• MEET A FEW OF THE EMPOWERED WOMEN RUNNING LOCAL BUSINESSES
in
Business
A SOUTHERN LAKES NEWSPAPERS LLC PUBLICATION • 2020 EDITION
‘Babes’
MEET THE
OF
by Sandra Landen Machaj CORRESPONDENT
BOAT DETAILING Local women join forces to create Barnacle Babes service
Nothing says summer more than the return of boats to the waters of area lakes. Each spring as the days get warmer, more boats appear on the water with boat owners and their families close behind to enjoy their time on the lake. Unfortunately boat maintenance takes up a good part of the recreational time
many people have to enjoy the time on their boats. When longtime friends Emily Zugary and Erika Price were looking at possible business ideas, they knew they wanted to do something that would keep them outside preferably along the waterfront where they could enjoy the best of the summer while they would provide a worthwhile service. Having grown up in southeastern Wisconsin, the young women said the waterfront was an important part of their lives. However, as they watched the boat owners spend hours cleaning their boats prior to taking them out on the water, the idea for their business was created. “We would take over the job of detailing the boats so that the boat owner, instead of
spending hours cleaning their boats, could spend the time on the water enjoying their boat,” Zugary said. What’s in a name? “One of the hardest decisions was coming up with a name for the business,” she said. “We wanted something that was catchy and would be remembered by customers. And we wanted something that was both unique and would describe exactly what services we offered.” While they spent most of last year trying to find just the right name, it was Price’s mother who finally came up with the name Barnacle Babes Boat Detailing
See BARNACLE BABES, Page 6
Erika Price (left) and Emily Zugay, owners of Barnacle Babes Boat Detailing, planned to open their business on May 1. They offer a variety of detailing services to boat owners. COURTESY OF BARNACLE BABES Women in Business
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2020 WOMEN IN BUSINESS
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Picture perfect Area photography studio stays ahead of the curve
by Tracy In the age of smartphones, where Ouellette everyone has a camera EDITOR available at the touch of a button, the need for professional portrait studios might seem a bit outdated. However, one local photographer said her business is thriving. “The key thing I have done to continue with the business is to be creative,” said photographer Kathy Kohl, owner KK Photography in Waterford. “Staying on top of the game with education, technology and being creative is essential. You can’t just sit back and wait for them to come to your door.” Kohl said that while smartphones have quality cameras and people can take wonderful photos with them, they aren’t professionals and when shooting a family photo or a high school senior portrait, there can be issues. “I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve gotten a frantic call from a mom or dad saying their high school senior’s friend took their photo for the yearbook and they didn’t turn out and they needed to bring them in,” Kohl said. “I always make time for them, because I know how important it is.” Kohl said parents are willing to take the time for a sitting and purchase high school senior professional portraits. “Not only is it a peace of mind knowing the photo will reach the yearbook in the correct format, but they have a nice portrait of their now almost adult child,” Kohl said.
