What do you love most about having a small business in House District 47?
I’m a Winter Park native and now a resident and business owner in HD47. I have immense pride in being able to serve my neighbors. I don’t take for granted how nice it is to be from and live in a place full of such colorful and wonderful people. I also love being able to bike and stop at some of my other favorite small businesses on the way like Belanger Bagels, New Moon Market, Orange Tree Antiques, Framework Coffee, Sam Flax, and more!
What inspired you to begin Kiwi Camera Service and what keeps you going now?
I came from a family of entrepreneurs. Both my parents owned small businesses in Maitland. My dad owned Haircutters and my mom owned Friendly Travel Agency. Growing up, I saw firsthand how small businesses both help and are sustained by the community.
My first job was in the Camera Department at the JCPenneys in the Winter Park Mall in 1985/86, where I even earned the top salesman award for the Southeast at age of 16! After that, I worked at International Camera in Casselberry where I started to learn camera repair from the owner, Albert Sturm. From there, I knew my career was going to be camera-related. I studied photography and worked for studio photographers before going to Spokane, Washington to study camera repair. I lived around the country but eventually settled back in Orlando in 2006.
I opened my first brick-and-mortar camera shop in 2008, and I’ve been amazed and humbled by the support of the local photography community ever since. I service and sell all types of analog and digital cameras. There are so many young people discovering photography for the first time, and older folks rediscovering how fun it is to shoot Polaroid again. Sharing my knowledge and passion with my clients, and training my employees to be the next generation of camera service peeps keeps me going.
What advice would you give to someone else wanting to open a small business?
Customer service, customer service, customer service: the profit will come. Take care of your employees. I love my crew (Joanne, Zane, Jean, Gabi, and Whitney) to the moon and back!
What is one memory from Kiwi Camera Service that will always stick with you?
I’m constantly amazed at how many people cry when I fix their grandparents’ camera. That makes me so happy.
How can readers get plugged into your business or show support in 2021?
Stop in the shop – we enjoy meeting new friends! Follow us on social media for updates. Our new retail shop will be opening up shortly and we hope to continue the Kiwi Camera Swap Meets, a free buy/sell/trade event for camera lovers. By the way, there is a killer mustache under the mask in that photo!