STURBRIDGE — Eight years ago, two businessmen on the hunt for real estate decided to become partners, rather than competitors, and created a wireless telecommunications business with more than 30 stores across New England.
Amcomm Wireless, headquartered in Sturbridge, recently opened its 31st store, in Waterville, Maine, and is planning to open a larger showcase store in Plymouth later this year.
Founded by Mark Amadio of Sturbridge and Kyriakos “KK” Konstantakis of Charlton, Amcomm Wireless is not just a retail store for Verizon wireless products. It is unique in that it also offers more technologically advanced services, such as IT solutions and a technology support network to serve individual and business clients. Amcomm also offers business opportunities through its agency program for entrepreneurs looking to start their wireless business.
Amcomm Wireless is a combination of Mr. Amadio’s and Mr. Konstantakis’ strengths: Mr. Amadio is a former executive with Arch Wireless/PageNet in Boston and Mr. Konstantakis is a former engineer with Apple Computer and research development engineer with Schott Fiber Optics in Southbridge.
“We had never met,” Mr. Amadio said, sitting in the conference room in the corporate office on Main Street in Sturbridge. “As I was in the process of identifying and working with Verizon to start my business, looking for a store, KK was in the same type of process. One day I got a call from KK, through my Realtor, and we saw an opportunity to work together.”
The first Amcomm Wireless store opened in West Boylston in May 2002, and the second store in Sturbridge — now the corporate headquarters — followed in July 2002.
While they did have similarities — Mr. Konstantakis’ family owned a pizza business and Mr. Amadio had worked in a pizza restaurant — they had two varied yet complementary skill sets that, when combined, would help them grow the business each had dreamed of.
“What we wanted for Amcomm was an IT business, a network infrastructure and web-based camera systems,” said Mr. Amadio, speaking of the offerings beyond the cell phones and smart phones in their showroom. “We started to run the two businesses synergistically.”
While Mr. Amadio focuses on the retail aspect, Mr. Konstantakis heads Amcomm proServices, the company’s IT division.
“Mark and I have been fanatically focused on the business,” Mr. Konstantakis said. “We are determined, and loyal to our agents.”
And it has been the emergence of the paired services — the wireless devices and tech services — that Mr. Amadio says will continue to carry Amcomm forward. “We can help with high-end solutions, where most retail stores can’t.
“Not only are we a retail business, but we have created an agency program that allows us to create partnerships for people who want to be in the wireless business,” Mr. Amadio said, adding that the most rewarding part of growing Amcomm has been forming agency partnerships to help other people start their own business.
While Amcomm has grown, its customer-first attitude has remained the same.
“The most important people in this business are our customers,” Mr. Amadio said. “We offer all the services that Verizon offers. Every Verizon customer can go to Amcomm and be treated the way they want to be treated — in a friendly, local environment.”
The customer focus is also seen in the company’s community involvement. Mr. Amadio said he, Mr. Konstantakis and other managers throughout Amcomm volunteer within the community, in projects ranging from serving on Little League boards to participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
“This is who KK and I are,” Mr. Amadio said. “These are things we want our employees to be part of.”
As for Amcomm’s success, Mr. Amadio is humble.
“I am not sure what successful means yet,” Mr. Amadio said.
Amcomm Wireless, headquartered in Sturbridge, recently opened its 31st store, in Waterville, Maine, and is planning to open a larger showcase store in Plymouth later this year.
Founded by Mark Amadio of Sturbridge and Kyriakos “KK” Konstantakis of Charlton, Amcomm Wireless is not just a retail store for Verizon wireless products. It is unique in that it also offers more technologically advanced services, such as IT solutions and a technology support network to serve individual and business clients. Amcomm also offers business opportunities through its agency program for entrepreneurs looking to start their wireless business.
Amcomm Wireless is a combination of Mr. Amadio’s and Mr. Konstantakis’ strengths: Mr. Amadio is a former executive with Arch Wireless/PageNet in Boston and Mr. Konstantakis is a former engineer with Apple Computer and research development engineer with Schott Fiber Optics in Southbridge.
“We had never met,” Mr. Amadio said, sitting in the conference room in the corporate office on Main Street in Sturbridge. “As I was in the process of identifying and working with Verizon to start my business, looking for a store, KK was in the same type of process. One day I got a call from KK, through my Realtor, and we saw an opportunity to work together.”
The first Amcomm Wireless store opened in West Boylston in May 2002, and the second store in Sturbridge — now the corporate headquarters — followed in July 2002.
While they did have similarities — Mr. Konstantakis’ family owned a pizza business and Mr. Amadio had worked in a pizza restaurant — they had two varied yet complementary skill sets that, when combined, would help them grow the business each had dreamed of.
“What we wanted for Amcomm was an IT business, a network infrastructure and web-based camera systems,” said Mr. Amadio, speaking of the offerings beyond the cell phones and smart phones in their showroom. “We started to run the two businesses synergistically.”
While Mr. Amadio focuses on the retail aspect, Mr. Konstantakis heads Amcomm proServices, the company’s IT division.
“Mark and I have been fanatically focused on the business,” Mr. Konstantakis said. “We are determined, and loyal to our agents.”
And it has been the emergence of the paired services — the wireless devices and tech services — that Mr. Amadio says will continue to carry Amcomm forward. “We can help with high-end solutions, where most retail stores can’t.
“Not only are we a retail business, but we have created an agency program that allows us to create partnerships for people who want to be in the wireless business,” Mr. Amadio said, adding that the most rewarding part of growing Amcomm has been forming agency partnerships to help other people start their own business.
While Amcomm has grown, its customer-first attitude has remained the same.
“The most important people in this business are our customers,” Mr. Amadio said. “We offer all the services that Verizon offers. Every Verizon customer can go to Amcomm and be treated the way they want to be treated — in a friendly, local environment.”
The customer focus is also seen in the company’s community involvement. Mr. Amadio said he, Mr. Konstantakis and other managers throughout Amcomm volunteer within the community, in projects ranging from serving on Little League boards to participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
“This is who KK and I are,” Mr. Amadio said. “These are things we want our employees to be part of.”
As for Amcomm’s success, Mr. Amadio is humble.
“I am not sure what successful means yet,” Mr. Amadio said.