​Author: Jeffrey Robinson, BSU student

​Confectionately Yours Bakery owner, Kristen McKenna, makes some of the best customized cakes you have ever seen, along with many other items. Her mouth-watering cupcakes made from a family recipe for traditional buttercream frosting, and she also makes fresh muffins, cookies, and a variety of other baked goods.  I had the pleasure of interviewing Kristen about her bakery in Quincy earlier this week and I was amazed by her talent.  If you don’t believe me, just take a look for yourself!
 
Kristen started cake decorating as a hobby when she was in college to make money on the side and really loved it. Her father, Danny, started noticing how amazing she was at it and after some conversations they both decided to give it a go and open their bakery together over 7 years ago in 2013.  Being born and raised in Quincy, it was an easy decision for them to open up shop in town.  Today, Confectionately Yours Bakery is one of the few customized cake bakeries around and truly is a father/daughter owned local business.

​Customer service is key in this line of service, and you may be surprised to know it’s Kristen answering the phone when you call.  Her dedication and care for the customer truly sets Confectionately Yours apart from other bakeries.  There is almost no decoration she can’t tackle, and she will work with you on perfecting the design.  Most people start by looking at her gallery of work and come up with an idea of what they would like from there.  Kristen is very enthusiastic about her work and will make sure the final product exceeds your expectations.  In the beginning when they first opened, they tried using some marketing tools but over the years have realized that their work speaks for itself.  Word of mouth is the best marking tool and they are able to simply use social media to get more business.
 
With Covid-19 bringing almost everything to a halt, Kristen and her father had to come up with a new game plan.  Most weddings and other big events, like birthdays, were unfortunately cancelled in the early stages, but Kristen is looking at this with an optimistic view and with the glass half full.  Now that our economy is slowly starting to open back up, more people are coming back to get customized cakes for their loved ones.  Cupcakes are growing in popularity and a great option for some people as you can hand them out easier while following social distancing guidelines.  She is also seeing an increase in smaller, more intricate cakes since gatherings most likely involve smaller crowds.
 
Words can’t describe how amazing these customized cakes come out.  Don’t just take my word for it, Confectionately Yours has been the winner of the Readers Choice Awards for the last 7 years since 2014, Best Desserts by Restaurant Guru in 2019, Best of Surveys in 2019 and the Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite Award in 2019.  To leave you with a little fun fact, Kristen has also made customized cakes for the Seattle Seahawks and Mark Wahlburg!  

Visit Confectionately Yours Bakery at 764 Hancock Street in Quincy, MA.
 
Contact them via:
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Phone Number: 617-328-6333
Email: confectionatelyyoursbakery@gmail.com
Website: www.confectionatelyyoursbakery.com
Instagram:  @confectionatelyyoursbakery 
Facebook:  @confectionatelyyoursbakery

​Author: Edsangela Pereira, BSU student

In an interview with owner Derick Andrade, I learned more about M&D Staging and the business.

Tell me a little bit about your business with details like how you started it and what motivates you to do it.
I started M&D Staging, which is a home staging and furnishing business, back in December of 2017. I have always had a passion for decorating and designing interior spaces. I chose this specific line because it gives me freedom of designing open spaces without any feedback or input from the customer.  A majority of our clients are investors and real estate agents that wanted the spaces to look inviting and spacious and are not concerned with color scheme or any other specifics.
I started this business because I wanted more flexibility of a work schedule and wanted to be my own boss. I worked a corporate job for 13 years and did not like the fact that I had to answer to someone else.

To you, what was the toughest part about starting your own business?
The toughest part about opening a business is obtaining customers. Getting out, marketing, and finding people to give you a chance so you can prove that you can get the job done. The second toughest thing is obtaining enough capital to get started and to continue to run. I was inspired by the quality of work I had done and the feeling of accomplishment as the business started to grow.
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If you had to start from the beginning what would you do different and what was the challenges you faced throughout the process?
I would have focused more on my marketing efforts and invested in ways to generate leads. The most difficult challenge was finding the correct customer base.

In your opinion and what you have seen in the past years of business, what makes your business stand out?
What make us stand out from the others are three things: Price, Timely service, and Flexibility.

What is the hardest part about having a business in 2020 with the pandemic?
The toughest part of having a business thus far is the COVID Pandemic. It has limited the number of houses that investors could or would buy. A majority of our business is with investors that renovate houses to put back on the market to sell for a profit.
 