“Yes, an iPhone takes nice photos, but it doesn’t replace a well-lit and a flattering posed portrait that is wall print quality. “An iPhone can’t tell a person what angle is flattering to the model’s body shape, doesn’t know white balance, it doesn’t have years of experience to create the best portrait possible, and it doesn’t support your local sports club or fundraiser,” Kohl said. Family fun When it comes to large family shots, Kohl said they often don’t turn out because someone is looking away, or has their eyes closed, or it’s not framed well and people are disappointed. “When photos are taken with an iPhone and printed by discount stores you never know what quality you will get,” she said. “The white shirt in photo might print a light pink depends on if machines were calibrated correctly that day. Why take the risk? Leave it up to a professional lab to get the job done correctly.” Kohl said she gets a lot of family portrait
work from grandparents who want a family photo and want it done right. “They understand that having that peace of mind that the photo shoot has been scheduled and the whole family is going to be there and they know they’re going to get good quality photos and the quality of the printing is going to be good too.” Kohl said it’s the time vs. money crunch and the ability to avoid the frustration of having to do it all over again that really appeals to her clients. “They come here and they’re going to get that personal service and quality they want,” she said. “Grandparents love taking the time to schedule a yearly family portrait to capture a priceless portrait. Everyone is in the photo, posed correctly and it’s a great fun memory of family time. “A big part to make a successful session is to joke around with the kids to capture their personalities. You just don’t get that with an iPhone. Most importantly one parent is missing from the photo if an iPhone is used.” See PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO, Page 5
Women in Business A publication of Southern Lakes Newspapers 1102 Ann St., Delavan, WI 53115 • (262) 763-3511
TOP: Kathy Kohl is the owner of KK Photography in Waterford. She has been in the business for 20 years. ABOVE: Kohl (right) works with a family during a box photo session. Kohl said the box photos are a popular option for families. SUBMITTED PHOTOS Women in Business
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• Photography studio Inside the box thinking One of Kohl’s newest offerings is her box photos, which have proved popular with families. “My husband built me a 4-by-4 wooden box to have children jump into for some fun. It’s a great way to capture their personalities. What child doesn’t like to jump into a box? Over the holidays, the 30-by-30-inch canvas family design was a huge success,” she said. Kohl has branched out into business portraits, helping area companies brand themselves. She also offers Personal Branding Photography, which tells the story
2020 WOMEN IN BUSINESS
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of the business owner and the why he or she started the business. “Customers are more likely to do business with someone when they know the why behind the company name,” Kohl said. “This is a great marketing tool to gain trust. I offer short videos of the owner talking about their business for social media.” Kohl recently re-opened her studio after the COVID-19 lockdown and is booking photo shoots. KK Photography, LLC, is at 300 E. Main St. in Waterford. For more information, visit www.kkphotography.com.
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• Barnacle Babes last fall. They believe the name perfectly describes both them and their business. The idea for boat detailing came from Price who had worked in a boat business prior to branching off to start her own business with Emily. “Detailing boats is hard work, work we look forward to doing,” Price said. “We spent time researching what exactly needs to be done to prepare the boats to be clean and sparkly. We researched products that are the safest to use on the boats.” “Basically we offer three levels of service,” said Zugary. Those levels provide a variety of ways to keep the boat looking its best and prevent it from deteriorating from exposure to the elements, especially the hot sun.
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storage may find spiders and other small critters that have made the boat their winter home. “Owners are always glad to get their personal belongings back and to realize they have not lost them. And they are delighted to have the boat cleared of all uninvited guests,” said Zugary. Deep cleaning includes both interior and exterior services. Starting with the interior, they will clean all vinyl cushions and the interior surfaces of the boat. Then they will vacuum all carpets and compartments. Interior glass will be cleaned until it is spotless. Mold and mildew whether on Deep Clean cushions or boat surfaces will be removed. The first is the Deep Clean, which is They will follow up with UV protectant The Barnacle Babes offers services that free boat owners from the time-consuming task of usually done when the boat is coming out vinyl shine on all cushions. And finally, detailing their own boats, which gives the owner more time to be on the water. of storage. This is a service that many boat they will wash and scrub all floor surfaces COURTESY OF BARNACLE BABES Women in Business owners prefer to hire out than to tackle on and wipe down all the fiberglass on the scrubbed down. All live wells and exterior Barnacle Babes do your detailing is that their own. interior. They will also clean and vacuum compartments will be cleaned along with you do not have to bring the boat to them. “We need to go through all the boat’s the inside of the Bimini top. all exterior glass. UV protectant will be They go to the boat and you don’t have to compartments and thoroughly clean them applied to keep color from fading. Even the be there while they complete their tasks. from the engines to the seats, floors and all TLC for the exterior engine will be cleaned and shined. Finally The women use an appointment system, spots in between,” said Zugary. Once the interior is complete, they will Sometimes she said they find items that move to the exterior of the boat. They will they will clean and vacuum the Bimini top. so boat owners know when they will be Cleaning the boat after storage is a arriving to begin work. Owners may stay have been