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Managing Editor CHICOPEE One downtown merchant has found the way to compete and prosper against national chain stores. Mirek Plewa, who owns Pol-Gold at 63 Cabot St., with his wife Michelle, was busy Monday morning putting the finishing touches on the expansion of their business. The couple has been in business in Chicopee for the past 14 years and has owned their building for the last three years. They recently removed a wall and moved into a spot previously occupied by a travel agency. The expansion included a new d cor and cabinetry. Plewa told The Chicopee Herald the expansion was necessarily due to the annual increase in the business. Although many locally owned businesses struggle against national companies, Plewa said his secret has centered on customer service. Both he and his wife are master jewelers each with over 20 years experience in jewelry creation and repair. "If they [customers] can think of it, we can create it," he said. All of the work is done on the premises, he added. To compete against larger chains on price, Plewa and his wife attend wholesale jewelry shows around the country where they shop for the best deals. They look for closeouts as well as purchasing over-runs from designers. Journey pendants, Circle of Love pendants and Camille charm bracelets are popular this Christmas shopping season Plewa said that downtown Chicopee is a good place to do business and mentioned its safety as one of its biggest advantages. | ||||||