How have you been getting customers or what has been the most successful way to get them?
The number one way we currently bring in customers is word of mouth.

Has social media help your business in anyway?
Social media has not played a big part in our growth.

Do you believe that the media/internet could play a bigger role in businesses if you had the right tools?
Yes, I feel like internet can play a bigger role in getting us in front of a larger audience.
 
If you could look 6 months from now, what or where would you like to see your business heading to?
I would like to see us with 30 percent more revenue growth and a full time staff. Would like to manage more projects and do less of the manual labor.

M&D Staging is located in Rehoboth, MA.

Contact them via:
Phone: 401-323-3911
Email: mdinteriordesign@yahoo.com
Facebook: @MandDStaging

​Author: Ashley Pires, BSU student

Premier Gymnastics is located in Stoughton, Massachusetts and focuses on providing programs for young gymnasts. The gym is owned by Perry Treon and Rustam Vakhitov. Both owners have many years of experience in coaching and competing in gymnastics. Together, they focus on helping kids reach their fullest potential as gymnasts.
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Premier Gymnastics was opened back in the fall of 2016. Rustam reached out to Perry, whom is also a real-estate agent, in hopes of finding a new location for his gym. The two had known each other through previous coaching jobs. What began as a real estate deal turned into a partnership, as the two decided it would be best to open a gymnasium together.  Perry and Rustam ended up buying a preexisting gym through a mutual friend. When they first bought the gym it wasn’t in the greatest shape.  They knew that in order to bring in more business, they’d have to revamp and rebrand the already existing business. They felt that this was the toughest part about opening. Their main focus was on renovating the gyms appearance and layout to better suit their needs. To attract more clientele, they modified prices and expanded their class selections. Revamping the gym wasn’t an easy task, nevertheless they persevered. The love that they had for the sport and children inspired them to keep going as they were getting the business off the ground.  Within a few short months of opening the gym, they added over a hundred new members.  

While conducting the interview, I asked Perry what he felt differentiated his business from other businesses just like it and he answered, “the coaches“. The coaches hired at their gym are all well experienced and motivated. Rustam has 10 years of experience in coaching competitive gymnastics. He also worked for twelve years as a circus performer for the Golden Circus in Europe. Apart from competing as a gymnast for 10 years, Perry also coached recreational gymnastics for 10 years prior to opening his own gym. Adri is another coach at the gym. She has twelve years of experience in coaching competitive gymnastics and was on the Albania National team for six years. All coaches at Premier Gymnastics have years of experience and are all safety certified. While most gyms in the area hire young inexperienced teens to teach smaller children gymnastics, Perry felt that it was best to hire coaches with years of experience in coaching because he wanted to provide quality service.

The gym attracts in new customers through online marketing. They primarily advertise on Google and Facebook. Modern technology has contributed greatly in the growth of their business and thus allowing them to be very successful. Social networking has allowed them to earn greater profits by enabling more people to know about the services they offer. It has also allowed them to compete with other gymnasiums for clients. They are effectively using and taking advantage in using technology to further the growth of their business. Perry and Rustam are hoping to expand their business by opening up a second location. In branching out, Premier Gymnastics will be able to cater to a different demographic. They would like to open up a location in an area where there is not already a gymnasium. They are hoping to provide a more affordable service and opportunity to children in a less fortunate communities.
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My sophomore year in college I had the privilege of working at Premier Gymnastics. I worked there as a receptionist. Throughout my employment there, I witnessed the love and dedication that the owners and coaches put in to their jobs. They truly motivate their gymnasts and help them to reach their full potential. I also had the opportunity of helping them coordinate some events like birthday parties and summer camps. Those types of additional services that they offer are available to members and the public. These services help keep kids busy all while learning new skills and having fun. I have no doubt in my mind that this business will continue to excel and continue to be profitable. 

Visit Premier Gymnastics at 471 Page Street in Stoughton, MA

Contact them via:
Phone: 781-341-4160
Website: https://www.premiergymnasticsstoughton.com/
Facebook: @PremierGymnasticsStoughton

​Author: Faith Reynolds, BSU student

Stoughton/Easton native and Bridgewater State University Graduate, Mr. Chuck Hurley, was a high school math teacher – until he was more. Those around him knew he could fix anything, and one day that was put to the test with the fixing of a scoreboard. Not to the surprise of anyone, he completed the task. Scoreboard companies are few and far between, and he had the talent. Sort of falling into the business, Mr. Hurley created Scoreboard Enterprises of Mansfield, Massachusetts and has now installed scoreboards in every town of the South Shore and across New England.

