Category: Business

Business Spotlight: Jesco Brick & Concrete Masonry

Here’s the story of a fellow Long Islander, Brett Ladd, President and CEO of Jesco Brick & Concrete Masonry.

Hey Brett! Let’s start from the beginning. As the President/CEO/Artistic Director/Founder of Jesco Brick & Concrete Masonry, have you always been entrepreneurial?

Absolutely! I was THAT kid! You know, the one who sold candy in school to make some extra money. Thankfully I learned to hustle and work hard at a young age and I still apply those principles in my work today.

Tell us about the pre-Jesco Brett.

I am originally from Queens but moved to Nesconset when I was 13 and attended Sachem Schools. At 17 years old, I decided to lease a coffee truck route as my first real entrepreneurial venture (not including my childhood candy game). two years later, I started a successful towing business with 4 tow trucks. After running the business for 14 years, I sold the towing business, having grown it to 32 trucks.

Is that when Jesco was born?

Yes, well sort of. At this point I am a young man who has already created a business, grown it and sold it. The entrepreneur in me was looking for more challenging work, and this time I wanted to do something I was passionate about where I could incorporate my artistic expression. I was always interested in design and creation. It was at this point that I spoke with a close family member who was in the masonry business. I spent the next year shadowing him on his every day routine. I must have asked a million questions of him in order to really get to know the business. I knew masonry and artistic creations was exactly what I wanted to do. After picking his brain, I asked for (and received) his blessing to go out on my own… and Jesco was born!

What is the one thing Jesco Brick & Concrete is known for over it’s competitors?

With Jesco, its not just about aesthetics. There are many talented masonry businesses in this area. What truly sets us apart is our meticulous workmanship and customer service. Not only are we about making things look great, we are built for longevity as well. We are about construction and base as well as aesthetics.

Our clients are treated like family and every job is done with the caring a precision we would give as if we were working on our own homes. This is why we get so many repeat customers.

What would you want current or potential customers to know about Jesco that they may not know already?

Jesco has also done over 100 house rehabs and flips throughout Long Island. So if anyone knows any potential fix and flips, give us a call.

Also, we do plenty of the “unglamorous” jobs as well, including basement entrances, stoops, sidewalks, etc.

Has Jesco received any awards or recognitions?

We are very proud to be featured in both the Nicolock and the Cambridge Paving Stone catalogues. These huge companies have their choice of thousands of mason’s work and they chose Jesco. It is both exciting and humbling to be chosen.

Is Jesco involved in any local charity work or community groups?

Both during and before the pandemic hit, Jesco has been involved in donations to essential workers. We also donate regularly to local not-for-profits, fundraisers, etc. It’s always been very important for me to give back.

What has been the biggest “win” in Jesco’s history?

The biggest win is definitely the loyal and repeat customers. They are the reason we have been able to achieve this level of success.

What was your favorite backyard creation you have ever done?

A few years back a gentleman with a home on the bluff in Rocky Point gave me total creative control with the project and I ran with it! He gave me a budget of $350K and I created what you see below. How did I do?

What is the biggest risk you have taken with your business?

Other than starting the business in the first place, the biggest risk I have taken is buying the building where my office is in Farmingville. I really wanted to make Jesco a permanent staple in the industry and on Long Island and felt having a permanent home for my business was important.

If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?

Honestly? Nothing. Every bump and bruise is a learning experience. We try to get better every single day. Every mistake and misstep allows us to learn and get better. One of the keys to a successful business is to constantly learn new things and evolve.

Thanks for sharing your story Brett! How can our audience get ahold of you?

It was my pleasure! Check out our website at www.JescoBrick.com

Give us a call at (631) 846-9800 or message us on Facebook.

On Instagram, we can be found @patio_assassin or @JescoBrickLI

Business Spotlight: Ackerman Law PLLC

Ackerman Law PLLC, founded by Michael S. Ackerman, is based on Long Island, and its professionals have been serving Long Island’s real estate needs since 2002.

How did Ackerman Law PLLC get started?

Ackerman Law PLLC was founded by Michael S. Ackerman. Michael has focused in Real Estate since 2001. While in law school, Michael interned at a major title insurance company and from there went on to become counsel, where he advised attorney’s daily on real estate and title matters. The experience and knowledge obtained during that time helped form the solid foundation he now has in Real Estate law.  Michael went on to open his own law firm and has been in business since 2004.

Tell us more about Ackerman Law. How can you help fellow Long Islanders?

Ackerman Law PLLC is a law firm focusing in Real Estate transactions, servicing a wide variety of clients, ranging from the first time home buyer to the sophisticated real estate investor as well as the private to institutional lender.

We handle :

  • Single and Multi-Family Homes
  • Cooperative Apartments
  • Condominiums, Town Houses and Homeowner’s Associations
  • New Constructions and Condo-Offerings
  • Vacant Land
  • Bank-Owned and Foreclosed Properties
  • Commercial and Mixed-Use
  • Short-Sales

What is the one thing your business is known for over your competitors?

