Page 9 - BusinessWest March 18, 2024

“Home brewers will come in and ask, ‘what’s your favorite? It’s
very hard to be objective when all of these beers are your babies.”
beers, a few of them with racing-related names, such as Brraaap! (that’s the sound motorcycles make when their drivers hit the throt- tle), a New England IPA; and Kick Starter, another New England IPA, with which the partners got things started.
But there’s also the Betty, a Scottish export ale, One Rustic Cran- berry Stout (no explanation needed for that one), One Hard Lime Seltzer (ditto), and others.
The business plan is rather simple and direct, Schwartz said — to continue developing more of these beers and continue building on the solid foundation they’re created.
For Tsitso, vice president of Operations for a commercial con- struction company, and Schwartz, owner of Manchester, Conn.- based Fusion Cross Media, a printing company, this is still a part- time pursuit, or “passion,” as they call it, but one that is absorbing ever-larger amounts of the time not spent at their day jobs.
“This is more of our passion project,” said Tsitso, who also takes the title of head brewer. “Zack and I both like to build things, and this was our project when we started out. We wanted to see where we could take it and build it from grassroots; we expand as we have the bandwidth to do so.”
For this issue and its focus on breweries, BusinessWest takes an in-depth look at One Way Brewing and how its fast start has it on track for a high-octane brand of success in this sector where there’s friendly competition — or, as Tsitso described it, a “community” where customers are shared.
Lager Than Life
As he and Tsitso talked one recent Saturday morning about One Way Brewing, the route traveled to date, and where the road might take them from here, Schwartz first went about describing what they’ve created on Maple Street, and how it is different from a bar.
“At a bar, you eat food, you have a drink, and maybe you watch TV,” he told BusinessWest. “Here at the brewery, Jason and I talk business with you. I don’t want to say that we’re entertaining, but we are engaged. And people are always asking questions — ‘how did you come up with that?’ and ‘what are your ingredients?’ or ‘what malts did you use?’
One Way’s portfolio of craft beers continues
to grow and now includes a wide spectrum of offerings.
Staff Photo
“Home brewers will come in and ask, ‘what’s your favorite?’” he went on. “It’s very hard to be objective when all of these beers are your babies.”
And that’s essentially how this venture started — two guys, Tsitso and Schwartz, talking about brewing, then doing it, and never stop- ping when it comes to asking questions, perfecting their craft, and creating more of these ‘babies.’
Elaborating, the two partners said they’ve known each other
a long time and that their daughters hung out together. They both
One Way >> Continued on page 42
PEOPLESBANK BUSINESS SUCCESS SERIES
ow Open Book Management Leads to Increased Profits
“HS
agement. In short, Springfield Spring & Stamping management shares its financials with its employees so they understand the drivers of the business and feel a part of the process. They understand how their day to day helps the business thrive.
Meeting Regularly
“Our employees understand the mechanics of how the company makes a profit,” Mr. Rodriques continues. “Increasing business literacy has really engaged our employees. We explain the company’s financial posi- tion, from forecasting to the balance sheet. Every month we sit, turn off the phones, lock the doors, and have a one-hour, all- hands meeting where we all evaluate the company’s financials. Sharing is caring. The employees want to know: Why do we come here every day? What impact do we have on the industries we serve?”
“You can feel it when you visit,” says Mr. Ference. “This strategy of open book management has created a strong culture
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a manufacturer of precision-engi-
“You can feel it when you visit. This strategy of open book management has created a strong culture of transparency, trust, collaboration, and accountability at Springfield Spring & Stamping.”
David Ference, First Vice President, Commercial Banking at PeoplesBank
it together. And because we’re open book managed, our employees understand the good, bad, and ugly.”
Building a True Team
Open book management has also been
key to the company’s success, Mr. Ro-
driques notes: “Throughout the different
challenges, I can say emphatically that
pringfield Spring Corporation is
neered springs, wire forms, and stampings. We make small components,” explains Norman Rodriques, President and CFI at Springfield Spring & Stamping. “The glove box in your car has a spring in it. When you push a button on an elevator, it works because there is a spring in it. One of our largest applications now is medical compo- nents. Springs are among those things you never see, but they’re all around us.”
Investing in People
“Springfield Spring & Stamping’s success starts with Norm, his partner, Tina, and their management team. They invest in new technology, product development, and also their employees. That combina- tion makes them unique,” states David Ference, First Vice President, Commercial Banking at PeoplesBank.
One of the strategies behind the company’s success is what we call open book man-
of transparency, trust, collaboration, and accountability at Springfield Spring & Stamping. It empowers employees to take ownership of the company’s success.”
Mr. Rodriques states: “I’ve lived through, I think, four recessions. Going through those recessions was not easy. Each time, the catalyst behind our recovery was all of us hunkering down and
the reason that we overcame them was
Business Success Tips:
understanding that, if we wanted to over- because our management and employees come the recession, we have to really look are teammates — true teammates — and the
Open Book Management
at things within our company. We all did foundation for that is transparency.”
1
Increase financial
literacy before 2 Determine what you
877.888.1388 bankatpeoples.com/businessteam
sharing financial are willing to share. Member FDIC data.
BusinessWest
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