Worcester Business Journal

22 Worcester Business Journal | January 13, 2025 | wbjournal.com Castinetti's owner leverages Great Recession bankruptcy to build client trust BY MICA KANNER-MASCOLO WBJ Staff Writer J ust before the Great Recession, Andrea Castinetti owned her dream home and finally felt as though she was reaping the fruits of her labor she had spent a lifetime sowing. She began her entrepreneurial career at 19 aer buying the gym she was working at for $10,000, and she had moved on to owning a suite of thriving tanning salons. But then came the country's financial crisis of 2008, and Castinetti was forced to sell her home and file for bankruptcy. "When you're younger, you don't al- ways understand how things work," she said. "People don't realize how quickly things can change." With this lived experience in mind, Castinetti sold her tanning salons and opened her Shrewsbury-based Castinetti Realty Group in 2017. Today, she works to educate her clients to ensure they don't find themselves in the same situa- tions Castinetti did all those years ago. She doesn't categorize her past expe- riences as embarrassments or failures, but instead as learning experiences she's turned into opportunities to connect with her clients. "I have no problem sharing the good, bad, and the ugly," she said. "at makes you much more relatable." is relatability lends itself to trust, a.k.a, the most crucial aspect of real estate for Castinetti. "e most important part is letting BEST WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS Winner: Castinetti Realty Group, in Shrewsbury Notable runners-up: Penta Communications, in Westborough; EmpHowered PR, in Leominister; Sullivan Benefits, in Marlborough; Vision Advertising, in Northborough Website: www.HomesByCRG.com Top executive: Andrea Castinetti, owner Founded: 2017 Employees: 39 someone see that you're a human on the other side of the transaction. is is your story. is is how you're going to help," she said. Castinetti Realty offers a plethora of seller, buyer, and specialized services from stagings to pre-listing marketing to inspection management. Serving a range of customers, the brokerage represents apartments for rent under $2,000 to homes for sale upward of $2 million. Having worked at a number of busi- nesses with an every-man-for-himself mentality, Castinetti knew she wanted to leave that ethos behind when opening her own brokerage. With 39 agents, she hires employees who are ready, willing, and able to support their co-workers and who understand the importance of giving back, the latter of which is a pillar of Castinetti's work in real estate. In addition to its yearly food and toy drives, Castinetti Realty donates a por- tion of each of its commissions to a local charity in the client's name. In 2024, Castinetti donated $30,000 to charities from just her commissions alone. "at's what our business is built on, and that's our tagline: 'Giving back one sale at a time,'" she said. n BEST MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS Winner: Bri's Sweet Treats, in Worcester and Rochdale Notable runners-up: Cleartech Group, in Leominster; Good Earth Holistic Kitchen, in Hudson Bri's Sweet Treats blends flavors with confections like giant peanut butter cups and freeze-dried treats to create handcrafted candy. The business offers corporate gifting, team-building truffle-making classes, and custom event packages. Its partnerships include AC Hotel Worcester, The Sugar Factory with locations at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut and Boston's Faneuil Hall, and the MGM Grand Casino in Springfield. Website: www.shopbrissweettreats. com Top executive: Briana Azier, owner and founder Bri's Sweet Treats main retail location is in the Worcester Public Market. Founded: 2021 Employees: 7 n BEST NEW BUSINESS Winner: Wrap Hero, in Shrewsbury Notable runners-up: Elizabeth Jones Law Group, in Worcester; The Fresh Monkee, in Westborough Wrap Hero works with clients to create vehicle wraps and graphics tailored to their brand's identity. The company values quality, creativity, and customer satisfaction by using materials and equipment ensuring durability and effective design. With a focus on innovation and personalized service, Wrap Hero's aims to make vehicles into mobile advertisements that stand out from competition. Website: www.mywraphero.com Since its founding eight years ago, Castinetti Realty Group has grown to nearly 40 employees. B E S T O F B U S I N E S S O W N E R S H I P

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