NORWICH – Donna Purdy and Chris Ulatowski of the Label Gallery in Norwich paid back the community by hosting a ladies’ day out holiday event called “All I Want for Christmas.” The occasion was an invitation-only event held for small business owners in the surrounding community on Saturday, Nov. 16.
The Label Gallery also recently celebrated 20 years of business this past August. They hosted the small business event for the holidays as a way to show appreciation for the help they have received over the years.
The event was also an opportunity to showcase local home-based and small businesses in the area and their products to family and friends. The event was well-attended by over 200 people, who enjoyed music by Rock Star DJ service, food and shopping.
Some of the vendors in attendance included FoJo Beans, 31, Pampered Chef, Touch of Moore, Arbonne, Olde Village Mercantile, Origami Owl, Silpada, Maggie’s Soap, and Tupperware. The available products included pottery, glassware, quilting, entertaining items, jewelry, and scrapbooking supplies; to name a few.
Purdy and Ulatowski want to thank all the vendors for participating in the event and the other guests in attendance for supporting the independent entrepreneurs that were showcased. The event was Christmas-themed to give people ideas for buying their holiday gifts locally.
“As the Christmas shopping seasons begins, we wanted to show our support for shopping local. We hope people will consider shopping at local businesses for their holiday gifts and support local charitable organizations as well,” said Purdy.
“We especially would like to thank vendors and shoppers for their generous donations to Toys for Tots,” said Ulatowski.
Plans are already in the works for a ladies’ day out “All I Want for Christmas” event next year.
“We had overwhelming support,” said Purdy. We received a lot of positive feedback,” said Ulatowski.
The Label Gallery small business event was a success for all who participated and their goal of giving back to the community by hosting a holiday event was accomplished.
Chris and Ana Ulatowski founded the Label Gallery, Inc. in 1993. The two met while working at another printer and decided to start their own label printing company in their hometown of Norwich. After working in the printing industry, the Ulatowskis knew that customers were looking for a printing company to go the extra mile. The founding principle of the Label Gallery is to “go above and beyond for customers.” The Label Gallery promises “printing problems solved.”
The Ulatowskis strongly believe that a “big part of being a good employer is being actively involved in and a concerned member of the community and the quality of life it has to offer its citizens.” The Label Gallery has sponsored or participated in several community events and projects in the past 20 years, including the Pumpkin Fest, Colorscape Chenango, Toys for Tots, Gus Macker, YMCA Little League, Norwich and Oxford baseball and the Knights of Columbus.
“The community and City of Norwich have been good to us over the past 20 years. We are truly blessed and this is an opportunity to pay it back by supporting other local businesses,” said Ulatowski.
The Label Gallery was recently awarded state grant funding October. The City of Norwich designated $66,000 of the $100,000 Community Development Block Grant it received through the New York State Office of Community Renewal to the Label Gallery. The Label Gallery’s grant money was used to buy a new digital press and hire four new employees.