SmallBusinessesAboveBeyond
From Journalism80
Contents |
Unique Autosport
I met and interviewed Will Castro at his Holbrook shop on Monday, March 19, 2007.
- Will Castro has loved cars since he was a little boy living in the lower east side of Manhattan. He got his first hands-on experience through valet parking and car detailing. The Unique company has been in existence since 1990, when Castro opened a shop on Suffolk Avenue in Brentwood, NY. He closed that shop in 1995.
- When Castro was able to re-open, a move to the Hempstead Turnpike seemed necessary because his “clientele were more in the area.” With many New York Jets football players interested in the Unique shop’s work, this seemed to be a perfect location with the, NFL team practicing, well, practically, right across the street on Hofstra University’s campus.
- Now he has his own TV show on Speed Channel, Unique Whips, and works on cars of the rich and famous. Through a meeting with hip-hop sensation Busta Rhymes that turned into a bond like brothers, Castro’s career took off.
Videos of the shop can be found on the Unique Whips MySpace page.
Scholastic Promotions, Awards and More
I visited the shop, located at 505 Uniondale Avenue, Uniondale, NY, on Wednesday, April 11, 2007. I spoke with father, Augie, and son, Anthony Daurio.
- A family-owned business for 40 years, and owned since 1989 by the Daurios, the shop specializes in awards, trophies, plaques and much more -- customizing for each customer. They work from a variety of different companies and are willing to mix and match to make the customer happy.
- Anthony Daurio is a certified engraver by the Awards and Recognition Association.
Small Business Supporters
Gary Hudes, Nassau County's 6th District Council Member
I spoke with Gary Hudes over the phone on Wednesday, March 28, 2007.
Nassau County's 6th District council member, Gary Hudes, is a supporter of small businesses.
- "Owner and president of a jewelry business in Bellmore Village, Councilman Hudes has devoted a great deal of his time to help small businesses grow and prosper. Mr. Hudes recently served as president of Nassau County's largest business organization, The Nassau Council of Chamber of Commerce, which represents the interests of 6,000 small businesses. As president, he instituted a community partnership with Hofstra University that established an education program for small businesses throughout the county. As president of the Bellmore Chamber of Commerce, Hudes spearheaded a pilot program for downtown revitalization, which garnered three national awards and became the catalyst for downtown revitalization projects throughout the region. As a result of his commitment to small business, Mr. Hudes was also selected as the New York State "Small Business Advocate of the Year" by Governor George Pataki." (Gary Hudes)
- He owns a company, which makes his advocation for small businesses truly come from the heart. He held conferences around the area to motivate family-owned companies- telling them not to give up when the huge, corporate companies moved into the area several years ago.
- Hudes stresses service as a key factor that separates small businesses from big ones. If a company is personal, friendly and knowledgeable, then they have what it takes to beat out the bigger competition.
Other Supporters
- “The small business owner is the backbone of our local economy. As a former business owner, I know, firsthand, how important it is to provide support for small, minority-owned business firms,” said James Garner, mayor of Hempstead.
- "On April 13, 2006, President Bush Addressed The Small Business Week Conference And Outlined His Agenda To Help Small Businesses Grow. The President discussed three broad areas where he said his administration is improving the environment for small businesses -- keeping taxes low and spending tax dollars wisely, making health care more affordable and available, and expanding business opportunities at home and abroad. America's small businesses are thriving. Small businesses create two out of every three new jobs and account for nearly half of America's overall employment. They have played a vital role in helping our economy add more than 5.1 million new jobs since August 2003 and have helped reduce America's unemployment rate to 4.7 percent, below the average rate of the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Small businesses are also vital for supporting our communities." White House
- Will Castro stands as a role model for businesses that do wish to have great expansion. Other groups exist to help small businesses more specifically, such as the U.S. Small Business Administration, Small Business Majority and America's Small Business Development Center Network.
