Read Across the USA!

This past month we had the opportunity to reach out to the little members of our community by visiting PS 132 for National Read Across the USA Day. Each year at schools across the country, the beginning of March is a time to celebrate the joys and benefits of reading. The date is usually on March 2nd in recognition of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, but since this year it fell on a Saturday, we headed out to the schools on March 1st to read to the kids from our favorite children’s books.

PS 132 once again invited members of the community including Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, Council Member Antonio Reynoso, our very own Joseph Franquinha of Crest Hardware, members of the NYPD, and St. Nicks Alliance to be guest readers to their students in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Read the full article from Greenline North Brooklyn Community News

BioLite: 'Connecting The Watts' - A Short Film Series

We want to share a series of short films that The BioLite Team has been working on over the last 2 years.

Each short film follows the power of energy through a different lens, and when watched as a series, a broader picture emerges of a micro-revolution of practical solutions that begin with the individual.

Shot in East Africa, where just a few watts can unlock profound transformations to everyday life; where a day of sun can enable overnight safety; where a charged phone can run an entire small business.

Watch the stories unfold below:

PART 1

PART 2

PART 3

To learn more about this project and Biolite products, go to : https://www.bioliteenergy.com/pages/connecting-the-watts

We Won! Voted Best Hardware Store in BK 2019!!!

We want to thank everyone who voted! We are honored to have been nominated and super psyched to win!

A Special Thank You to our employees for helping to make Crest Hardware the best Hardware Store in Brooklyn!

Hardware Retailing Magazine - Featuring Joe Franquinha

Right before the busy holiday season, I left for a trip to meet with fellow business owners and industry professionals at the NRHA State of Independence Conference in Chicago.

Since Crest Hardware has been a staple in Williamsburg and continues to grow throughout our 50+ years in business, I was invited to give a presentation highlighting the strengths that have allowed us to serve the community for so many years. It was truly a wonderful experience being able to share our philosophy with others within our industry.

I believe that we have built something special through service, community and the loyalty & trust we’ve been able to develop with our customers.

Thanks to everyone who came to the conference and NRHA for inviting me to speak.

Here’s a short write-up from this months Hardware Retailing Magazine featuring a shot from my presentation:

Cover of Hardware Retailing

View fullsize

View fullsize

Williamsburg Tree Bed Makeover

Our garden team recently took to the streets of Williamsburg to revamp some of the tree beds on our block.
As you can see in this ‘before’ shot, the planters were overgrown and in desperate need of some TLC:

First things first, the team needed to clear out all those unsightly weeds and replace the soil with some fresh bags from Fox Farm Organic. We also enlisted the help of one of our many kiddie pools to conveniently carry the soil out into the street.

After preparing the soil, the team got to carefully placing the plants to create a beautiful garden landscape!

Thankfully, a little helper came by to give it the final touches…

Now that’s more like it!

Thank you to the Crest Garden Center Team for making this possible!

Spoga Gafa 2018 - Recap!

This month was very exciting and informative for the team at Crest Hardware. I was invited to participate in a discussion with several prominent home & garden bloggers at the Spoga Gafa tradeshow in Germany.

I initially met the folks from Spoga at the annual NRHA conference this past Spring, where I was invited to speak on a panel among other leading hardware retailing experts. After hitting it off over dinner and beers, I was invited to give a talk about my experience with garden retailing in an urban environment. Given that Crest is located in such a hyper-urban area, we carry a unique perspective on retailing. It was amazing to get to share some of the challenges we face and the opportunities that lie here with an entire new continent of people!

I’m excited for these gatherings and to share with the retailing community both nationally and world-wide. I’ll be heading out later this month to the True Value Reunion, so stay tuned for more!

-Joe

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Thank you to all the bloggers who attended the meet & greet! Great talks with great people that are taking the garden industry to new heights.

Xenia - http://www.berlingarten.de/

Sandra - http://grüneliebe.de/

Anja - https://der-kleine-horror-garten.de/

Elke - https://guenstiggaertnern.blogspot.com/

Carina - http://wohngoldstueck.de/

G Train Service Suspended, Says MTA

A recent article via Brooklyn Paper details the MTA's planned suspension of G Train service for the next four weekends.

The subway system is long overdue for a revamp and repair of stations, tracks and technology. - Although we understand there is no better time than the present, this same sentiment could have been put into use throughout the many years that our mass transit system had been left to decay.  Unfortunately, the customers are the ones who will potentially suffer the consequences of neglect to the point of total despair.

Click image for full article- via Brooklyn Paper