Webster Chamber News August 2018
Business of the Month
Congratulations to Papa Reggio's Engraving & Gifts for being recognized at August's Business of the Month!
Breakfast Before Business!
Eat Drink & Connect
Come to the Eat Drink & Connect at Beyond Cuts. Stay for the band...
Power Hour
Our next Power Hour will be on Friday, September 7th! Garret Wagner presents Employee Engagement!
Special Offer to Chamber Members!
The Training Scene is offering a Sexual Harassment course to Chamber Members...
Henderson Ford Book Drive
The last day to donate to the Henderson Ford Book drive is September 7th.
Chamber Members in the News
Miss Cynthia of The Refinement Studio is featured in the Rochester Business Journal.
Green grass in August? I think I have cut the grass more in August so far that I did in all of July. But, I like green grass more than brown grass.
This month we got to celebrate with dozens of Webster Chamber members that were nominated for and voted for Rochester Business Journal’s Readers Ranking awards. There were quite a few that took the top spot and dozens that were winners in the top three! Congratulations to each of them (you can see the whole list on the website). The Chamber nominated them all and we voted for them all! I think the Chamber’s efforts had a direct effect as there were many Chamber businesses recognized.
I want to remind you that breakfast will be a week early this month because the last Friday touches the holiday weekend. The program is going to be about Emergency Preparedness in your business. Breakfast will be on August 24th at the Columbus Center at 7:00 AM – see the website for details.
I moderated the Town supervisor’s Electronic Town Meeting last night and the guests were from the Webster Police Department. Specifically, in addition to the Chief, we had as guests the school resource officers on the show. When school starts in the fall, these two (used to be one) will be inside all of school buildings being visible, helping educators with things like presentations in driver’s educations and forensics, helping social workers and counselors with student issues in school and at home, and building relationships with students and staff that dispel misconceptions about law enforcement and create trust and show officers as a resource not an adversary.
This is a joint effort between the Webster School District and the Town of Webster, another collaboration of shared services between our local entities. The District and the Town just expanded this program from one office to two, sharing both the human resources as well as the financial responsibility. When the governor pushed for more shared services in New York, he should come to visit Webster and learn about what we have been sharing for decades.
Our Power Hour series will be starting back up in September. The Education Committee works hard to bring you a workshop that has value to you as a member and a business leader. These programs are part of your membership value and you should make sure to take advantage of their hard work and the great presentations. See the website for details.
Lastly, we put on a short (15 minutes) program at our monthly breakfast meetings. These are at the “5000-foot level”, a topic that will be of interest across the spectrum of businesses and organizations that attend breakfast, not something focused on that industry or trade. It’s not a sales pitch and we want it to be educational – and it has to pertain to businesses. We know that is a challenge in 15 minutes. Do you have a topic or do a presentation you think would be of interest and would work for a breakfast? If you do, please let us know and we can get it to the Program committee (they schedule month’s in advance, so think ahead).
Enjoy the summer fun and, as always, stay safe!
Harter Secrest & Emery LLP - A Law Firm located at 1600 Bausch & Lomb Place, Rochester, NY. Contact Ed Steve at 585-231-1298, esteve@hselaw.com, or visit their website at www.hselaw.com.
Toshiba Business Solutions - A Business Solutions company specializing in printing & document management, located at 180 Kenneth Drive, Rochester, NY. Contact Meghan Fahy at 585-278-7651 meghan.fahy@tbs.toshiba.com or visit their website at www.tbs.toshiba.com/tbs.
Walck Sales Inc. - A Sales Representative firm located at 1079 Everwild View, Webster, NY. Contact Beth Ann Walck at 585-831-0760 or bethann@walksales.com.
The strength of any organization lies in its membership. Thank you for joining. Please add these members to your directory listings.
Papa Reggio’s Engraving & Gifts started as Reggio’s Discount Trophies in 1997. Working part-time out of his house and working closely with a local soccer club, they quickly became a favorite in the area for trophies and awards and moved to their first retail location in 2002. They changed their name to Papa Reggio’s Engraving & Gifts to show a more diversified product line and quickly outgrew the store and moved to their current location in the village of Webster.
The best thing Joe likes about the recognition and awards business is that it is always evolving and coming up with new products and ideas. His customers are always asking “what do you have that’s different from last year?”
