Duo Celebrates a Quarter Century at Trio Hardware

Two milestone anniversaries are being celebrated by the staff of Plainview's Trio Hardware and Paint.

Ritsa Kirschner and Marie Prodana both began working at Trio in 1987 and for 25 years have been outstanding employees and tremendous factors in the success of the store, said Francesca Carlow, one of the store's owners.

About to enter her senior year of Plainview JFK High School Argiritsa Koinis walked into Trio Hardware to apply for a temporary job.  She jumped into the hardware business and has never looked back. Ritsa, short for Argiritsa, was soon promoted from stockperson to department head and put in charge of ordering and maintaining all the electrical merchandise in the store.

Ritsa became the teacher for all new stock kids and service counter help. She schools them on procedures and the ground work needed to succeed at working for Trio Hardware.

Her responsibilities constantly expand and are multi fold: She is a sales associate to industrial and retail customers, designs the stores advertising and coupons campaigns, creates helpful product displays and even rewires and repairs household appliances .

Growing up in Plainview- Old Bethpage, Ritsa has first-hand knowledgeable of many technical complications that can affect local homes and is quick to suggest the most efficient remedy.

"Ritsa is referred to by the rest of the staff as the official 'Trio Hardware Reference Guide' and her contributions are felt in every aspect of the store" Carlow said.

Marie Prodana began working at Trio Hardware in September 1987. She took over the job of head cashier and has been the smiling face at the front door of Trio Hardware ever since.  

Marie is a master of multi-tasking and runs the front end operation of the store. She manages the housewares department and is responsible for ordering and maintaining all the household and industrial cleaning supplies, small appliances, art supplies and the sewing notions departments. 

Marie is on a first-name basis with hundreds of customers and many come in daily to just say hello. In addition to being key to the store's public relations, Marie is in charge of all the other cashiers, product and inventory control, directing phone calls, and answering a myriad of questions every day.

"She is an encyclopedia of household tips and makes a point of trying all the new merchandise she brings into the store," Carlow said. "Countless customers rely on her vast product knowledge and recommendations."

Over the years Marie has trained dozens of after school cashiers.  Filling in for Marie is no easy task but she has taught them lifelong lessons that have enriched their lives.  Marie is the first person everyone sees when they enter Trio Hardware and for 25 years she has treated the store like her own.  

Ritsa and Marie join their coworker Jerry Meile who already celebrated his silver 25^th anniversary. Jerry started work at Trio Hardware 27 years ago in 1985. He is the big teddy bear of the store and although originally from Vermont he now calls Plainview home. Jerry is the manager of the paint department. He takes pride and care to insure the best quality for the multitude of paint products he brings into the store.

Many times Trio Hardware, a fixture in the Morton Village Shopping Plaza, has been acknowledged as a successful family business.

"It’s lucky to maintain the charm of an old fashion hardware store while providing quality products and personal service," Carlow said. "Fortunately Trio Hardware is not limited to the title “mom and pop” because its recipe for success lay in the hands of its loyal and capable employees. "

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