Pleasantville Business Spotlight: Venerable Insurance Agency has Generations of Customers

Every local business has a story worth sharing with the community. The plan behind this series at Patch is to shine the spotlight on all our favorite local businesses, and to learn a little about the ones we may not know that well.

This is as much about supporting local businesses as it is about celebrating the places and faces that make our community special. Click here to get to a simple form where local business owners can answer a few quick questions to be part of this ongoing feature.

Our spotlight today is on Frank Gilbert.

Business: George A. Bell & Son, Inc.
Owners: Frank Gilbert
Website: www.georgeabell.com
Address: 325 Manville Rd., Pleasantville

How did you come up with the name?

Business has been in our family since 1880 and named after the founders.

Why choose that location? Why start a business in this town?

My grandfather saw a unique opportunity to buy the current building we’re in so he could move the business up from NYC. Pleasantville was a perfect, local and intimate town to settle in.

Briefly, what business are you in?

Insurance agent

What’s the most difficult moment or challenge you’ve faced as a business owner?

Insurance has been turned in to a commodity by many companies, equating it to something you just pick off the shelf and purchase in a store. In reality it’s an extremely important part of financial planning for the future. Having an advisor you trust to help get you the right protection is much more valuable than savings a couple of bucks.

Were there any challenges that made you second guess your decision to be an entrepreneur?

Just the difficulty in the mindset of consumers when it comes to insurance.

What’s been your favorite moment or proudest achievement since opening?

Proudest achievement for us in general is our longevity, and having some customers through multiple generations.

What’s the most innovative idea your employees or customers have had that you put into practice?

It’s hard to innovate with insurance, to be honest.

How do you deal with difficult customers?

Stay as calm as possible and listen to what they are saying. Try to help them understand you are here to help them.

How does your business give back or get involved in the community?

We donate to local organizations and have started to become more involved in the Chamber of Commerce.