Hampshire Gazette, June 7 2007
NAME AND TITLE: Richard G. Koloszyc, President and Richard W. Koloszyc, Vice-President
BUSINESS NAME: AWL Services
LOCATION: 52 Union Street, Easthampton
CONTACT INFORMATION: Phone - 529-1936, Fax - 527-1162, Email - awlservices@verizon.net
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 5
YEARS IN BUSINESS: 9
DESCRIPTION OF PRODUCT/SERVICES: Handyman Services, Home Improvement, Landscaping, Snow Removal, Commercial Building Repairs, Property Management. "We do it Awl!"
WHO ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS: Any home owner or business owner who can use support in maintaining their property - inside or outside. Our website also allows us to manage local properties for far-reaching customers - national and international!
HOW YOU GOT STARTED: Rich Sr.'s father traveled from Poland to Northampton to buy his first home, which required a lot of repairs. At age 5, Rich Sr. pulled nails out of old boards so his father could reuse them. Father continued to buy homes and son continued to assist, learning all facets of the business by working with him. After his father died at an early age, Rich Sr. used the knowledge he acquired to start his own business. And the father-son tradition has continued! In 2005, after working with local landscaping companies for over ten years, Rich Jr. joined skills with his father to create the Awl Services of today. Rich Sr.'s father helped him buy and repair his first home on Johnson Ave. in Easthampton many years ago. Now Rich Sr. supports his son in the same way - they recently acquired a home for Rich Jr. and his family on Maple Street. Although the Koloszyc family spent some in-between years in Worthington, they have returned to their hometown of Easthampton to open their storefront and office.
BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY: Customer service is our top priority. We guarantee 100% satisfaction and do whatever it takes to get the customer to that place. If a customer is not satisfied, we return to the job and work with the customer to form a plan that meets their needs. We take care of homes as if they are our own.
FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR WORK: Rich Sr.: Hearing from the customers when they are pleased. Rich Jr.: Enjoying the outdoors in all seasons.
LEAST FAVORITE ASPECT: Rich Sr.: Having sewage splash on your face from an overhead drain! Rich Jr.: A yard filled with dog doo!
ADVICE FOR NEW BUSINESSES: Be determined. You may hear negativity from some people, but if you feel strongly about something, just go for it 100% and don't stop. Go around any obstacle you might encounter.
FUNNIEST EXPERIENCE: We were repairing a bathroom wall for a client and were told not to let the owner's cat out, so we were very cautious. We finished the job, reviewed the work with the customer, and said goodbye. Then we got a call from the customer - she could hear her cat but couldn't find her! We went back, put an access panel behind the fridge and let the cat out of the wall! Our first cat rescue on a job! Everyone lived happily ever after.
Awl Services, Inc. is a family owned and operated business that has provided comprehensive services to the Pioneer Valley since 1997. We are fully insured and licensed.