From 1973 to 1981, installing and repairing scoreboards was part-time for Mr. Hurley. He continued teaching, and with having the summers off, was able to get ahead of the curve and complete the jobs before the school year. In 1980, Mr. Hurley received a call from Boston Garden requesting his service. Of course, Mr. Hurley said yes, but not without adding “I just have to cover detention first.” At that point, it was clear this business was sought after and was going to be more than a part-time job. Not seeing opportunity to rise from teacher to administrator, he decided to take Scoreboard Enterprises to the next level and make it his full-time work.
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When opening, the toughest task Mr. Hurley endured was dealing with insurance for the business and all it entails. He was starting a company without having any prior knowledge of how to start a business, or of scoreboard work in general. Having mouths to feed and a mortgage, Mr. Hurley was motivated to get his business off and running. He thinks back to his Italian ancestors who worked hard and didn’t make excuses – this is what fuels Mr. Hurley’s strong work ethic.

When commenting on what is the most trying part of having a business in 2020, Mr. Hurley answered “employees”, noting Coronavirus’ impact. Having conscientious employees is extremely important to Mr. Hurley, and he is proud of the ones he has. When asked why customers should use Scoreboard Enterprises, the answer is their reputation. There is very little competition in the scoreboard world, but Mr. Hurley approaches it as if there is. What is important to their customers is important to him, which shines a great light on the morals of the company. They have serviced customers small and big, but each one is equally important. A small school needing assistance for a little league game is just as significant as a Boston Garden game. It is known Scoreboard Enterprises will be there, get the job done, and leave the customers happy.

The internet plays an immense role in business today, and Mr. Hurley feels as though it is a blessing. Most of his customers come via the internet or word-of-mouth, as the athletic directors he puts boards up for recommend him to other schools. There was an instance where a school was going with a manufacturer scoreboard installation and their athletic director fought incredibly hard for Scoreboard Enterprises instead. This goes back to having a strong reputation and being able to rely on customers for word-of-mouth. Technology wise, they are constantly trying to keep up with the everchanging world and investing in the best to keep themselves at the top of the heap. They can troubleshoot scoreboards from their office, which is impressive.
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Having grown from a small part-time business to installing around the state and more, Mr. Chuck Hurley and Scoreboard Enterprises have flourished. As the years go on, Mr. Hurley passes the baton to his son, Mark. Mr. Hurley sees himself as the Maestro in an orchestra. He now sits back, twirls the baton, listens to the music, and feels confident in the direction of the company. Scoreboard Enterprises hopes to continue to grow and keep their customers happy. 2020 is not a typical year, but Mr. Hurley knows that come spring, there will be a surge of scoreboard needs, and they will only continue to grow.

Scoreboard Enterprises is located at 274 Fruit Street in Mansfield, MA.
Contact them via:
Phone: 508-339-8113
Fax: 508-339-0184
E-mail: info@scoreboardenterprises.com
Website: https://scoreboardenterprises.com/
Facebook: @Scoreboard Enterprises

​Author: Amy Guinen, BSU student

Top Notch Nutrition, located at 2307 State Rd, Plymouth MA, is serving up the tastiest protein shakes and mega teas you will ever have. Delicious and nutritious are key components to the family run shake business.

Lindsey Ward, owner and coach at Top Notch Nutrition, has been a resident of Plymouth her entire life. In high school, Lindsey found a love for health and fitness after her mother decided to transform her life and become healthier. She learned how to take care of her body and wanted to help others achieve their goals. It became a passion. Lindsey knew that she wanted to give people a quick healthy option and with that passion, Top Notch Nutrition was created.

Before starting Top Notch Nutrition, Lindsey and her mother had clients around town that they would help in their healthy journey. One of their biggest obstacles when starting to get the business together was the idea of not knowing how. Owning and operating a business was something new to them and not knowing what they needed to get it up and running was difficult. They also needed to learn about the financial aspect, as well as marketing to new clients. In the interview, Lindsey stated that her clients and many people around town were giving them support and encouragement to get the business going. People were depending on the business to open, and she knew that they couldn’t give up. The support of the clients and community inspired Lindsey and her mother while getting the business off the ground. On April 28th, 2017 Top Notch Nutrition was officially opened.
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Lindsey stated that if she was able to go back to day one and change anything, she wouldn’t. She stated that everything they went through was how she learned to run her business and what got them to where they are now, three years later. 

