As the state gradually reopens, some Dartmouth businesses are slowly getting back on their feet.

Governor Charlie Baker announced details for his four-phase reopening plan on May 18. Since then, businesses allowed to open in the first phase — which started in full on May 25 — have scrambled to comply with guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

These include manufacturing and construction, hair salons, pet groomers, auto dealers, and retail stores like Salt Marsh Pottery in Russells Mills.

“We’re just kind of feeling our way,” said Salt Marsh owner Betsy Powel, who owns the business with husband J.P.

The pair had donated 700-800 pounds of clay to keep kids entertained during the pandemic, even firing the resulting figurines and sculptures for isolating families.

With the new guidelines, Betsy said, they’ve started to take appointments for baby prints, although business is slow to start up again. 

“We used to do around one [appointment] per hour, and we’re well away from that,” she said. 

And with just one family coming in at a time, she noted, safety shouldn’t be a problem. She noted, “We have tons of soap, tons of Purell, tons of masks.”

“We’re trying like everybody,” she said, adding with a laugh, “My husband and I are very much in the ‘endangered species’ age!”

As for the future of the business, Betsy is hopeful. “We’ve been here 50 years,” she said. “Everybody knows about us.”

Besides, she said, if it weren’t for pottery, she wouldn’t know what else to do. 

“Everything else in my brain is atrophied,” Betsy laughed. “If I didn’t get up and do the pottery, I think I’d wander off the edge of the Earth!”

Other businesses — like hair salons and pet groomers — are experiencing huge demand as people line up for a post-quarantine cut.

The Ruby Room on Dartmouth Street is fully booked for the next two to three weeks. Signs ask customers to wait for appointments and leave personal belongings in their cars.

State guidelines for salons have also cut capacity to comply with social distancing rules.

“We’re doing about half of what we normally do,” noted salon owner Audrey Gonsalves, who added that despite the new requirements, business is going well.

“I’m relieved,” she said about reopening. “It’s hard to keep your business closed for ten weeks!”

Meanwhile Dartmouth resident Ember Ray, who co-owns Smith Mills Studio on State Road with Claudia Montez, said that the jewelry and personalized print shop has yet to re-open for customers.

“We’re hoping to open in mid-June,” she said, although the two have continued to make their items in the workshop to sell online. “We’re very lucky that people are still shopping online,” she said.

As a small, unique store, she said, she didn’t think safety would be an issue. But she added, “Whatever the Governor says, we’ll follow.”

The Pet Tailor, a pet grooming business on Center Street, was a hive of activity. 

Three staffers were busy clipping two dogs, with a third wandering around the floor looking at clumps of hair.

“We’re booked for pretty much the whole month now,” said owner Sarah Nelson with a smile. 

She said the business sees around 11 dogs per day, although each dog is taking a little longer to groom than usual.

“Now everyone’s dogs are kind of in a little more rough shape than normal, because they’ve missed appointments,” she noted. “The hair gets a little matted.”

Her own dogs, dachshunds Chip and Josie, were dozing outside as she gave one last pat to a freshly shorn dog named Lulu May. “I think you’re ready to go!”