Saratoga Business Journal

Saratoga Builders Association Gives Checks To Nonprofit Groups From ‘Showcase’ Profits

January 10, 2020January 10, 2020

The Saratoga Builders Association gave checks totaling $51,000 to Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties.
Courtesy Saratoga Builders Association

The Saratoga Builders Association recently presented two checks totaling $51,000 to Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties.
The money came from the proceeds of the 2019 Saratoga Showcase of Homes.
The Saratoga Builders Association has now contributed over $1.2 million to local charities from Showcase of Homes.
The 2019 edition, which concluded its 24th year, featured nine award-winning builders presenting 10 homes.
Last year’s tour had over 3,000 visitors touring homes on display over three weekends, the Builders Association said.

Adirondack Trust Community Fund Awards Grants To 35 Nonprofits Across The Region

January 10, 2020January 10, 2020

The Adirondack Trust Co. Community Fund, through its Independent Advisory Committee, has awarded Lend-A-Hand Grants to 35 local nonprofit organizations.
The grants were presented at the Community Fund’s annual grant award reception on Dec. 10. Directors or representatives of the organizations were present at the reception and spoke briefly about their respective organization’s mission and how the grant will support their particular cause.
Grant awards were provided to the following organizations:
• After the Fire. To help families in Saratoga County who suffer loss due to a fire, including gift certificates that they can immediately use.
• AIM Services Inc. To support its Enhanced Respite After School Program through the purchase of educational and recreational materials such as teaching materials, sensory stations, art supplies, books, musical items, recreational items and provisions of healthy snack foods.

Warren Tire Service Center To Open New Location In August, Its 16th Outlet In Region

January 10, 2020January 10, 2020

This is a rendering of what the new Warren Tire Service Center store will look like when completed. It will be located at 573 Route 9 in southern Wilton.
Courtesy Warren Tire Service Center

By Jill Nagy
“We’ve always wanted to be in the Wilton-Saratoga are,” said Bob Kellogg, president of Warren Tire Service Center Inc.
That will happen in August, when he expects to open a 16th outlet at 573 Route 9 in southern Wilton.
Kellogg said the company has received all the necessary government approvals and recently began clearing ground and putting in foundations and the parking lot.
More extensive construction, by CGM Contracting of Waterford, is scheduled to begin in the spring.
The new facility will be a 6,300-square-foot building with eight service bays, as well as retail and wholesale space. It will be constructed on 5.83 acres across the Northway from the Wilton Mall, in the most southern part of Wilton.

Department Of Labor Order Takes Steps To Stop Subminimum Wages For Some Workers

January 10, 2020January 10, 2020

The State Department of Labor is issuing an order eliminating the subminimum wage for ‘miscellaneous’ industries statewide.
The order impacts over 70,000 tipped employees and will end confusion and outright wage theft that evidence shows robs them of tipped income they rightfully earned, state officials said.
Workers that will be impacted by the new measure include: nail salon workers, hairdressers, aestheticians, car wash workers, valet parking attendants, door-persons, tow truck drivers, dog groomers and tour guides.
“In New York, we believe in a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work,” Governor Cuomo said. “But after an exhaustive investigation conducted by the Department of Labor, it’s clear the tip system in many situations is needlessly complicated, allowing unscrupulous businesses to flout our nation-leading minimum wage laws and robbing workers of the paycheck they earned. That ends now.
“I am directing the labor department to put an end to the tip credit in the industries with the highest risk of wage theft to help restore fairness for workers, many of whom are critical to the service industries that keep our economy moving forward.”

Business Report: Lobster Lessons For The New Year

January 10, 2020January 10, 2020

Rose Miller is president of Pinnacle Human Resources LLC.

by Rose Miller
We take a trip to Cape Cod for my husband’s business conference each summer. It’s at a beautiful resort filled with beach, sun and sand. My friends come along because my husband is tied up at business meetings during the day.
One of the highlights at the conference is their annual lobster bake. The dining area overlooks the ocean and the menu consists of New England chowder, corn, mussels, potatoes, corn and the main event—lobster.
I love lobster. However, I know not everyone does. I find its one of those things that people either love or hate. I know this may sound peculiar but I found some of the conversations at the table about lobster parallel some of the conversations I hear related to professions and jobs. I’m calling it Lobster Lessons.

