After years spent working in the automotive and aerospace industries, Ray DelMuro quit his job and set out to combine his passions for engineering and art.
Now, DelMuro and his business Refresh Glass, which creates beautiful products from recycled wine bottles, is getting national attention from Deluxe Corp. and its Small Business Revolution documentary project. The Small Business Revolution, which also features “Shark Tank” star Robert Herjavec, is a yearlong campaign that celebrates the vibrancy, variety and community impact of small businesses all across the country. Its latest story is a photo essay profiling Refresh Glass, one of 100 profiles of inspiring small businesses that will debut throughout 2015 at SmallBusinessRevolution.org.
DelMuro designed a machine that cuts wine bottles more efficiently and handles more shapes and sizes than previously developed equipment. He first began creating products to share with friends but soon graduated to selling at farmers’ markets and art fairs. Now, Refresh Glass creates products like vases to candle holders, and its creations are carried in major restaurant chains such as Wolfgang Puck and Four Seasons. The business has rescued more than 600,000 bottles – and DelMuro is also chair of the local “Conscious Capitalism” group, which gives back to the community. His ingenuity and commitment to the community is exactly the type of small-business impact that the Small Business Revolution set out to capture.
Deluxe developed the Small Business Revolution to focus on the importance of personal touch and local involvement in an era when business is becoming increasingly impersonal. The campaign is capturing the stories of small businesses and their customers, families and friends – all of whom are a crucial part of what makes our communities whole.
“The hands-on customer service, the entrepreneurial spirit and the deep community involvement people find in the small businesses they frequent make all the difference,” said Amanda Brinkman, chief brand and communications officer for Deluxe Corp. “Telling these moving, inspirational stories and putting a spotlight on these owners is our way of celebrating the best parts of American business.”
The Small Business Revolution will unfold throughout 2015, as a part of Deluxe’s 100th anniversary celebration. Since 1915, Deluxe has helped small businesses and financial institutions grow and thrive by providing a range of business services, from websites and logos to social media and email marketing to checks and other financial services.
Shark Tank’s Herjavec is helping spread the word about the Small Business Revolution, and he’s leading a contest in which consumers nominate their favorite small businesses. The winning business, selected by Herjavec and Deluxe experts, will receive $25,000, and people who submit nominations are entered to win a weekly $100 Mastercard gift card.