Ackerman Law PLLC is known for and prides itself on its ability and reputation for getting the deal done, providing its clients the highest levels of customer service, satisfaction and speed.   This is why we make ourselves accessible to move your deal and closing forward, at all times necessary. Ackerman Law PLLC understands that real estate moves quickly and therefore each transaction is treated with urgency all the while paying attention to detail.

Our reputation for service, experience and speed is based upon our results.  We perform same-day turnaround times on contract preparation and negotiation, accessibility to speak with our clients, realtors and other attorneys at all times necessary to move the deal forward, and our transparent approach.  Our clients appreciate how we treat them not only as clients but also as friends and family.

What would you want current or potential customers to know about your business that they may not know already?

Ackerman Law PLLC focuses in real estate so rest assured that when you work with us, you have a team behind you that has the experience, knowledge and resources necessary to get from contract to close as seamlessly and efficiently as possible.  

What is the biggest “win” in your business’ history?

We see every see every closing we do for our clients as a win, as well as the numerous referrals we receive from previous clients and real estate professionals as a win.  We like winning!

Thanks for sharing your story with us. Where can people get in touch with you?

Ackerman Law PLLC 

Michael S. Ackerman

Email: [email protected] 

Phone: 516-877-1500

Web: www.AckermanLawyers.com

Business Spotlight: George Scarpias – Licensed Real Estate Broker

Here’s the story of a lifelong Long Islander, George Scarpias, who, through his hard work and dedication, has helped hundreds of Long Island families buy or sell their homes.

Hi George! Lets start from the beginning. How did you get started in Real Estate?

I became a real estate agent because I saw a need for change in a very dated industry. Real Estate has become too much of a transaction and less of an experience. I wanted to give a fun and exciting spin to Real Estate by actually treating people like family. Since inception, the Scarpias Team has grown to a team of twelve like-minded, local parents.

What is your connection to Long Island?

Born and raised in Massapequa and a resident for almost 40 years, I have deep roots in the community. I graduated Massapequa High School as captain of the men’s soccer team and have three beautiful children in the school system. In fact, our entire team are local moms and dads.

My business involves buying, selling and renting both Residential and Commercial properties from Montauk to Manhattan. We have many ties to the local markets and have become some of the most referred agents in the local Moms and Dads Groups on Facebook. We are proud to have brought a fun and exciting real estate experience to over 400 local families from these groups.

What is one thing your team is known for over your competitors?

We give a one of a kind experience by always going above and beyond for our clients. Our family first approach makes every client part of the family.

We believe going the extra mile makes a world of a difference. Real Estate fast & furious leaves you with many questions. Our goal is to make your deal as smooth as possible.

What would you want current or potential clients to know about your business that they may not know already?

During the holiday season, we run a Christmas light show on our house that we customize with music and dancing lights. We are known as “The Massapequa Christmas House” on Facebook. We collect toys and donations for a local children’s hospital. During the pandemic, we were able to donate 10,000 “ear savers” for first responders.

What is the biggest “win” in your business’ history?

The biggest “win” for our business I would say, has to be the massive support we have received from the local Moms and Dads groups. The support has been amazing over the years and we are so unbelievably grateful every single day. The George Scarpias Team has become a household name for anything Real Estate.

Has your business won any awards?

Yes we have! We are proud of all of the awards and recognitions we have received:

  • Companywide Top Listing & Sales Agent 2017-2020
  • Top 20 Under 40 Rising Star
  • Coach Pinnacle Agent Top 1% Sales Long Island
  • Pulse Magazine Power Broker of Long Island
  • Presidents’ Club Hall of Fame

You mentioned the charitable work you have done through your Christmas House. What other charities and community groups are you involved with?

We are involved in charities for The John Theissen Children Foundation, The Ashley Wade Foundation, Be a Kid Foundation. We also support local businesses and sports teams in addition to the Massapequa Christmas House.

Thanks for sharing with us, George! Where can people get in touch with you?

People can reach me directly at (516) 330-1949 or via email at [email protected]. Please also follow us on Facebook!

The 5 Steps to Branding

By Lindsay Aliseo

Branding your business is, in my opinion, the single most important part of building a business. If you have a brand that people love it is because of the branding efforts put forth purposely to build the brand. So, how does a business owner begin to brand? I will review The 5 Steps to Branding YOU and your business in this article.

  1. Knowing your Target Market.
  2. Logo, Fonts, Colors, & Marketing Material Themes 
  3. Attracting your Target Market
  4. Consistency & Diversifying your Marketing
  5. Is your Brand Memorable?

Knowing your Target Market

 If you are unsure what your target market is, we can take a look here. If you are unable to pinpoint your target market, then you may not have the right business or product.  Knowing your target market helps narrow down your marketing efforts and will cost you much less in the end. Let’s nail down your target market!

