Mom-and-pop shops say it’s all about customer service

UPDATE 3/29/2016 5:30 PM:

Tuesday marks National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day, a chance to recognize small family-owned operations.

“They are the backbone,” said Mary Ann Leffel, president of the Monterey County Business Council.

According to the Small Business Administration, there are more than 27 million small businesses in the country. Leffel said 82 percent of businesses in Monterey County have under 10 employees, while Santa Cruz County has about 5,000 small businesses. Both of those statistics make a huge impact on the Central Coast.

“They serve the local region,” Leffel said. “They don’t serve a big, big region. They tend to be in small restaurants, mechanics, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, those are all small.”

Daniel Spaletta has owned Mack Stove Company on Broadway in Seaside for 40 years. It’s the quintessential mom-and-pop shop, serving the needs of the locals.

“Between the three of us (employees), we have 135 years of experience,” Spaletta said.

He said he, like other mom and pop’s, offer things many big-box stores can’t.

“They can’t offer the personal attention, the warning, ‘Be careful of this or that so you don’t explode or electrocute yourself,’ stuff like that,” Spaletta said. “We can teach people how to do the basics.”

It’s the customer service that keeps DeMarco’s Pizzeria busy serving up meals to customers.

“I know them by name,” Stephen DeMarco said. “I try to know what they like. I know what they want before they come in the door. It’s a mom-and-pop. It’s not a franchise, I care about these people. There coming here, I wouldn’t be here without them.”

It’s these unique interactions that keep these brick-and-mortars in business.

“They just have found a niche and that niche is providing a living for them, it’s providing a service for the community, and that’s what it’s all about,” Leffel said.

Spaletta knows he faces tough competition from big-box stores and the Internet. He said if he’s ever forced to shut his doors, he’ll adapt and perhaps move on to teaching others how to fix appliances.

ORIGINAL POST:

March 29 is National Mom and Pop Business Owner Day.

According to the Monterey County Business Council, 82 percent of businesses in the county have 10 or fewer employees. According to the Santa Cruz County Business Council, 5,000 small businesses are there.

Tonight on KION, Mariana Hicks will have more on the impact of these small businesses. She spoke with the owners of two mom-and-pop shops in Seaside who said it’s all about customer service.