{"id":15812,"date":"2014-10-15T16:06:14","date_gmt":"2014-10-15T20:06:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2014\/10\/pontiff-operates-jewelry-store-handles-rental-properties.html"},"modified":"2014-10-15T16:06:14","modified_gmt":"2014-10-15T20:06:14","slug":"pontiff-operates-jewelry-store-handles-rental-properties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2014\/10\/pontiff-operates-jewelry-store-handles-rental-properties\/","title":{"rendered":"Pontiff Operates Jewelry Store, Handles Rental Properties Among Her Endeavors"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\"judy\n<\/div>\n
Judy Pontiff manages Achenbach’s Jewelers in downtown Glens Falls\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

BY LISA BALSCHUNAT<\/p>\n

At a young age Judy Pontiff knew she wanted
\nto be financially independent. It didn’t sit right
\nwith her that she had to ask her parents for
\nmoney and had to tell them what she was going
\nto buy with it before she received it.<\/p>\n

“I didn’t like that concept,” said the owner
\nof Achenbach’s Jewelers in Glens Falls. It was
\nthen that her budding entrepreneurial efforts
\nbegan.<\/p>\n

Pontiff moved from Maine to Glens Falls in
\n1971, already a 20-something real estate owner
\nand proprietor. Over the past four decades,
\nshe had owned and managed numerous rental
\nproperties, both commercial and residential.
\nPontiff presently owns 12 properties in addition
\nto managing her retail space at 220 Glen
\nSt., which includes the jewelry store that dates
\nback to 1892; a high-end shoe store, Scarpa
\nDesigns, on the lower level of the building, and
\nthree office rentals on the upper floor.<\/p>\n

Her workdays are long, but extremely satisfying.
\n“I wouldn’t want to be doing anything
\nelse,” she said, “but when I do leave the office,
\nI enjoy my life, and I leave the work behind –
\nuntil the next day.”<\/p>\n

Her recommendation to young entrepreneurs
\nis “to be very inventive … start out small.
\nThen see how you want to expand on it. Your
\nthinking can change any way, shape or direction.
\nDon’t dwell on missteps. Move on.”
\nPontiff also suggests reading as much as as possible about the endeavor. “Take bits and
\npiece [of advice] from the experts to fit your
\nbusiness, your location to help you grow,” she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n

When Pontiff purchased Achenbach’s in 2004
\nit needed dramatic upgrading, both in inventory
\nand interior design. Pontiff changed out jewelry lines, updated the look, resurfaced the roof,
\nreplaced an old massive furnace, renovated
\noffice space upstairs and began renting to three
\ntenants. She completed the projects without
\nloans or investors, but with her own capital,
\nelbow grease and by making solid business
\ndecisions based on research.<\/p>\n

Following industry trends and understanding
\nthe customer desires in downtown Glens
\nFalls, Pontiff opened Scarpa Designs in the
\nlower level of Achenbach’s. The space features
\nmen’s shoes, hats and gloves; women’s shoes,
\nhandbags, gloves, and in the near future will be
\nexpanding with men’s ties and suits, women’s
\nfashions and high-end children’s clothing.<\/p>\n

She is planning to re-open Scarpa Designs on
\nNov. 1, provided that the new staircase, carpeting
\nand display cases are installed as scheduled.
\nIn June 2013, Pontiff’s building suffered
\nwater damage from the fire that broke out at
\nthe neighboring building on the third floor of
\nthe Bullpen Tavern.<\/p>\n

“We were closed for two and a half weeks as
\na result, but when we reopened many people
\nthought we were still closed because our back
\ndoor, which is attached to the Elm Street parking
\nlot, is really our front door, and dumpsters
\nhad to be there to remove the debris,” she said.
\n“Neither the owners of the Bullpen or I would
\never want anyone to go through what we did.
\nIt took a lot of endurance for both businesses,
\nand for the tenants in both buildings, but we all managed and have moved forward.”<\/p>\n

Pontiff said one of her tenants is waiting
\nmove back in, while two others had to find
\nother offices to rent. Once the upper floor is
\nfully repaired and ready for occupancy, Pontiff
\nwill have two office spaces to rent.<\/p>\n

Since the fire, “we’re growing new customers,
\nsales are up, we’re looking forward to the
\nholiday shopping season and downtown events
\nlike Hometown Holidays on Friday, Dec. 5, and
\nAchenbach’s second annual restyling event on
\nFriday, Nov. 21.”<\/p>\n

In the coming year, Pontiff said Achenbach’s
\nBench Tooler Joanne Agopovich, will
\nbegin working with three-dimensional jewelry
\nsoftware to provide customers with on-screen
\ncustom designs, but she will also continue to
\n“wax out” pieces for customs depending on the
\nintricacy.<\/p>\n

In addition to Agopovich, Achenbach’s
\nemploys two fulltime sales people. “We pride
\nourselves exceptional service,” she said, “and
\nwe have have a personal relationship with our
\ncustomers. They are happy and my employees
\nare happy.”<\/p>\n

Achenbach’s opens daily at 9 a.m., Monday
\nthrough Saturday, and in December will be
\nopen from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Scarpa
\nhours will be similar when its reopens. For more
\ndetails go to: www.achenbach’s jewelers.com,
\ncall 792-3425 or find the company on facebook
\nand twitter.<\/p>\n

Photo by Lisa Balschunat<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Judy Pontiff manages Achenbach’s Jewelers in downtown Glens Falls BY LISA BALSCHUNAT At a young age Judy Pontiff knew she wanted to be financially independent. 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