Ridgefield Small Business Spotlight: Personal Touch Welcome

Every local business has a story worth sharing with the community. And that’s the belief behind this exciting series — to shine the spotlight on all our favorite local businesses, and to learn a little about the ones we may not know that well.

• Business: Personal Touch Welcome
• Owners: Dee & Joe Strilowich
• Website: www.personaltouchwelcome.com
• Address: 29 Marcadon Avenue, Ridgefield, CT 06877

How did you come up with the name?

I had been Ridgefield & Redding’s Welcome Wagon representative from March 1994 through Dec.1998 and when all Welcome Wagon reps lost our jobs at that time - Welcome Wagon changed to direct mail instead of in-home visits – Joe and I started up our own business. Coming up with a name was our first challenge! One day my son-in-law was at our home while I was grumbling about choosing a name, and he said, “Oh, for cryin’ out loud, all you talk about is how much people will miss the personal touch of Welcome Wagon! That was it! Personal Touch Welcome. It’s been the perfect name for our in-home greeting service.

Why start a business in this town?

I remember having a Welcome Wagon visit when my family moved to Ridgefield in 1970 and I just never forgot sitting down with the representative and her basket and being presented wonderful gifts from Ridgefield. It had me get out and begin exploring my new town. How exciting it was when, 25 years later, I was given the opportunity to be the Welcome Wagon rep for 4 ½ years. Then Jan. 1999 I had no hesitation, knowing that the tradition of in-home welcome visits needed to be continued. Thus was born Personal Touch Welcome in Ridgefield and Redding.

What business are you in?

I welcome new families & new parents in Ridgefield and Redding, right in the comfort of their home, with a basket full of free gifts from the community and local small businesses. For a small fee per visit, I represent everything from medical services, contractors, outside services, financial services, children schools and events, small retail stores, restaurants and so much more. Families love the fact that I know so much about every one of my sponsors and I enjoy sharing my love of Ridgefield and Redding with families. We recently began doing welcome visits for new businesses as well. Included in the basket of gifts are fun gifts such as pens, notepads, jar grippers, yardstick, toothbrushes, travel mug, fabric bag, tape measure, 4-in-one screwdriver, Frisbee, with gifts changing all the time! I make it easy and fun for families to shop local! I will be visiting my 10,000th family within a couple of months!

What’s the most difficult challenge you’ve faced as a business owner?

Interestingly, over the past 2 or 3 years, the most difficult challenge has been reaching families to schedule their welcome visit. Very few have home phones anymore, mostly just using their cell phones; therefore, I can rarely call to make an appointment. As a result, most of my visits are done by knocking on doors of new residents and doing a visit right then and there, making an appointment if the time is not convenient, or leaving a note in the door and hoping they will call me! Thankfully, I get some calls for a visit from folks who hear about me from their Realtor, a neighbor, one of my ads in local publications, or on some social media sites. For Joe, keeping up with putting all the kits together is his challenge! He is the one who also gathers all the materials from the sponsors and community groups and handles all the financial duties. And he help design gift certificates, scanning in logos, etc., while I layout the design and decide on text wording.

What’s been your proudest achievement since opening?

My proudest achievement was receiving the Chamber of Commerce Individual of the Year Chamber Choice Award in 2009 at their annual membership luncheon “for continued support and dedication to the Chamber of Commerce and the Ridgefield community”. I had nominated Chamber members for such awards but never dreamed I’d receive the award myself. It was a total surprise and great honor.

How does your business give back to the community?

An important way we give back to the community is by inviting many of the non-profit organizations in town to include, at no fee, information about culture, museums, theater and musical programs, encouraging them to offer free passes or discounts of welcome to those I visit. I spend about 15 – 20 minutes of my visit introducing the community and these groups, plus libraries, outdoor sites, one of my favorite being Putnam Park in Redding, and so many more. I also provide maps, voter registration cards, motor vehicle information, and lots of other community information. I love my job!

Would you like to see your small business showcased in this series? Email wendy.mitchell@patch.com.