7 minute read
TENDER LOVING FAMILY CARE
and strength of our team,” as one of the reasons the company continues to succeed. We’re fortunate to have many employees who have been with us for 20 years or more.
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ADMAR provides ongoing training, so when advancement opportunities present themselves, employees are ready for the next step in their career. “We’re very purposeful in hiring and how we develop our people in terms of product knowledge and customer service,” says Greg Downing, ADMAR’s Director of Branch Operations. Customers benefit from the emphasis on training—from a superior customer experience to manufacturer-trained technicians servicing their equipment. years of doing business in the Rochester community, the company has roots as a construction business going back to the early 1900s. ADMAR remains family owned and is fully integrated with other DiMarco Group family of companies which offer real estate development, property management, construction management/general construction, facility maintenance, property leasing services and private jet charters across the Northeast.
DiMarco Group, and the DiMarco family through their foundation, value giving back to the community that has supported their endeavors for over a century. American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure, United Way of Greater Rochester, Toys for Tots Program, Daystar for Medically Fragile Children, Golisano Children’s Hospital Stroll for Strong Kids are some of the organizations and fundraising events that have benefited from their generosity.
Whether you’re a do-it-yourselfer or business owner, we invite you to visit ADMAR’s expansive showroom at 330 Metro Park in Rochester or our location at 2390 Rochester Road in Canandaigua to see all we have to offer. We’re your one stop shop for construction equipment and supplies. We even have orange cones, which are helpful for not only traffic control at jobsites, but for making an obstacle course to teach your 16-year-old how to drive at your local school parking lot.
262 EXCHANGE BLVD I ROCHESTER, NY 14608 I
BOLD & GRITTY
PHOTOS BY LINDSAY STEPHANY, CARBON STONES & DAVID PAUL
Tell us about Bold & Gritty and what is the mission and inspiration behind your business?
Bold & Gritty is a coffee-focused lifestyle brand that tells the stories of Black male success. We offer locally roasted coffee, hand-poured candles and premium apparel to compliment telling these success stories. It is our endeavor to raise the bar of what is possible and inspire the next generation of Bold & Gritty individuals.
What made you decide to create your business and become an entrepreneur?
The brand idea was from my husband David as a way to to promote the resiliency of black men. We created Bold & Gritty to have a voice in present day history. With my background in Business/Brand Management (MBA from the University of Rochester) and David’s own story of resilience (Black Neurosurgery resident) and the skills of graphic design, we knew this was a great recipe for success!
Tell us one story about someone who has inspired you.
There are so many to choose from! That’s part of who we are at Bold & Gritty. We tell stories of people who have inspired us with their resilience, courage and perseverance. You can check them out on our products!
What are some of the pros and cons of being an entrepreneur, especially in 2021?
The best part about being an entrepreneur in 2021, is the ability to reimagine what business looks like. With so many traditional methods of operating a business being constrained due to the pandemic, we’ve had to think outside the box when it comes to marketing, sourcing, and fully operating a business. I don’t think there are many cons to being an entrepreneur, I like to think of any challenges we face in the business as an opportunity to think outside the box.
What are some of the things you find help you to be a successful business owner in creating your brand?
Being true to your values and purpose for the business is so important. When creating your brand it should be a reflection of who you are. From the vendor partner relationships to social media, you just stay true to yourself.
If you had to pick one just one that you would consider your “specialty” what would it be and why?
Being true to the purpose of the business. The purpose of Bold & Gritty is to tell the stories of success. I think we do a great job incorporating the stories in everything we do.
If you could interview one of your mentors who would it be and what would you ask them?
I would ask “What do you like most about yourself?”. Often times we always focus on the challenges. It’s good to focus on the positives too!
Have you found social media to help or hinder you in promoting your business especially during the pandemic?
Social media has been a help for sure! Because we started during the pandemic we didn’t have the opportunity to spread the of the business with pop-ups or events. Social media was our way to introduce our self.
What have you found to be the most successful in marketing your business and who is your ideal audience?
We find our greatest success in marketing when we are true to our brand purpose. Our ideal audience are those we are interests in celebrating the success of others, and want to be inspired to achieve success as well. -
What challenges have you faced this year and how have you overcome them?
One of the challenges I’ve faced this year is balancing a parenthood, full-time career and starting a new business…in the middle of a pandemic! I haven’t completely overcome this, but day by day I’m working to put processes in place to make things run smoother…It’s all about having a plan.
How do you balance your entrepreneur life with friends/ family that don’t understand the challenges we experience?
Open and honest communication. I’ve been blessed to have friends/family that are open to having conversations about what balance and boundaries looks like for me.
What do you do for encouragement or to be motivated ?
I’m involved in my local church community. I am encouraged through spending time with others and building our faith.
Do you listen to any postcasts? If so, who do you listen to the most and what do you take away from it?
Not any at the current moment.
What makes your business unique and stand out from others?
We are unique because our business is more than just a product, we are a lifestyle brand focused on telling stories. Everything we do points back to the purpose of telling stories of success, not just selling products.
What makes you hustle? Where do you see your business growing in the next year? three years?
In the next year I see Bold & Gritty continuing to tell stories of success.
Where did you come up with the name Bold & Gritty?
My husband, David, created the name. Last year, a friend said he was the “Grittiest Person” he ever met. This was in reference to the book “Grit” by Angela Duckworth. As David thought about this compliment, he was reminded of the BOLD & GRITTY men he knows and his life and wanted to share their stories with others
Do you have any helpful advice to someone interested in starting their own business?
Write the vision…make it plain.
