Why Small Businesses Matter
Shop small, do big things for your community
Let’s make 2018 a big year for our Ridgefield small businesses and put a spotlight on the local merchants who donate their time, talent, goods, and services for the betterment of our community.
Three questions with Suzanne Brennan of Addessi Jewelers.
Finish this sentence in regard to your business. “I wish I could…”
I'd love to remind everyone about the importance of shopping locally. Shopping in Ridgefield offers benefits that you can't possibly get from buying at national chains including more personalized (and trusted) service, unique product offerings and the social benefit of doing one's part to ensure a vibrant local economy. Everyone benefits -- homeowners and businesses alike. Significantly, when a consumer shops locally more money stays in the community -- one study I read found that for every $100 spent at a local business, $68 remained with the local economy vs. only $43 at a national chain.
As a local business, Addessi Jewelers helps support other local businesses for both business and personal reasons. We're all personally invested in buying local and especially love the relationships we've built over the years with fellow shop owners and their staffs. Sponsorship support and donations to our local non-profits is also vital for a healthy Ridgefield. Addessi Jewelers is a longtime supporter of many non-profits including The Ridgefield Playhouse, Keeler Tavern, R.O.A.R., Ridgefield Library and other orgs such as Ridgefield Little League too.
How many people do you employ? Any youth or seniors from the community?
Addessi Jewelers is celebrating 70 years in 2018 as a family-owned and operated business -- three generations! Along with Wayne and Kate Addessi and myself, we have a full-time on-site master jeweler for design, repair & restoration and two young women from Ridgefield High School. College breaks bring back a returning staffer currently away studying art & design. Other valuable staff includes Bill Scala and an on-call appraiser too. A winning team!
How many local businesses do you use to support your business (products and services) and can you name them?
Where to begin??!! Addessi Jewelers prides itself on being a community business and almost exclusively utilizes, shops and dines with other local businesses including neighboring Squash's, Cheers, Ridgefield Hardware, Deborah Anne's Sweet Shoppe, and Neumann R.E.; also Fairfield County Bank, Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, Audrey Road, AR Kids, The Toy Chest, Cake Box, Olley Court, Designs by Ursula, Candlelight Shoppe, Main Street Florist, Everywhere on Main, Glass Guys, Books on the Common, The Ridgefield Press, nancy O, Ridgefield Magazine, Ridgefield Golf Course, Abbey Tent & Party, Tundi, Elizabella's Bake Shoppe, Hutton's, Adam Broderick Salon, Turkey Ridge, Purple Frog, WHIP Blow Dry Bar and many of our wonderful restaurants too including Village Tavern, Tazza Cafe, Bernard's / Sarah's Wine Bar, 850, Ridgefield Prime, Ancient Mariner, Steve's Bagels, Dimitri's Diner, Gallo Ristorante, Cellar Door, Planet Pizza, Bailey's Backyard and Piccolo Pizza & Pasta.Suzanne Brennan tags Amy Pal, owner of Whip Salon.
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