Ron’s Antiques

Leominster’s own “New England Picker”

Throughout much of society, the antique business has become increasingly popular as a means to obtain unique pieces of history. Over the years there has also been an influx of antique/collectible television shows focusing on the discovery of hidden gems. Ron Cormier, the owner of Ron’s Antiques, considers himself to be the original “New England picker.” Since 1975 Ron has developed a solid reputation in the community. He discovered his passion for the antique business when he looked at getting rid of his own collection of items. Upon visiting a flea market to sell his goods he became intrigued with the items he saw and the rest is history! Ron began his career working for some of the biggest dealers in the country as a way to learn the business from the bottom up. For the past 37 years Ron has become a reputable antique buyer and seller, buying and selling a wide variety of items and working with restaurants, local and national customers.

Ron is especially interested in items that have been used in households and businesses. Some of his favorite finds include 50’s malt shop signs, vintage gumball machines, cigar cutters from local general stores, canvas covered canoes used for fishing on local lakes, hand egg beaters, lobster pots and bowls used for generations of cooking, farming items, apple orchards, wooden picking ladders, fishing materials and anchors.

For many years Ron owned a few of his own antique shops but eventually decided that he preferred conducting business in the antiques road shows. Ron attends about ten road shows a year and covers shows from Maine down to the Carolinas. By attending these events, he has created a solid network of business and customer connections, which enable him to offer a wide range of antique expertise and knowledge to his customers.

Ron admits there are many challenges to the business. The rising cost of fuel and the down economy account for consumers not willing to spend. He also faces a lot of competition both at the local level (consignment shops and other road show dealers) and the national level (giant retailers). He believes that many customers prefer to purchase a unique piece rather than buying from giant retailers. With this competitive advantage, Ron embraces his competition and diligently keeps up with researching antique business trends as a means to set himself apart from his competition.

Ron’s charismatic nature really brings life to the antique business. He loves his job and has a thirst for digging in and discovering the unique story behind each of his antiques. Ron plans to continue to steadily grow his business by means of road shows and is fully committed to providing his customers with quality antiques.

To contact Ron call 978-537-2926

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Spotlight-Rituals Salon & Spa

Rituals is a full service Aveda Concept Salon & Day Spa. The salon  menu reflects services for men or women powered by Aveda products.  Rituals provides a full complement of hair, nail, massage, waxing, skin care and makeup services.

Rituals invites guests in for a tour of the salon and spa.  The salon is spacious, bright and relaxing. The spa offers 5 treatment rooms including a relaxing couples suite and a wet room for body scrubs.  The nail room boasts 4 pedicure spa thrones and several manicure stations. Rituals is ready for the individual or for larger parties. Couples treatments include dual massage, facials and pedicures. Bridal parties love the nail area for their pre wedding preparations. Rituals tends to be a place where people bring their friends and  out of town guests for a little Leominster relaxation.

Debbie Sayles  has been a hairstylist since 1980. Her family moved from New Jersey in 1997 and  are proud to call central Massachusetts their home.  Deb’s interest in the environment and hairstyling fused when she purchased Rituals in 2003.

Rituals is proud to be an Aveda Concept Salon & Spa. Many people, upon first walking into the salon remark, “It smells good in here.”  Kaycie credits Aveda with providing the freshest, brightest plant based oils. Those oils provide not only that great aroma but also practical results that can be seen in their luminous hair color and refreshing  skin care treatments.

Aveda is a leading personal care and beauty products company. From their ingredient and energy sourcing practices to their plant powered hair and skin formulations  and their revolutionary recycling program Aveda strives to create great products that do not come at the expense of the environment.

The team of 25 licensed hairstylists, estheticians, nail technicians and massage therapist create a friendly atmosphere for their guests. While each bring their unique gifts to their trade, the team is constantly attending workshops and training sessions. Debbie remarks that she has never seen salon staff so eager to learn. “There is always someone going to a class”. Recent training sessions included  foiling, color, waxing, reflexology, elemental nature, anti aging  facials and massage techniques. Several hairstylists will be heading to New York City and Minneapolis in the next few months for advanced training classes. Rituals believes that continuing education is a major factor in their success.

Along with their ability to provide quality services, the Rituals team is active in the community. On August 18 Rituals participated in Ladies Night Out. They created  hair styles and makeup looks for some of the models in the fashion show.  Rituals is a member of the Leominster Small Business Association and often participates in the Leominster Strolls and  Festival of Trees.

As many businesses in the area were struggling through the recent economical slump Rituals was going strong. Last May Rituals moved from the downtown area to a brand new facility just a mile down Central St. The new salon and spa’s design was created especially for Rituals and gave them more space to accommodate their many guests.