misplaced by the boat owners, begin by washing and drying the exterior big job and requires hard work, work the or take care of any other business while such as sunglasses, ear pods or other of the boat or at least all that is accessible. Barnacle Babes are willing to provide. they are cleaning the boat. personal items and after a long winter in If the boat has a swimming deck, it will be When you take friends out on the boat Regular touch-ups you will be proud of the way it looks, just The second level of service is the like it arrived from the dealer when first weekly or bi-weekly touch up. This service purchased. is to clean up the boat so that it looks its Price and Zugary have similar best, removing the regular dirt and grime backgrounds. They attended the same high that accumulates. “Much like a weekly school although Price was a senior when cleaning for your home,” Price said. Zugary was starting as a freshman. They They wash the entire inside of the boat both have worked for Disney World in paying special attention to the seats. Many Florida although again at different times of the boats have upholstery that is vinyl and in different jobs. Zugary worked with and needs to be cleaned regularly and character representations while Price protected from the UV rays that tend to dry served as a lifeguard on Blizzard Beach. it out and fade it. Each of them was in Florida for about 6 to The services provided for the weekly or 8 months per year. bi-weekly cleaning are customizable to suit the boat owner’s desires. Services include Strong work ethic both interior and exterior cleaning. Both women said working at Disney Starting with the inside, they will really reinforced their work ethic. vacuum the entire interior of the boat. All They also have each worked at Lake vinyl cushions will be cleaned along with Lawn Resort on the golf course although again at different times. And Price has also all vinyl surfaces. Interior glass will be worked for a local boat company. They cleaned and all fiberglass surfaces will be have both been trained in boat detailing. wiped down. Price is enrolled in flight school at On the exterior of the boat they will, as Pontoon boats often have a lot of seats, which are vulnerable to the elements. Detailing services Gateway Technical College in Kenosha. with the deep clean, wash and dry the boat offered by the Barnacle Babes are designed to clean and protect all interior and exterior surfaces. “Flight work is a family tradition,” she exterior as far as it is accessible. They will COURTESY OF BARNACLE BABES Women in Business said. “I will be the third generation pilot in apply the UV protectant wax to prevent fading of color and as with the interior will my family when I finish.” Her mother was a pilot for United Airlines, her father was a clean all glass. pilot while he was in the military. Her grandfather was also a pilot Don’t forget the trailer while her grandmother served as a flight The third level of service is not focused attendant. “My parents actually met at on the boat but on the boat’s trailer for Gateway while attending the same program those who transport their watercraft to the I am currently enrolled in,” Price added. lake on weekends or on vacations. Trailers Perhaps one day you may run across her are notorious for picking up all kinds of as you board your flight as she announces road grime. her presence at the controls to the The Barnacle Babes Detailing will take passengers. on the work of cleaning the entire trailer The Barnacle Babes Detailing serves its including the tires to remove any mud or customers from April 1 through Oct. 30. other debris that accumulates. This year because of the COVID-19 virus To do this they will begin by washing they will not be detailing boats until May 1 and drying the entire trailer. They will at the earliest. Prospective customers may apply UV protectant wax to the trailer as call or email to make an appointment for they did to the boat itself. The tires will be detailing. washed and shined for a clean look. Operating hours are Tuesday through “We are very competitive with our Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday pricing,” Zugary said. “The costs vary from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. by type of service and size of boat. We For more information, visit Barnacle have a very solid work ethic and are sure Babes at www.barnaclebabesboats.com, A lone boat makes its approach to the dock in Fontana early in the boating season. As the season customers will be pleased with the results call them at 262-325-7988 or email them at of their cleaning.” progresses, more boats will be on the water, many requiring detailing services. barnaclebabesboats@gmail. COURTESY OF BARNACLE BABES Women in Business One of the advantages of having
2020 WOMEN IN BUSINESS
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New shop offers ‘gourmet’ meals for pets
CURBSIDE PICKUP, DELIVERY BECOME IMPORTANT PART OF BUSINESS By Penny Gruetzmacher CORRESPONDENT
A new store in Walworth aims to offer healthy, gourmet meal plans for dogs, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg at The Pet Gourmet – Flagship Store. In addition to meal plans, the store offers a variety of toys, pet apparel, essential oil sprays (odor eliminator, calming aid and learning aid), leashes and other walking supplies, treats, dog beds and mats, and an assortment of gifts for pet lovers. Lexie Berglund co-owns the store with Kurt Stricker, who is also the owner of The Pound Bakery in Harvard, Ill., where all of the food products and some of the other items sold at The Pet Gourmet – Flagship Store are designed and produced. The Pound Bakery has been in business since 1996 and has about 300 employees. Berglund was involved there for more than 12 years including working with online sales and marketing. The company’s pet products have been sold at farm markets and craft fairs for several years. Berglund said while working in the pet industry, she realized there was a lack of healthy options for pets and was excited to be in a position where she could use her skill set to help improve the quality of pet diets. “Growing up, my family always had a focus on health and natural remedies for ailments. Since I’ve been in the pet industry, I have been focused on creating treats for pets that follow that same lifestyle,” she stated in a post on Facebook. “We believe that everything in a pet’s diet should serve a purpose and benefit their health.”
