Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1040984
28 Hartford Business Journal • October 22, 2018 • www.HartfordBusiness.com FAMILY BUSINESS AWARDS 2018 Close to Home Sewing Centers & Connecticut Shade and Blind C lose to Home Sewing Cen- ter offers fabric, sewing and quilting accessories, sew- ing, quilting and embroi- dery machines, vacuums and an extensive educational program. Recent accomplishments The company has won several awards through- out 2018. It was named Dealer of the Year for the Northeast territo- ry by a Swiss ven- dor. In addition, it was recognized as Independent Dealer of the Year by the VDTA- SDTA, which is the Vacuum and Sewing Machine Dealers Trade Association. The company has also been inducted into the Sewing Machine Dealers Hall of Fame. What is the biggest challenge in the coming year? Like any business, large or small, we need to always stay focused on the following: taking care of our staff and customers, growing our strengths, conquering our weaknesses, work- ing at maintaining our customer base, working smarter to attain new customers and continuing to differen- tiate ourselves operationally from the competition and other businesses. Our growth in the digital world is of the utmost importance. How do you remain competitive? Education, education, education. Our entire adult family graduated from college, so we understand and respect the value of education. We invest heavily in attending five vendor conventions annually to learn about new products, sales, marketing, merchandising, digital marketing and social-media strategies. In our three locations — Glaston- bury, Orange and Southington — we have people assigned to our website, digital marketing and video produc- tion. We are developing educational videos offering sewists and quilters solutions to basic problems. Close to Home Sewing Centers & Connecticut Shade and Blind Headquarters: Glastonbury Industry: Retail Year Founded: 1982 Founder: Ron and Marilyn Gattinella Generation Currently running company: 1st & 2nd No. of Full time employees: 28 No. of Part time employees: 5 Family members currently employed at company: Marilyn Gattinella, Manager, mother; Ron Gattinella, Marketing Director, father; Marc Gattinella, Owner, son: Paul Gattinella, Owner, son; Ken M., Manager of Home Décor, Paul's brother in law; Montas V., Installer, Marc's brother in law; Denise G-L., Sales, Ron and Marilyn's daughter; Eric L., Sales, Ron and Marilyn's son in law. Company Website: www.closetohomestores.com 3 RD PLACE — 25 to 75 employees category Family is our business and our Business is family -The Gattinella Family Glastonbury Location 277 Hebron Ave Glastonbury, CT 06033 Phone 860-633-0721 Orange Location 196 Boston Post Road Orange, CT 06477 Phone 203-878-1654 Southington Location 995 Queen Street Southington, CT 06489 Phone 860-793-6639 www.closetohomestores.com 5:30 - 8:30 pm The Society Room 31 Pratt Street, Downtown Hartford www.mercyhousingct.org Mercy Housing and Shelter's 24th Annual Homecoming Join Us Thursday, November 1, 2018 To RSVP, call 860.808.2036 or email gfulham@mercyhousingct.org e Cheryl Chase & Stuart Bear Family Foundation For an Elegant Evening A family photo of the Gattinella family.