The complete service menu can be found on the web site www.ritualsspa.com. Or find Rituals on FaceBook and see  some of the many styles and makeup looks that they have created.

Rituals Salon & Spa

646 Central St, Leominster MA 01453  978-537-9394     www.ritualsspa.com

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The Paw Pack Adventure Club

The Paw Pack Adventure Club – Quality Canine Play Time

By Kate Bromley

The Paw Pack Adventure Club is unique way to exercise dogs.  More than just a dog walking service, the Paw Pack offers healthy alternatives to leaving a pet at home all day while his or her owners work. From adventure walks to runs, hikes, and playgroups, there is an option for every pup.

Pet ownership is very rewarding for both the human and the animal, but with an overabundance of daily commitments, sometimes it is hard to find the time to give a pet proper exercise and attention.  It can also be hard to find reliable and trustworthy people to take care of that four-legged best friend.

Angela Thomas, owner and operator of the Paw Pack Adventure Club, took these needs to heart. With an MBA, years of business experience and a passion for dogs that goes all the way back to her fourth grade science fair project, she recognized the need for a service that not only gave the dogs the attention and exercise they needed, but picked them up and dropped them off in order to fit into their owner’s busy lifestyles.  She had seen the model succeed in other areas, and when she found herself out of work due to the economy, it seemed like the ideal time to put everything into action.

The tipping point was on her honeymoon in Chile. She was struck by all the stray dogs in the street.  It confirmed what she really wanted to do and she got excited about the idea of planning the business and growing it.

She and her 4 year-old yellow lab, Gus, got to work. Clients can now schedule adventure walks, runs and hikes, playgroups, taxi services, and the puppy program – working with new parents on basic training, scheduled bathroom breaks, socializing with other dogs, etc. Bonded and insured, pet CPR certified, and a member of Pet Sitters International, Thomas is always looking for new ways to educate herself about dogs and improve her business.

“The Paw Pack Adventure Club offers more than just the standard walk,” says Thomas. “I try to go above and beyond with my clients. Try to challenge them, tire them out. And I’m mobile. I’ll go to people’s homes, take them where they need to go, and bring them back.”

“They’re outside, running, playing, socializing, rather than sitting in a doggy daycare,” adds Thomas. “A lot of dogs aren’t suited for daycare. They do better running and playing. A dog may be intimidated and become confrontational when approaching a group, but running side by side they are comfortable with each other.”

Future plans for the Paw Pack Adventure Club include hiring additional certified walkers, allowing the Paw Pack to cover a larger area and be able to reach more dogs over the next 2-5 years.  In 5-10 years, you may see a Paw Pack doggy daycare with a physical location, Thomas hints.

Right now, the Paw Pack Adventure Club can be seen at the Leominster Summer Stroll June 25^th and Woofstock in October in Hudson, MA.  Thomas is also a new member of the Leominster Small Business Association Executive Board. “Being a member of the LSBA has been a great opportunity to get acclimated with small businesses in town. I feel like I know where to go locally if I need something,” she says.

Thomas schedules free in-home consultations through an initial phone screening for non-aggressive spayed or neutered dogs for playgroups. She is especially focused on active and sporting breed dogs. More information can be found at http://www.pawpackadventureclub.com/ or by calling 978-609-7376.  Also, keep up with the Paw Pack on Facebook or read Gus’ Blog at http://thepawpack.blogspot.com/.

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PrintWorks- 25 Years of Attention to Detail

PrintWorks- 25 Years of Attention to Detail

Tom and Sarah Fullen are the proud owners of PrintWorks. This innovative husband and wife team has seen many changes in the printing industry over 39 years. They are continually adapting their business, equipment, and products to the demands of the times. A constant through the years has been their unfailing teamwork and responsiveness to their clients’ needs.

Tom began in the printing arena in 1972 in Worcester, MA and later moved to Leominster where he worked for a local downtown print shop for 9 years. Tom was a hard worker and found himself devoting many hours to his job. While working in Leominster, he met Sarah, a local school teacher. Sarah’s job required frequent visits to the copy machine where Tom worked as a pressman. Tom and Sarah soon realized they were destined to a life together.

While on vacation at the age of 28, Tom approached Sarah with the idea of starting their own business. He was confident with his knowledge and ability in the printing industry and his craftsmanship. He was not afraid of hard work and long hours. He was prepared to take on a challenge. The printing industry was booming at the time, and Tom felt very little risk, after all, he was very marketable. And so PrintWorks began in 1986.

