Beacon’s UTENSIL in FACES OF THE ECONOMY: New Business – Poughkeepsie Journal

Emily Burke stands in her kitchenware shop Utensil at 480 Main St., Beacon. / Sarah Bradshaw/Poughkeepsie Journal

She shares her business strategies with the Journal:

“I opened Nov. 9, 2012, two days after my 40th birthday. It’s your basic kitchenware shop. I tried to touch on the basic groups — utensils, gadgets, cookware, bakeware, barware …

“Price point was really important, too. I’m very conscious of people thinking, ‘Oh, what a lovely shop, but it’s too expensive for me.’ I started looking into products after we moved here and I had my second child (five years ago). I was waiting for a lot of things to come together — when Beacon was ready for a store like this and when I was ready to commit as a mom and wife.

“Slowly, I began researching where I could get the products I had, used and loved. I didn’t want to start with a tremendous amount of debt. I just saved and put away for when the time came.

“I take advantage of free advertising, social media, which has been a real successful tool. I post a picture of something new, a mixing bowl in a fun color. People see it on Facebook and want to come get it. It works.

“And business has been great. I opened at the right time. There was so much foot traffic around the holidays. Certainly, there’s an upturn in the economy. With the election behind us, I think people are more surefooted.

“There was some initial profit for the first three months. I have been able to pay myself and pay back Home Depot, which is fantastic, but I was realistic when I opened. I didn’t take on an employee. I have been here six days a week, sometimes seven. My husband has helped when my girls say, ‘I want Mommy to take us to this birthday party.’ It is a juggle, and I knew that going into it, but it’s not a struggle for me to be here. I love being here.”