BBB Names 2018 Central MA Marketplace Excellence Award Winners

Better Business Bureau of Central New England is pleased to announce that Webster First Federal Credit Union, Perrone Landscaping, and Charlton Furniture are the winners of its 2018 Central MA Awards for Marketplace Excellence.

“The Awards for Marketplace Excellence honor businesses that have demonstrated the highest ethical standards and consistently raise the bar when it comes to cultivating buyer-seller relationships,” said Rick Powell, Chairman of the Board of Directors for BBB of Central New England.

Webster First, headquartered at 271 Greenwood Street in Worcester, is the winner in the large business category. For over 90 years, Webster First has committed itself to the local communities, businesses, and families in Central Massachusetts. It has done this through commitment to community charities and events, offering financial products that best serve the ever-changing banking needs of their communities, and striving to offer an exceptional level of customer service. It has been recognized as one of the state’s financially strongest and fastest growing credit unions. Watch their video >>

Perrone Landscaping, located at 876 Salisbury Street in Holden, is the winner in the mid-sized business category. Showing professionalism throughout the customer experience has led to many loyal customers and new referrals. It cares for customers’ property, whether routine maintenance or special events, throughout the year—landscaping during the temperate and warm months and snow removal during the winter. The landscaping industry is notorious for high turnover, but Perrone is proud of its employee retention, which, it believes, comes primarily from treating employees with respect. Watch their video >>

Charlton Furniture, located at 107 Dresser Hill Road in Charlton, is the winner in the small business category. It credits its ability to compete in the era of big-box stores and online shopping to the warm, personal experience it offers its customers. It has stayed true to the principles of its founder, Joseph Pikul, to be honest, have integrity, provide value for the dollar, and stand behind its products. This philosophy is fulfilled with the team spirit of its employees, from the design and sales consultants to those delivering purchased furniture. Watch their video >>

Winners were announced at a ceremony at The Manor Restaurant in West Boylston on Wednesday, November 14.

This year’s Marketplace Excellence Awards finalists were also recognized at the ceremony. They are: Bhavna’s Wellness Group in Shrewsbury; Central Mass Power Washing in Millbury; Kumon of Worcester; On-Line Credit Card Services in Sturbridge; Sweet Building and Remodeling Inc. in Sterling; and Visions by Baker Portrait Art in Worcester.

Bhavna’s Wellness Group strives to provide customers with a sanctuary to release mental and emotional stress, and physical disease and discomfort from the moment they first walk in the door for a reiki or massage session, class, workshop, or retreat. Their community involvement includes providing free reiki and meditations at adult daycare and senior centers in the area, and free support groups and services to those with cancer.

Central Mass Power Washing is focused on changing the field of pressure washing and historical restoration, and providing outstanding customer service. A continuous investment in state-of-the-art equipment, best practices and employee training has fueled its growth and leadership in the field. Its support for the community includes volunteering to clean and restore historical landmarks and monuments.

Kumon of Worcester offers individualized educational instruction to area children and teenagers. Building trust with customers—students as well as parents—is essential to their success. The company also believes in the importance of giving back to local and regional communities, and has supported the Worcester County Food Bank, “back to baskets” programs at several local schools, and India Day festival in Boston.

In a highly competitive and regulated industry, On-Line Credit Card Services stands out because of the quality of its work and laser focus on customer service. It is proud to be a small, family operated company that has competed against multi-billion dollar corporations and companies with unethical business practices, for 32 years by creating personal connections with their customers. Its community support includes helping area nonprofits with their electronic payments requirements and providing credit card terminals for limited-time fundraisers.

Sweet Building and Remodeling places a high priority on responsive and helpful communication with customers from concept to completion of their project. It strives to maintain high expectations and keen attention to quality for each project. Its community involvement includes supporting numerous local organizations and events.

Visions by Baker Portrait Art captures images of families and individuals that tell who they are, not simply what they look like. Visions by Baker supports many area nonprofits, including Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, an organization that provides free remembrance portraits for parents who experience the death of a baby, and the Central Mass. March of Dimes.

BBB also be acknowledged a number of accredited businesses for important milestone anniversaries during the ceremony.

About BBB: For more than 100 years, Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2017, people turned to BBB more than 160 million times for BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.2 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at bbb.org. There are local, independent BBBs across the United States, Canada and Mexico, including BBB of Central New England, which was founded in 1940 and serves 225 communities in Worcester, Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Berkshire counties, as well as parts of Middlesex County, and seven towns in Connecticut.