Staying in Leominster, Tom set up shop on Mechanic Street at the old Leominster Pools location. Sarah continued working as a teacher. In 1987 as the business grew, it was evident that PrintWorks needed another worker or two to help with the workload. They weighed their options and decided that Sarah would take one-year leave from teaching and join the PrintWorks team.

The couple’s different talents were a perfect complement for the printing business. Sarah was an English teacher for 10 years and had a Master’s degree. Her knowledge of language is very helpful to many clients. As Sarah points out, “It is very difficult to proofread your own material.” Many clients send in text to be printed and miss the small typos or grammatical errors that might make the work seem less professional. Sarah is the quality control that a do-it-yourselfer might not receive. She is the last one to see the finished product and performs a double check to ensure that the customers receive the best product they possibly can.

Sarah is a valuable asset when planning bridal stationery. Many brides do not know the traditions and etiquette involved in the wording or setup of their invitations. Do you put the zip code on the invitation? Who is listed first? How many invitations do I need? Sarah will help clients design their package to fit their needs while offering expert advice.

In 1988 their landlord, Peter Zichelle, approached Tom and Sarah with the offer of a new location. Peter was about to build the Crossroads Office Park, and the new space would be on Viscoloid Avenue. The building was new and could be customized to the Fullens’ dream plans.

About that same time they hired Tina Manring Dixson. Tina began working for PrintWorks as a Leominster Center for Technical Education co-op student while in high school. She stayed with them for 20 years becoming their shop foreman and an invaluable asset to PrintWorks. Tina learned to operate  every machine; she understood the mechanics and maintenance of all equipment thus making Tom’s life a little easier and allowing him to concentrate on other business obligations and occasionally take a little time off.

Adam Studham is the current Production Manager and pressman. Adam is also an alumnus of the Leominster Center for Technical Education. Adam helps the Fullens’ with all aspects of the business.

In the 1980s, printing was complicated, and orders could take weeks to complete. One company would typeset, maybe another would print, another bind, perforate, emboss. Along with proofreading, one of Sarah’s early duties was to drive to the typesetter in Boxboro to pick up the copy. If, upon another round of proofreading any errors were found, Sarah would be back on the road picking up the corrected version. As technology developed, the production time line decreased. The fax machine streamlined much of that process saving time as well as wear and tear on the vehicles.

Computers entered the printing business in the 1990s. Tom realized that this was the future. He stayed up until the wee hours of the morning “playing on his computer” as Sarah called it. Tom felt it was important to learn to use the latest technology, and he devoted many hours to learning as many programs as possible.

Tom prophesized the day would come when people would not be coming through the door to place orders. The customers would be sitting at their desks and ordering from their home or office computers. He wanted PrintWorks to be ready and available with an online presence.

In 2001 PrintWorks purchased a Heidelberg offset press. Tom feels it is the best in the industry and is very proud to have one. This machine takes an average of 3 hours to set up which is why it is used for larger jobs. The quality of this machine makes it invaluable for high-profile business material. The cast iron machine uses only 4 ink colors but can produce a rainbow of colors with precision and repetition.

As desktop publishing became more common, PrintWorks continued to adapt to the needs of their clients by purchasing a digital printer. Clients were becoming more self-sufficient, printing some things themselves. But they were missing the professionalism that only a true craftsman can provide. And there were still many projects that the desktop could not do. PrintWorks provides printing services for those that produce their own art, or they can assist with the design and setup. Their modern equipment and ability to produce diverse products help many local and regional business owners.

Many of the clients use quality photos in their publications. Sometimes the photos were an afterthought. Sometimes Tom or Sarah would suggest adding a picture to the project. As a convenience to their clients, PrintWorks added a photography studio upstairs and on-location photography. This has proved to be a great asset for PrintWorks and the clients as well. Many professionals have their photo on their business card or literature. Now PrintWorks can coordinate the photo session with the project giving the design greater consistency.

Web design is another segment of the business that developed out of practicality. A lot of business is now conducted on the internet. Most of the stronger businesses have a web presence. Tom realized that as a printer he already had much of his clients’ information, logos, collateral, and knowledge of their business philosophy. It was a natural step to put it all on a web page. Clients can now rely on PrintWorks for their web design and hosting as well as printing needs.

Today PrintWorks provides “Print-on-Demand.” This is a service that allows clients to print items as they sell. Historically, clients would order in bulk. The client would have to pay in advance for the quantity ordered. This often resulted in excess books being printed, stored, and unsold. With “Print-on-Demand,” an author has PrintWorks hold the print files. As an order comes in over the web, PrintWorks is notified. They print, bind, and ship the book(s) order usually that day. This allows PrintWorks to provide printing services for the entrepreneur as well as the established business.