There is always changing factors when owning a business and new problems to overcome. This year proved no different for Lindsey. In March of 2020 Lindsey became full owner of Top Notch Nutrition after she bought the remaining business from her mother. This was the same day that Governor Baker announced that the state of Massachusetts was going into quarantine. Not only did Lindsey need to navigate the differences in being the sole owner, she needed to navigate the changes and rules set forth due to the current pandemic. Lindsey also already had plans to start a renovation of the club they were in. While all this was happening at once, she said a “calm panic” had taken over. Since the pandemic and navigating through the new regulations, they were able to stay open the whole time by offering curbside pickup and text ahead ordering.

Technology offers a big part in the growth of business. Lindsey stated that technology is one of the biggest ways they are bringing new clients. They are primarily found on Facebook. There you can find their up-to-date hours, as well as specials they are having and any info about giveaways. They also use Instagram to show off their delicious and healthy shake options as well as conduct polls of the products they offer.
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While talking to Lindsey you could tell her sense of pride for her business and her love of her customers. Lindsey stated that she values every single one of her customers. She wants her customers to be the number one priority. She also stated that her goal isn’t just to sell her products but to be able to provide something nutritious for her customers and to instill some positivity into each of their days. Lindsey and her employees always make a priority to make sure her customers know they are appreciated. Whether they are telling each and every one of them to have an amazing day or doing multiple customer appreciation days, they just want their customers to feel valued. 

Visit Top Notch Nutrition at 2307 State Rd, in Plymouth MA.
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Contact them via:
Phone: (774) 338-5598
Email: healthylindseyward@gmail.com
Facebook: @topnotchnutrition
Instagram: @top.notch.nutrition

​Author: Jacqueline Nee, BSU student

​2020 has been a tumultuous year for so many businesses, yet Ellie’s Treats has found a niche market in delivering smiles in the form of ice cream sundaes and treats to families all over the South Shore. When food truck festivals, fireworks and booked events started getting cancelled, Dan and Katie Keefe, who own Ellie’s Treats, knew that they needed to change their approach to market to be successful in the 2020 season.
 
Ellie’s Treats is owned and operated by husband and wife duo Dan and Katie. Dan is the primary owner and had operated ice cream trucks for over 10 years. Dan has also worked in the food industry most of his career and that is where they met. While working in a restaurant and over time decided to try something on their own. They saved and bought a truck to start their unique desert food truck business which they named after their daughter Ellie. They started Ellie’s Treats in 2018 and they serve up custom sundaes and treats wherever the road brings them. Dan is the ice cream scooper and food truck maintainer, while Katie’s the social media queen. This is a great partnership which has helped them to build a successful company and grow during a time that has challenged many local businesses. Most years they travel to food truck rodeos, fireworks and other local events. They sell delicious hand-made ice cream sundaes, ice cream novelties treats and slushes right out of their colorfully painted Ellie’s Treats truck.  

So I wondered, what do they consider the secret to their success and recent boom in business? Faced with Covid 19 and the social distancing guidelines, they started a new approach with home sundae kit deliveries. In the midst of the pandemic when people were not leaving their homes much, the Ellie’s treats team masked up, gloved up and delivered the goodies directly to customer around the South Shore. Kids got to wait in the window and watch for the ice cream truck to come right to them! It became a local phenomenon and most of the spread was due to their use of Facebook. Social media has been their primary mode of contact with potential customers and booking customers.  Katie said that her very first post about delivery of sundae kits currently has over 50,000 likes. Their Facebook page went from several hundred likes to over 5,000 likes. Information regarding delivery days and options was transmitted via Facebook and according to Katie, they “went viral”. When people were really stuck at home and looking for something to do, Ellie’s Treats was able to deliver. Now that businesses are starting to bring employees back in to the office, Ellie’s is offering some services there as well. They have been able to deliver to businesses for corporate events, such as employee appreciation days, while maintaining proper social distancing procedures.
 