NUTRITION IS THE GOAL
Berglund’s focus on health for dogs led to her creating treats but also a nutritionally balanced, unprocessed diet for our best furry friends. The store was a former dry cleaning shop and after remodeling, the grand opening was held Feb. 28 through March 1. The event included free photographs of dogs by Melanie Renee Photography. There were also treats for dogs and cupcakes from Bittner’s Bakery for their owners. In addition to daily drawings, guests were able to put together a sample meal to take home for their dogs. Then the coronavirus pandemic hit, which canceled the official ribbon cutting and a Business After 5 event with the Geneva Lake West Chamber of Commerce. Since the store sells pet food, it fell under the state’s list of essential businesses. For those not comfortable shopping in person, online ordering and curbside pickup is offered as well as home deliveries. The store is offering free home delivery on orders over $15 and delivers within 15 miles of the store including to Harvard, Illinois, Delavan, Walworth, Fontana, Lake Geneva, Williams Bay, and Elkhorn on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
One of the goals, according to Berglund, is to be involved in the community. They recently helped out with a food drive giveaway in Walworth by giving out treats and packages of pet food to people who picked up a ham dinner. And they’ve held online reading and other classes for children. They are also helping out by selling cloth masks made by Berglund’s mom at a price of $10 each with 100 percent of the revenue going to Lakeland Animal Shelter. As of last week the store had already raised more than $600 for the shelter with the mask project. The masks – which come in ear strap, head strap and tie options in several designs – are available in the store and can be purchased via the website. One way to keep up with the latest from The Pet Gourmet – Flagship Store – is to follow its Facebook page, which highlights different foods, treats and other products and also promotes store specials and events including classes. Upcoming free classes include Make Your Own Dog Toy Class for Kids, Pupsicle Making Class for Kids and Frozen Dog Treat Class. The Pet Gourmet – Flagship Store is at 541 Kenosha St., Suite E, Walworth. The store’s hours are: Monday, closed; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call (262) 394-5588, visit petgourmetflagship.com, email flagship@thepetgourmet.com or follow them on Facebook. A variety of food items are available at The Pet Gourmet including protein add-ins that can be used with base mix diet plans or as a treat, and several jerky flavors. PENNY GRUETZMACHER Women in Business
Lexie Berglund, co-owner of The Pet Gourmet - Flagship Store in Walworth, stands by a large board at The Pet Gourmet that lists specials and upcoming events. PENNY GRUETZMACHER Women in Business
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I am very proud of the work that I do: whether it’s assisting buyers in finding, what’s very likely, their life’s most valuable asset, or helping home sellers with the marketing and subsequent sale of their home, as they get ready for the next chapter in their life! How exciting is that! As a real estate agent, you have a bigger impact on people’s lives than you might think! Definitely not the easiest of responsibilities, but a very rewarding one!
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