  1. Is your product or service geared towards children, teens, adults or seniors?
  2. Is your product or service gender based?
  3. Is your product or service location based?
  4. Do you have a niche product or service?
    – Something that is for use in the kitchen
    – A product or service for pregnancy
    – Carpentry tools

Knowing your audience enables you to create the appropriate marketing materials and attract them with the right marketing placements. It also begins to generate efficiency within your business. Efficiency is my other major component of building a business. Always work smarter not harder! I could write PAGES on organization and efficiency but for now I will stay on topic.

Logo, Fonts, Colors & Marketing Material Themes 

  Your look should have a direct relationship with your product or service and your market. Simplicity is best here. The more complicated and busy your logo and themes are, the more likely you are to lose those prospective customers. Realistically, you have about 2-3 seconds to grab the attention of and hook a customer. Below I have listed a couple of my rules when creating graphics, logos and advertisements.

  1. Keep it simple. 
  2. Stick with a theme. 

    The consistency of a theme will help your market remember you the next time they see you. Try creating a marketing campaign that runs for a certain amount of time, keeping the theme consistent, this will be beneficial to your acquisition numbers. Create a format for your graphics and advertisements. Use no more than three types of graphics with the same color scheme and logo layout for each. 
    Format 1: Graphic – Title – Logo – Themed Styles, Colors & Fonts

Format 2: Framed – Clear Offer/Message – Logo – Themed Colors and Fonts

Format 3: Cover Photo – Logo – Themed Colors

Attracting your Target Market

            You may have heard of Attraction Marketing in the past but didn’t really understand how to use it or maybe you thought it was something made up by all of the self-proclaimed business gurus on social media.  I am here to tell you Attraction Marketing is the second most important part of building and branding YOU and your business! 

What is Attraction Marketing?  Well, it is exactly what it sounds like. You attract customers TO YOU! The concept of attraction marketing is all about what you put out into the world. If you are always posting negative things on your social media pages, constantly arguing with other people in Moms Groups and privately or publicly complaining about other businesses or your customers, I can promise you that you are branding yourself as unapproachable. What you do in your personal life will ALWAYS reflect in your business life. On the other hand, if you are supportive, kind, and uplifting, especially on your personal social media accounts, you will brand yourself as not only approachable but people will start to gravitate to you. They will want more of what you have to offer as a person. If you are consistent with your positive, supportive and uplifting identity, people will remember you as such and when they need something that you have to offer in your business, they will be more inclined to use you. I created a short video that really gets into Facebook posting and Attraction Marketing, that you can watch here Attraction Marketing and Facebook

The next part of attracting your target market is to know the right outlets to use. These days exposure to your target market is often accomplished with the help of social media. If your target market is men and women over the age of 70, living on Long Island, social media may not be the right place for you to advertise, unless you are marketing to the caretakers of these seniors. In this case, your marketing efforts need to be tailored not to the seniors themselves but the ones that may help make decisions for them.

If your target market is made up of women that are pregnant or may be thinking of starting a family in the next 12-15 months, living on Long Island, it would be beneficial to join your local moms group, or groups pertaining to pregnancy and childcare. Most of these groups will not allow you to advertise but will allow you to comment on a post when asked for specific help and more specifically, asking for help that your business provides. Please be careful when utilizing this method for free marketing. You should always offer free advice or information first. If asked, you then provide your business information. No one likes to have a business owner shove their business down their throat, unsolicited.

Want more information on branding your business in Long Island Moms Group with an audience of over 22 thousand people? Watch this Daily Deals Video for more Information

Consistency & Diversifying your Marketing

The Rule of 7 is your starting point for consistency and diversifying. What is The Rule of 7? Simply stated, your prospective customer needs to be exposed to your brand seven times before they will purchase from you. The idea behind The Rule of 7 is that you are building CREDIBILITY with CONSISTENCY over each exposure. You are ATTRACTING your target market by conveying value and trust and creating a MEMORABLE brand. On average, by the seventh time a person has been exposed to your brand they will remember it for when they need your service or product. But, you can without a doubt hook them before that! 

How do I make sure my target audience is exposed to my brand seven times?

  1. Diversifying your marketing efforts.
  2. Staying consistent with your marketing.
  3. Making sure your branding is clear and concise.  

Long Island Exclusive offers business owners the unique opportunity to brand their business with our Long Island audience of over 200k people in a multitude of ways. Ensuring that your target market will be exposed to your brand steadily and diversely. 

Is your Brand Memorable

            Securing your brands memorability, depends on successfully completing and staying consistent with these five steps. Whoever created the saying “Consistency is Key” could not have been more on point. You need to make a serious commitment to branding YOU and your business. For some this is an easy feat as they already portray the positive person they are to the world. For others, this may be a challenge at first but once you feel the immensely strong effects of your efforts, you will never turn back and the future will be bright.