Their hope is that for the near future, business will maintain as it has been for the last few months. So many local businesses on the South Shore are facing uncertainty and the small businesses have been hit the hardest. Ellie’s Treats have been able to embrace technology and social media in conjunction with creative business strategies to be able to thrive in a challenging market. Like most business they hope that the trend continues for them. The largest uncertainty for Ellie’s Treats right now is wondering what will happen next year and whether the current pandemic will influence new changes for next year. There are still some towns that are restricting the sale of food from food trucks and if other towns were to develop new regulations, it could affect business. Dan and Katie admitted that the last several months has been a huge learning curve for them as a business as they continue to respond to demand and the current market. I believe their proven ability to adapt and work with a situation will help them to be successful despite whatever the coming year brings. 

Ellie’s Treats is based in Weymouth, MA.

Contact them via:
Phone: 781-534-9895
Email: ELLIESTREATSWEYMOUTH@GMAIL.COM
Website: https://www.elliestreats.com/
Facebook: @ElliesTreatsWeymouth

​Author: Zachariah Longinidis, BSU student

I interviewed one of the owners of the Morgan & Morgan CPA firm, Tim MacLellan, for some background info on both himself and the company. CPA stands for Certified Public Accountant, and the firm provides accounting services, business consulting, and various other services that can be found listed on their website. The firm itself has been around since 1917, but Tim joined the firm in 1980.

One of the first questions I asked was why he chose this line of business to begin with. He said, “I was always good in math and I liked the prestige of being a CPA. It allows us to be involved in many businesses at a high level.” There certainly is a prestige that comes with the title. It shows that anyone who calls themselves a CPA needed to be able to pass an exam to get a license, and is good at the job to be able to effectively work in, and in this case run, a business with that knowledge.
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My next question was what made him want to start the business. He told me, “It was a business operated by people who wanted to retire, so it was a good opportunity to get ownership without starting from scratch.” Acquiring a business that already has an established reputation for doing excellent work is a great way to save money on things like branding and advertising, especially when first starting out. 

In addition to hearing about why he wanted to start the business, I was curious what the toughest part about this type of business is. I was told, “The toughest part is getting the clients to warm up to you. It is a very personal relationship business.” From what I know of him, he’s very personable, so I can’t imagine it’s too hard for him. He also told me that what kept him going while starting the business was that “I was committed to exceeding the client’s expectations,” which is exactly what you would want to hear from someone you want to hire to do work for you. When I asked him what sets him apart from any other companies, he said, “It comes down to the personal relationship, because it is a trust business. We meet and see if it is a good fit, but we don’t try to bring in customers that don’t feel right.” That’s a really good way to do business, because as the client, you would want to be doing business with someone who actually cares about who they’re dealing with, instead of someone who would consider you just another face in  the crowd.
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Lastly, I asked about how technology has affected his business. He told me, “Technology is an important tool for our business, but we haven’t participated much in marketing through social media. We use it more to push information out and allow people to find us.” However, he also said that, in the future, “We are looking to redesign our website and work on our social media presence,” even though most of their customers are brought in through referrals.

Visit Morgan & Morgan CPA at 175 Derby St #40 in Hingham, MA.
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Contact them via:
Phone: 781-749-0050
Email: tim@morgancpa.com
Website: www.morgancpa.com
Facebook: @morgancpa

​Author:  Kevin Joly, BSU student

​If you are a large or small company looking for services in the transportation industry, American Veterans Trucking is who you are looking for. This transportation company focuses on the timely transportation of raw material and goods throughout Eastern Massachusetts. Based out of Plymouth, Massachusetts, this disabled veteran owned company has been in business since 2016. It has built a reputation that consists of great customer service, timely delivery of goods and employee job satisfaction.      
 
The owner of American Veterans Trucking, Thomas Latham, is a disabled veteran who decided that he wouldn’t let his disability get in the way of his dream of becoming self-employed. Thomas is self-driven and expects the best of himself, his employees and his equipment. I had a moment to sit down with Tom to ask him what makes his company stand out amongst others like his.
 
Q. Why did you choose this line of business?
A. While attending college, following my injury in the US Army, I was familiar with heavy equipment from jobs I held previously. I decided to take what I leaned from college and purse a career in what I knew best (trucking).
 
Q. If you had to start over from day one, what would you have done differently?  What was your most difficult challenge?
A. I would have reminded myself to start off a bit slower.  I found that I would never refuse jobs which led me to grow the business at a rate that I became uncomfortable with. With the support from my wife, I was able to keep the pace of growth at a manageable level. “Things are good now.”
 
