with KarTele, which was proactive about attracting customers. “There is no sitting back and waiting for business to come to you,” Kane said. “It’s about being active and vocal.” This meant getting involved with the Greater Waterbury Cham- ber of Commerce and ProfNet, a professional networking group, and being active and visible in the community. “I think that’s key for any small business,” Kane said. “You have to be willing to step outside the four walls you’re comfortable in. You need to be out in your community. People see us involved in many community groups and organiza- tions. They appreciate that and want to do business with us.” It also helps that Kane has
installer Frank Carinha, who has worked alongside him for many years. “He’s fantastic,” Kane said. “Before, people would come to see me. Now, they come to see him. He knows cars inside and out. Whether it be remote start- ers, audio, video, small repairs, anything 12-volt, he can do it. He’s probably the best in the area. They come to see him more than me.” While Carinha did his thing and
kept customers satisfied, Kane saw the opportunity to pursue some- thing altogether different and, in 2008, he was elected to repre- sent the 32nd Connecticut.
Senate District of
Kane, who is a longtime resi- dent of neighboring Watertown, is in charge of a district that includes the communities of Beth- lehem, Bridgewater, Middlebury, Oxford, Roxbury, Seymour, South- bury, Thomaston, Watertown and Woodbury. “I’ve always been active and
involved in local politics. When the opportunity came up to run in 2008, I took it. Now, I’ve been there six years. I’m a very vocal force for small businesses in Con- necticut,” he said.
“We debated and passed legis-
lation to increase minimum wage up to $10.10 by 2017,” he added. “We are the first in the nation to do so. I have been carrying the flag for small businesses. In Connecticut, it’s very difficult to be a small business as much of the legislature is against small businesses.”
Despite his political responsi- bilities, Kane maintains a focus on KarTele and feels the business will have to evolve further in order to survive. “All cell phone stores are gone
now. Our store is a dying breed as well,” he said. “We do 12-volt and wireless. Most car stereo shops have either gone away or don’t do well. We’re a hybrid, one of the few that do that.” Surprisingly, despite its achieve- ments, KarTele lacks a website, something that Kane admitted needs to change. “We need to be selling online, contacting our customers and moving in that direction,” he said. “It’s difficult to be a brick-and-mortar store. So much happens over the Internet.” And when customers do buy
products online, “you still need people to put stuff in your car,” he said. “Once people get the prod- ucts, they still need help with it. That’s our next focus.” With a motivation to provide
great customer service, KarTele has fostered a friendly family atmosphere within the store. “Most customers know us by
our first name,” Kane said. The store has become some- thing of a hangout, where people come to talk about cars, politics and the local community. “It’s like a barber shop,” Kane said, laughing. “Having been in the business 20 years, we now have a second set of customers: the original customers and their children and friends.” µ
Who’s Who
Eric Taerud Lake Country Customs Brookfield, Wisc. Years of industry experience: 16 Hobbies: Music, Art What you’re really good at: Airbrush art, upholstery
Jon Lackey Blvd Customs Lakeland, Fla. Years of industry experience: 25 Hobbies: Training my wife at the gym, car audio and movies What you’re really good at: Designing car audio systems and making money
Jarrett Wanner Pro Autosound & Security Billings, Mont. Years of industry experience: 15 Hobbies: Golf What you’re really good at: Sales
John Haddad Soundscape Direct Downey, Calif. Years of industry experience: 25 Hobbies: Car audio and fabrication What you’re really good at: Anything sound related!
Jeff Martin Radios, Knobs, Speakers and Tings Pontiac, Mich. Years of Industry experience: 5 Hobbies: Call of Duty, shooting guns, spending time with family What you’re good at: Installs and helping customers
me-mag.com 25
»
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68