SBA’s 2025 New Hampshire Home-Based Business of the Year
Hailee Grisham Hampton ~ Hurry Slow Hat Co., Littleton
Hats Off to Success
Hailee Grisham Hampton, founder of Hurry Slow Hat Company in Littleton, is the ‘2025 New Hampshire Home-Based Business of the Year’. This prestigious award recognizes her exceptional entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to building a thriving business from home. It all began in 2021 when Hailee launched ‘All Hail Designs’, a bag company fueled by her love for graphic design. However, as her hat designs gained popularity, she pivoted the brand’s focus away from bags to hats, laying the foundation for Hurry Slow Hat Co. By 2023, with the guidance of business advisor Kyla Brustin from the NH Small Business Development Center (NH SBDC) and funding from Passumpsic Bank, Hailee secured a loan to rebrand and scale her business.
In 2024, Hailee and her husband Luke embraced a life of adventure by moving into their van, taking their brand on the road. They launched Hurry Slow Hat Co. in September 2024 with a New England hat tour, visiting outdoor stores and connecting with recreation communities. With support from the SBA and Grafton Regional Development Council (GRDC), Hailee attended her first tradeshow in Worcester, MA, connecting with hundreds of buyers, a turning point for Hurry Slow Hat Co., opening doors to new opportunities to sell her products. In early 2025, Hailee embarked on a cross-country road trip adventure across Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Southern California, Oregon, and Montana. Along the way, she promoted her hats, built partnerships with buyers, and drew inspiration for new collections. Haille has returned to New Hampshire to launch the brand’s Spring/Summer line and will open a storefront in Bethlehem this summer.
“Hurry Slow reminds us that slow is smooth and smooth is fast, so we will take the Slow Days for the Go Days and enjoy the ride,” said Luke Hampton, Hailee’s husband.
“We are thrilled to recognize Hailee’s accomplishments. Her success thus far is a testament to the payoff from working hard and being adaptable to market opportunities,” said Amy Bassett, NH SBA district director. “Hailee is a shining example of how pursuing a passion, in her case, her art, can lead to remarkable success for highly motivated entrepreneurs.”
New Hampshire award winners will be honored at the SBA’s 2025 Small Business Week celebration on Monday, May 12th, from 9:00 am to 11:30 am at the Millyard Museum - 200 Bedford Street, Manchester, NH 03101.