Q. If a customer was to choose between your business and three others just like it why would you suggest they at least give you a try first?  What makes you stand out?
A. I pride myself on great customer service! I instill in my employees that they represent the business and hold a stake in our success. With a great team and a good work ethic, my business has built a great reputation for safe and timely service which is critical in our industry.

​Q. What is the number one way you currently bring in new customers?
A. Reputation. Mainly, we work with trucking brokers that provide the specifications of the job. This determines where my trucks are needed and for how long. We also cater to the smaller trucking jobs that are local to this area. I have smaller trucks to support these jobs.
 
Q. Has internet technology (website, online ads, social media, etc.) played a big part in your growth and making your company more successful?
A. We have very limited exposure on social media. Most of our work comes from business to business (cross talk). Again, our reputation sells itself. Companies that do business with us know that we are reliable and we price our work fairly.
 
Q. If you had to look six months to a year into the future where would you like to see your business be?
A. I’m in the process of completing the necessary documentation to do work for the US Government. As a disabled veteran owned company, the government gives priority of awarding contracts to veteran owned companies.
 
Q. As a veteran and former Non-Commissioned Officer in the US Army, how would you explain your leadership qualities?
A. The Army gave me the ability to multitask and lead people. College gave me the ability to understand the financial aspects of running a business. I’m a very hands-on owner, my employees see me every day. I will jump in a truck and do whatever they are doing. I will put a suit on and give a presentation to a potential client. My way of looking at things is that you must know all aspects of the company in order for it to be successful. 

American Veterans Trucking, Inc. is located at:
198 South Meadow Road, Units 5 & 6 in Plymouth, MA.

Contact them via:
Email: amervettrucking@gmail.com
Phone: 774-306-1994
Website: https://www.americanveteranstrucking.com/

​Author: Luis Velazquez, BSU student

Avon House of Pizza (AHOP), located on Main Street in Avon, has been a family-owned business for over 40 years serving the community with high-quality food.  It is due to this focus of high-quality that AHOP has become the go-to location for a slice of pizza, dinner platters, and great pasta dinner.  Established in 1978 by owner Peter Panagopoulos, and overtaken by son James, alongside his wife Maria in 1995. AHOP’s goal is to provide great food with large portions for a great price.  The great thing about AHOP is that as soon as you enter their doors they make you feel like family. 

Jimmy, the current owner of AHOP and son of Peter Panagopoulos, can be quoted as stating “We do not have any frozen foods delivered, we do not premake anything, we make almost everything from scratch and it shows in the taste.  We make our sauce and dough on a daily basis. We provide such high-quality hand made foods at a great price that you will want to come back and visit us.”
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Through the power of the internet, AHOP has expanded its services where you can order online to make it easier for you to have a meal delivered or have the menu in front of you at any time so you can arrive and know exactly what you want to order.  AHOP’s menu can be found on their website (http://www.avonhouseofpizza.com); and, you can also visit their Facebook site to see photos, posts, reviews, videos, etc.
Why do I go back?  That is easy, it’s a friendly environment and as soon as you go in you are greeted by Jimmy or his wife, Maria, on a first-name basis. I enjoy going to a place where my family is treated as one of the AHOP family members.
 
Tell me about your business.
We are a family business with over 40 years of servicing the community.  We focus on providing the best foods with large portions for a great price.  We want everyone to feel like family and they were treated as such.
 
Why did you choose this line of business?
Well, this business chose me.  Since the age of 15 years old, I worked from 2:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Saturdays helping my parents clean or even making pizza dough in a small restaurant they had nearby in Avon.   After high school, I attended Boston University where I changed my major, which was towards premedical, to dental technician. However, I continued to work with my parents on Saturdays at the restaurant. Later, I made the decision that changed my life forever, I decided to work at the family business and I have never regretted this decision. The pizza business has always been in my familys blood.
 
When did it start?  What Year?
AHOP was established in 1978, I took it over after my father retired in 1995.

​What was the toughest thing you went through when opening? What inspired you to keep going as you were getting the business off the ground?
The biggest challenge was the renovation of the pizzeria.  The location was a hair salon, so the transformation from that type of business to what we wanted and envisioned was a challenge.  However, we had so many high expectations to succeed that this was the fuel that inspired us to keep going and get it off the ground.
 