As a trophy and awards business, he works closely with non-profit agencies and community organizations. They take pride in servicing Toys for Tots, Patriot Guard Riders, local scouts and area school districts just to mention a few.
Congratulations to Papa Joe Reggio’s Engraving & Gifts being named the Webster Chamber’s August 2018 Business of the Month!
| August 9th - Eat Drink & Connect - Beyond Cuts |
| August 11th - Kittleberger's Florists Celebration |
| August 15th - Webster Library Fundraiser (Lularoe Pop-Up Boutique) |
| August 22nd - Estate Planning Seminar 2:30 - 4:30 pm |
| August 24th - Breakfast Before Business |
| September 1st - Labor Day |
| September 4th - 1st Day of School |
| September 7th - Power Hour - Employee Engagement |
| September 12th - Estate Planning Seminar 5:00 - 7:00pm |
| September 15th -Beer Walk |
| September 18th - Domino's Pizza Noontime Networking |
| September 25th - Preventing Sexual Harassment & Harassment |
| September 26th - Estate Planning Seminar 2:30 - 4:30 pm |
| September 28th - Breakfast Before Business |
Preventing Sexual Harassment & Harassment
The Refinement Studio
Kittelberger Florist & Gifts celebrates 90 years with free parties in Webster
It's Kittelberger Florist & Gifts' 90th anniversary and the stalwart retailer in Webster is hosting parties this week to celebrate with customers and the community.
On Thursday, Kittelberger is hosting a free concert from 7 to 10 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park on North Avenue in the village featuring music by Rochester Brass and Electric. On Saturday, there will be a big celebration at the store at 263 North Ave. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., the store is partying by serving food to customers in a festive atmosphere. There will be live music from the band Shine, food trucks and fireworks at 9 p.m.
All this is to say thank you to customers and the community that have helped Kittelberger grow over the decades, said Bill Horeth, 62, owner of the family business.
Now in its fourth generation, the floral and gift shop has changed to keep up with the trends. Initially just a little floral store on farmland, Kittelberger now has over 24,000 square feet of retail space. Beyond florals, the shop is a full-fledged boutique with home decor, jewelry, fashion and gift items, employing 59 people with a dozen family members in the business.
The namesake of the business goes back 90 years. The Kittelberger family of Webster sponsored Willie and Pauline Fuchs to emigrate from Germany to the United States. The Fuchses worked for the Kittelbergers until they had enough money to buy the business from them in 1941. The Fuchs' daughter, Hilda Horeth, and her husband, Martin, took over the operation in 1952.
Much has changed since then. From the small floral shop amid vast farmland came a retail store in the 1960s selling flower arrangements for weddings and funerals with greenhouses for annual flowers and fields for vegetables and flowers. Bill Horeth credits his parents, Hilda and Martin, with growing the retail portion of the business.
All five of Hilda and Martin's children went into the family business. Bill does everything around the store from floral arrangement to management; Cathy Mills is in charge of the buying; Jeanette Guenther oversees the office; Debbie Huehn is a wedding coordinator and Margaret Benedict is a designer. There are also seven grandchildren of Hilda and Martin involved in this business.
Kittelberger expanded beyond florals and gifts three years ago with the opening of Pub 235 restaurant next to the floral gift shop, serving food and drinks in a casual atmosphere. There are 49 additional staffers at the pub restaurant.
The current building that houses the floral and gift shop was completed in 2001, shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Those were some tough times for retail, as was the Great Recession that started in 2008, Bill Horeth recalled. But the family pulled through. Having little debt helps, he said.
Kittelberger has changed with consumer tastes. In the 1980s and 1990s, collectible figurines were big. Now shoppers are more interested in fashions and jewelry, with the store carrying Alex and Ani and Uno de 50 lines of jewelry as well as Simply Noelle clothing.
Social media has helped business. Holly Rund, 33, a great-granddaughter of the founders, promotes the business through channels such as Instagram and Facebook. Its floral business has grown thanks to Instagram, with brides and grooms and their families wanting picture-perfect arrangements.
The store has many corners for a shopper to explore and food samples for customers. Keeping in mind what the consumers want is how the retailer has survived and thrived for the past nine decades.
"We have to make this a destination place," Horeth said.