Grey Ghost Bicycle Shop In Glens Falls Plans To Open A Second Store in Saratoga Springs

January 10, 2020January 10, 2020

Grey Ghost Bicycles in Glens Falls is opening a new store in Saratoga Springs.
Located at 60 West Ave., the new retail space is more than 2,000 square feet and is part of the larger retail strip building that contains other businesses such as Wolberg Lighting Design & Electrical Supply.
According to Steve Fairchild, general manager of Grey Ghost Bicycles, the existing space only needed light modifications, including cleaning and painting, which is being done by the company.
Launched in 2012, Grey Ghost Bicycles is a full-service bike shop. Along with e-bikes and professional mountain and racing bikes, they also sell bikes for children and casual riders. The company recently moved their main store into the former Post-Star building in Glens Falls.

‘Sensory Six’ Commercial, Residential Design Company Moves To Saratoga Springs

January 10, 2020January 15, 2020

The staff at Sensory Six design firm poses outside the company’s new headquarters, located at 8 Butler Place in Saratoga Springs, a space that they say fits all of their needs.
Courtesy Sensory Six

By Jennifer Farnsworth

Sensory Six is a commercial and residential design firm that focuses on comprehensive services to make their projects easy to manage.

The firm is located at 8 Butler Place in Saratoga Springs, a space that they say fits all of their needs.
Sensory Six President Sandra M. Fox said she feels Saratoga is a place that works for the nature of her business. As a resident of Saratoga Springs, she said she loves being able to both live and work in the area.

“I live in Saratoga Springs and love it here. It was important to me to have a studio that was close to home and also supports my values. Saratoga Springs is known for history, architecture, the arts, wellness, nature, beauty, and great restaurants, all of which are aligned with me and my business,” said Fox.

The Spa City is not only beneficial to her, but is a place that her entire staff is happy with because of its convenience and inspirational vibe.

Owners Of Kru Coffee In Saratoga Springs To Open Second Shop In Burlington, Vermont

January 10, 2020January 10, 2020

Luke Rock, a co-founder of Kru Coffee in Saratoga Springs and its head roaster, works with coffee beans at the Saratoga Springs shop. The company is opening a new store in Vermont.
©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Jennifer Farnsworth
Kru Coffee in Saratoga Springs is opening a second location in Burlington, Vt.
Owner Kyle Brock said it will open in about a month. The coffee shop will be located in the Church Street Marketplace.
Brock said they will look upon additional family members to run the Vermont location. His sister in-law, Lisa Weber, will manage the Burlington café with her husband, Tom. Brock said Lisa will run the front end, while Tom will handle the kitchen operations. While the menu will mimic that of the Saratoga cafe, Brock said one major difference will be the addition of gourmet donuts.

Company Owners Should Develop Business Plans That Reflect Their Vision for Future

January 10, 2020January 10, 2020

By Susan E. Campbell
As a new year arrives, many company owners review their business plans to make sure every financial decision, marketing program and staff member remain aligned with their company vision.
“Most of the time a business plan is stuck in a drawer and only revisited when the owner needs something, such as a loan,” said William Brigham, director of the Small Business Development Center of the University of Albany School of Business.
“We see a thousand businesses a year from 11 counties, and people would be surprised by the lack of a formal business plan,” said Brigham, who has been with the nonprofit organization for 20 years.
Financial advisors agree that a solid business plan is at the heart of a company’s success.

Business Report: Are Your Financial And Tax Advisers Talking?

January 10, 2020January 10, 2020

Rob Snell, financial advisor, Edward Jones Financial in Saratoga Springs.

By ROB SNELL
Now that we’ve closed the book on 2019, it’s officially tax season. As you prepare your tax returns for the April 15 deadline, you might already start looking for opportunities to improve your tax-related financial outcomes in the future.
One important step you can take is to connect your tax professional with your financial advisor.
Together, these professionals can help you take advantage of some valuable strategies:
• Roth vs. traditional IRA. If you’re eligible to contribute to a Roth IRA and a traditional IRA, you might find it beneficial to have your financial advisor talk to your tax professional about which is the better choice.