If you had to start over from day 1 what would you have done differently? Or what was your most difficult challenge?
To tell you the truth, there is nothing that I would have done differently.  The most difficult challenge to date is the technology, I’m not into technology as I should be. I leave that part to my son Peter who manages the website, social media, etc.
 
What is the toughest part of having a business in 2020?
Now? COVID-19. The pandemic has caused our restaurant to be closed on Mondays, in addition to our original day off, which was Sunday.
 
If a customer was to choose between your business and 3 others just like it why would you suggest they at least give you a try first?  What makes you stand out?
Well, first is the quality of food, We make everything by hand. NOTHING is bought frozen, NOTHING is premade; our portions, I believe, are big.  What makes me stand out? I believe it’s our personality; we treat everyone like family and we want everyone to be satisfied when they leave our location.
 
What is the number 1 way you currently bring in new customers?
Our website is constantly being updated, we advertise and bring in new items, and stay active on our social media platforms.
 
Has internet technology (website, online ads, social media, etc) played a big part in your growth and making your company more successful?
Definitely.
 
If you had to look 6 months to a year into the future where would you like to see your business be?
To tell you the truth I’m happy with where it’s at, I would not change anything.

Visit Avon House of Pizza at 163 Main Street in Avon, MA.
Contact them via:
Phone: (508) 588-7970 / (508) 583-7444
Website: avonhouseofpizza.com
Facebook: Avon House of Pizza

​Author: Kevin Perry, BSU student

I had the pleasure of interviewing Patrick Fey, owner of Custom Scales located in Plymouth MA. Custom Scale is a selling, servicing, and renting of weight-based measurement devices. Interviewing Patrick was a great experience for me, learning about an industry that I hardly even knew existed, his knowledge of the company and the industry was astounding for only being 24 years old.

How did you start his company, what year did it start?
The Company was originally around 1987, my father built the business up from the ground up, and I ended up owning the company. My father previously worked at a smaller scale company that fell apart, and once he was free to pursuit his own goals, he started his own company.
 
What was it that made you want to start this business?
 My father believed that with his prior knowledge, he could successfully start, and manage a similar business.
 
What is the toughest part about owning a business in 2020?
Competing with online resources, such as Amazon, where they focus on the quantity of what they are selling, we focus on the quality. So, when other retailers are selling cheap scales that people are going to buy without caring about the quality, we focus on the having the best quality scales. Focusing on quality over quantity, can be hard in 2020 when people want to quickly buy something.
 
Why should consumers choose you, over your competitors?
Service. Service is our main priority, while customers pay more for our scales, they are also receiving service that is unmatched in our industry. Personally, I will be here for the life of their scales, and am available for service, repairs, or any questions the customer may have.

What is the number 1 way you bring in new customers?
Currently, word of mouth is the best way to gain new customers for us. We rarely get new business online, but our service is good, and word travels in our industry that we will be there to handle all of their needs.
 
Could expanding your online market help your business grow?
If we were to move to a more online market, then we would need to sacrifice service and quality, for cheaper and lower quality products. I think that it could help in terms of renting equipment, and servicing equipment, but beyond that I think it would have a negative impact on the reputation we have worked hard to achieve.
 
If you had to look 6 months to a year into the future, where would you like to see your business be?
In 6 months, I am aiming to have more customers, and to increase my own knowledge of the industry.
 
What is currently driving you in this business?
I want to be as hands on as possible with my clients, I love the business and the technology side of it.
 
What was your fathers’ motivation when getting this business up and running?
When my father was initially starting the business up, he already had 2 children relying on him, so failure wasn’t an option for him. His knowledge of the industry was already there, so he just had to apply his knowledge to real life.
 
Their website showcases many different types of new products, as well as a large number of used inventory. Following their dedication to top of the line services, you can request additional information on any scale they have for sale. Custom Scale of Plymouth has been leading the industry in customer service for over 33 years, with a younger owner taking the reins, who is committed to the goal his father had in mind when creating this company. When searching for weight based measurement devices, remember to contact Custom Scale. 

Visit Custom Scale at 34 Woodbine Drive in Plymouth, MA.
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Contact them via:
Phone: 508-747-3519
Email: patrickfey@customscaleandbalance.com
Website: www.customscaleandbalance.com