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‘Humble Beginnings’

Reed Tours Falconer Electronics

U.S Rep. Tom Reed, R-Corning, looking through a microscope as Falconer Electronic employees Chris Bartkowiak and Tanya Storrs watch. Reed toured Falconer Electronics, located at 421 Everett St., Falconer, Tuesday. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

FALCONER — Have you ever borrowed something from you neighbor’s garage?

Well if you have, Roger Hall can one-up you on that. Hall just didn’t borrow something from his neighbor’s garage, he started a business in it.

Hall started Falconer Electronics in 1985, and 35 years later the company has grown from its humble beginnings in a garage to a manufacturing facility located at 421 Everett St., Falconer.

On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, R-Corning, toured the company that produces heavy duty ground straps, wire harnesses, commercial grade power strips, magnetic working lights and printed circuit boards. Hall said the company has 25 employees.

“We like to make things, so we make stuff here,” Hall said.

Hall said following the COVID-19 outbreak in March, the manufacturing facility had to shutdown for a few days, but was up and running again shortly after because they were deemed an essential business because they produce microelectronics. He said the employees went back to work socially distancing themselves and wearing mask even before the state released guidelines on how to restart production.

“We just did the common sense things,” he said.

Hall said he is seeing signs of the economy picking back up and knows Falconer Electronics will keep moving forward because of a dedicated staff.

“It’s just going to take a little time,” he said.

Curt Anderson, Falconer Electronics e-commerce consultant, said the company’s staff is very dedicated, with several employees having 10 to 20 years of service.

“The employees never missed a beat,” Anderson said about Falconer Electronic workers going back to work once they received the green light from the state.

Anderson presented Reed with a book he wrote titled “Stop Being The Best Kept Secret,” which is about e-commerce strategies he has implemented at Falconer Electronics to find a new customer base. Anderson also told Reed that Falconer Electronics received the Buffalo Business First Manufacturing Innovation Award this year. Because of the marketing plan developed with the assistance of the Small Business Development Center at Jamestown Community College, Falconer Electronics’ website traffic increased by 1,000% from November 2017 through January 2019.

Reed said he wanted to tour the manufacturer because he wanted to show people in New York’s 23rd Congressional District that business and production is still happening during the pandemic.

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