“Web-to-Print” is a feature that many people will appreciate. From the PrintWorks website, clients can design their own brochure, business card, etc. using their own design or from one of the available templates on the website. Clients can then store their projects in their own secure private portal for future ordering or editing. By placing an order, the clients actually put their projects into production. The order can be shipped or picked up right here in Leominster. This is a great option for “Do it Yourselfers” and graphic designers, saving them the cost of the precious software.

Do-it-yourself is not for everyone nor for every project. “Online print may be fast, but it misses the trained eye and objectivity that a true craftsman has,” Tom notes. “Professionals do their best to look out for their customers’ interest.”

A brief tour of the print shop shows the variety of products that PrintWorks can produce: business cards, stationery, pocket folders, brochures, post cards, greeting cards, calendars, posters, books, line cards, door hangers, bumper stickers, and many other products and services such as mailing, and fulfillment.

Talk to Tom, Sarah, or Adam for some creative ways to get your message across. Their experience and creativity might be the best value you have found this year.

PrintWorks is located at 225 Viscoloid Ave, Leominster MA. 978-534-5255. www.PrintWorksnet.com

PrintWorks is a member of the Leominster Small Business Association. www.shoplocalleominster.com.

Fax: 978-534-3167
sales@printworksnet.com
www.printworksnet.com

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Atlantic Tent Rental – A Local Small Business Success Story

Atlantic Tent Rental – A Local Small Business Success Story

By Michelle Blanchette

The advent of Atlantic Tent Rental began one sunny day when Barry Perla, the company’s co-founder, attended a birthday party for his mother-in-law in May 1992. A relative, who owned a tent rental business in Dedham, provided a tent for the occasion.  Barry was intrigued by the notion of tent rental as business he could start initially on a part time basis to supplement his income as a buyer for Digital Equipment Corporation.  Barry asked his friend, David Miley, to join him in the venture. It started out small, with one tent purchased from an auction.  They made flyers and hung them wherever anyone would let them – grocery stores, pizza shops and corner stores. Before they knew it, the phone started ringing and a company was born.  Today, Atlantic Tent rental is a full-time enterprise with many product offerings and plenty of satisfied customers. In addition to full-time temporary staff members in peak summer months, the company employs Barry, his wife, David, and David’s two sons.

After moving several times to accommodate their growing business and increased product offerings, today the business is located at 12 Middle Street in Leominster in an unassuming steel building.  In fact, everything about the business is unpretentious: Barry and David are very approachable and laid-back.  They have wisely reinvested in the business, which started in Barry’s barn using their personal pick-up trucks. Their long list of repeat clients includes the Leominster High School graduation, the Sterling Fair, the motion picture industry, area restaurants, businesses and catering companies. They also provide personalized service to non-business consumers planning a backyard wedding, graduation party, or family reunion. With tents of all sizes, dance floors and stages, chandeliers, eight different styles of tables, several styles of chairs, linens, generators, heaters, grills, coolers, and portable bars, the combinations for event sizes and styles are endless.

In addition to acquiring two box trucks to accommodate their growing business and purchasing many items related to party planning, they have invested in professional washers and repair equipment so that their tents are always clean and well-maintained.  They also utilize the washers to provide cleaning and repair services to other tent rental companies as well as offering cleaning and repair of awnings and horse blankets for consumers and businesses.

By providing outstanding customer service, the business has grown significantly through referral.  When asked what differentiates them from other tent rental companies, Barry said, “It’s our focus on pristine tents, competitive pricing, and outstanding customer service,” adding that they will gladly go on site to measure grounds in order to provide the optimal tent.  They accept all major credit cards and deliver and set up on time and remove the tents in a timely manner as well.

Atlantic Tent also credits the Internet as a useful, affordable tool for promoting the business.  As Barry said, “The Internet allows us to be transparent to the customer in terms of our offerings and pricing, which allows them to pre-plan and budget before they ever pick up the phone and call.” When asked why he joined the Leominster Small Business Association, Barry said that in addition to providing the small business owner with valuable information and opportunities for visibility, he understood the value of having links to his website from other reputable websites, such as the LSBA’s shoplocalleominster.com. He further clarified that links from other websites improve his ranking on search engines such as Google.

To learn more about Atlantic Tent and the many offerings available to make your next party or event a memorable one, visit their website at atlantictent.com or call them at 1-800-750-TENT.

Note: In Photo from left to right: Barry Perla, Nate Miley and David Miley

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