Gazebo
After a 38-year run as owner of Gazebo in Northampton, Judith Fine handed the keys to two of her employees, Amy Dickinson and Donna McNeight. “Because of their built-in passion for Gazebo, it made sense that employees would continue with the business,” said Judith.
That was three years ago. Last week, Amy, Donna, and Judith gathered in a dressing room at Gazebo – while longtime store manager Emma Dostal held down the fort – to talk about this transition is their professional lives.
When asked whether they saw this opportunity coming, Amy and Donna shared different paths to ownership.
“I still pinch myself every day,” said Donna. “Owning my own business has been a dream since I was 22 years old when I first went to the small business administration. I didn’t know my business would be bras, but I’ve been working for this for a long time.”
Amy worked at Gazebo for a few years in the 90s before leaving to work in corporate sales. When organizational restructuring set her free, Amy took a part-time job at Gazebo while she contemplated what to do next. Little did she know, co-owning Gazebo was it.
“Gazebo has always been my favorite place to work. I derive so much satisfaction from helping people and being in this women-centric environment. But never in a million years did I think that the universe, having closed one door, would open another for me like this!”
Judith interjects, “I think Northampton is unique with its emphasis on small businesses and owners who intentionally keep them small so that others, when the time comes, can carry them along.”
Donna adds, “Yes, it’s all about continuity. I’m sure there was panic when Judith announced she was leaving. The opportunity we had to transition deliberately and create continuity for our customers really helped all of us adjust to this change—employees, owners, and customers alike.
Years before the hand-off, Judith had been seeking advice about how to transition ownership. When she started talking about it out loud with her employees, the trio’s transition partnership slowly came into focus over the course of a few years as they developed a financial plan.
However, the partnership didn’t end the day the papers were signed. “We still bounce ideas off Judith,” said Donna. “She is an invaluable resource.” Amy chimes in, “I have learned so much about leadership and business from Judith; I can’t imagine doing this without her guidance.”
Retirement, or as I call it rewirement, is all about the evolution of the working life,” said Judith. “I’ve been able to emphasize other aspects of my life knowing the store is in such incredible hands.”
Click below to learn about other transition pairs featured at Torch.
