tell people it's never too late, and never give up."

Other recent Hoboken business updates:

• Hoboken recently received almost $1.9 million in funding for small businesses, to be distributed in $20,000 grants. Read more here.
• A number of Hoboken businesses received government PPP loans to help with payroll, rent, and more during the pandemic. Read the list here.
• More than 50 of the city's restaurants opened the week of June 15 for outdoor dining. READ MORE.
• Some of those have added "streateries" for outdoor dining. READ MORE.
• Kings supermarkets updated residents on their sanitizing procedures and on an employee who tested positive last month. READ MORE.
• Two of the city's weekly farmers' markets reopened in June. READ MORE.
• The city and Patch both have directories of businesses that are open and closed. Check them out and add your listing. READ MORE.
• The city will be closing off certain blocks for businesses to expand and draw foot traffic. READ MORE.
• Here's what you need to know about applying for unemployment and other benefits during coronavirus. MORE.
• Read more about unemployment, small business, and other coronavirus regulations and benefits in New Jersey here.
• States around the country have had to pull back on their reopenings, such as Texas, which closed bars and has seen a record number of hospitalizations and deaths.

[Read about Hoboken's most recent coronavirus statistics and trends here.]

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