The last day to donate books at the Chamber for the Henderson Ford Book Drive will be Friday, September 7th.
Gail Boorum Earns Chevy Equinox
Date and Place: Friday, August 24th, 7:00 AM Webster Columbus Center 70 Barrett Drive, Webster, NY
Menu & Cost: Buffet breakfast — $14 members (and employees of members); $19 non-members and visitors. Click Here to email Barb if you are coming to breakfast
Door Prizes: Remember to bring business cards for the drawings. We gratefully acknowledge the generosity of the following businesses for providing many wonderful items at the July Breakfast:
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Door Prize Won By |
Door Prize Won |
Donated By |
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Ric Thomann of Webster Interiors Home Furnishings & Design Inc. |
Bottle of Wine |
Robyn Whittaker of Webster Rotary Club |
|
Chris Coffey of On Cue Content |
Wegmans Gift Card |
George Baker of Webster Union Cemetery |
|
Joe Vitello of Heartland Payroll |
Mug with Candy |
Lisa Vinci from Sports PT of NY |
|
Tina Salvatore of NOCO Natural Gas & Electric |
Gift Certificate |
Aki Henderson and Daniel Galeas of Henderson Ford |
|
Marissa Birke of The Pickled Paintbrush |
Ice Pack |
Karen Szembrot of Goshorn Chiropractic & Wellness |
|
George Baker of Webster Union Cemetery |
Gift Bag |
Ken Corpus of Computer Works Pro |
|
James Schrader of Canandaigua National Bank |
Popcorn |
Laurie Zahn-Herman of Howard Hanna Realty |
|
Cherrie Roehrig of |
Mary Kay Fragrance |
Gail Boorum of Mary Kay Cosmetics |
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Anthony Lo Cigno of Lo Cigno Cleaning |
Cell Phone card holder |
Joe Vitello of Heartland Payroll |
|
Gail Boorum of Mary Kay Cosmetics |
Cutting Board |
Tina Salvatore of NOCO Natural Gas & Electric |
|
Lori Kohl of Ultimate Beauty Laser Spa |
Complimentary Child Session Matted 7x10 Print |
Jen Semmler of Jen Semmler Photography |
|
Dan Jacob of Whelpley & Paul Opticians |
Goodie Bag |
Mike Dewar of Orangetheory Fitness Baytowne |
|
Christin Giangreco of Howard Hanna |
Yoga Mat |
Lori Kohl of Ultimate Beauty Laser Spa |
|
Scott Gosert of SOHO Imaging |
Gift Certificate |
Ric Thomann of Webster Interiors Home Furnishings & Design Inc. |
|
Penny Swingly of Mane Reflections |
Norwex Gift Bag |
Cherie Wood of Norwex |
|
Bill Koopman of William A. Koopman CPA’s |
Coffee Mug w/Candy |
Dan Jacob of Whelpley & Paul Opticians |
|
Daniel Galeas of Henderson Ford |
Lens Cleaner |
Dan Jacob of Whelpley & Paul Opticians |
|
Beth Ann Walck of Walck Sales Inc. |
4 Pack of Classes |
Mike Dewar of Orangetheory Fitness Baytowne |
|
Karyn Dietz of Karyn Dietz Therapy |
Cooler |
Rich Marlin of Edward Jones Investments |
|
Lida Kalantari of Genesee Regional Bank |
Travel Coffee Mug |
Stan Drabik of Stan Drabik DDS |
|
Rich Marlin of Edward Jones Investments |
Coupon for a free book |
Peg Ehmann of Friends of the Webster Library |
|
Cherie Wood of Norwex |
Ice Pack |
Karen Szembrot of Goshorn Chiropractic & Wellness |
|
Denise Baller of Dancing with Denise |
Ice Pack |
Karen Szembrot of Goshorn Chiropractic & Wellness |
|
Joe Reggio of Papa Reggio’s Trophies & Awards |
Gift Certificate |
Aki Henderson and Daniel Galeas of Henderson Ford |
|
Al LaRue of McMahon LaRue & Associates |
Gift Certificate |
Aki Henderson and Daniel Galeas of Henderson Ford |
Thank you very much.
Program: Emergency Preparedness
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Breakfast Meeting Dates 7:00 am |
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08/24/2018 |
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09/28/2018 |
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10/26/2018 |
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11/30/2018 |
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