Type Of Business:
Antiques Bought and Sold. Carry a wide selection of antique furniture and collectables. At Lin's Touch of Elegance/ she carries 2 floors of furniture. Custom design and does from 1 piece of furniture for customers to complete Dining Room and Bedroom Set along with repairs that may need done to make it useable. Check out her web site and Newly designed Shopping Cart with 2,000 items for sale. Lin's is a "Specialty Shop in many ways" Take a few minutes and enjoy the quality of her pieces for sale. Her known statement is "Talk To Me" that way she gets a feel for what your are looking for and the ways she can help you meet your needs.
Marketing Area:
National; International
Expertise:
Owned and operated Lin's Touch since 1987
Furniture restoration
Furniture stripping
Refinishing
Cane
Upholstery
Repairs all types of wood furniture
Shipping
Pickup and Delivery
I do all the refinishing custom blend stains to match that individual piece
Design furniture from old piece of furniture to meet customers expectations
Complete design and restoration of trunks
I do design work for individuals from curtains/furniture/walls/accessories
I use spray guns for all finishes and paints
Do speaking engagements for groups or organizations
Write articles for newspapers
I do appraisals for furniture for insurance purposes
I do quotes for government jobs
I do quotes for all furniture pieces customers bring to have work done
Insurance jobs water or smoke they can give quotes on complete homes
Buy and sell all furniture and collectibles for shop show rooms
Trained in smoke and water mitigation
Help customers pick upholstery material for pieces waiting to be covered
45 upholstery books to choose from
Owns and operated Lady Lin Farms
Running cows/calf operations and sales to 4H kids for show
Major Product/SVS:
Services: Professional furniture stripping, refinishing and restoration; Caning; Wicker repair; Upholstery; Trunk restoration; Interior Designer; Professional Appraiser
Favorite Business Publication:
Marcellus Business Central
Country Living Magazine
Hobbies/Sports:
Spending time with her ailing father.
Advisory Board Member
Saint Francis College
Educational Institution; 201-500 employees; Higher Education industry
May 1999 – May 2003 (4 years 1 month) Loretto, PA 15940
Saint Francis College has regular board meetings in effort to deliver a better education to their students. The members consist of local professionals that answer industry specific questions to figure out what they need to know.
Education Degrees:
Diploma, Chestnut Ridge High School
Marketing Without Money by Saint Francis College (1999 Sept 14)
The Internet as a Business Platform by Johnstown ECRC (1999 June 3)
Promoting and Conducting Effective E Commerce by Johnstown ECRC (1999 June 10)
Internet Business Operations by Johnstown ECRC (1999 June 17)
Security on the Internet by Johnstown ECRC (1999 June 24)
Getting Organized - FAST by Career Track (1999 April 15)
Career Strategies for Women by Bedford Chamber of Commerce (1998 February 12)
Self-Discipline and Emotional Control by Career Track (1997 November 4)
Successful Communication Skills for Women by Fred Pryor Seminars (1997 January 24)
Marketing for the 21st Century by Southern Alleghenies (1997 January 10)
Getting the "Competitive Edge" by St. Francis University (1995 September 27)
Advertising/Marketing Seminar by Bedford County Chamber of Commerce (1995 January 18)
Pennsylvania Job Centers - Employer Advisory Council (1994 September 15)
Manage Priorities and Meet Deadlines by Fred Pryor Seminars (1994 June 28)
How to Predict & Improve Financial Performance by Altoona Chamber (1994 May 18)
Implementing Total Quality Management by Career Track (1993 October 15)
Creating Customer Delight by St. Francis College (1993 August 4)
Self-Esteem and Peak Performance for Women by Career Track (1993 January 22)
High-Impact Communication Skills for Women by Career Track (1992 July 17)
How to Handle Difficult People by Rockhurst College (1992 June 2)
Leadership and Supervisory Skills by National Seminars (1991 June)
Business Writing: Today's Approach by Career Track (1991 August 7)
Affiliations Awards:
VIP Member of the Cambridge Registry Who's Who provided by Donald Trump; Bedford County Chamber of Commerce; Greater Johnstown / Cambria County Chamber of Commerce; Bedford Travel and Tourism;
Work History:
Owner - Lin's Touch of Elegance
October 1987 – Present (over 24 years)
At Lin's Touch of Elegance we take our customers needs as the top priority, we are not limited to any particular area, we work all over the United States. Lin says, "Talk to me! When talking with my customers I get the feel for what they need, and I do a careful evaluation and present it to them in different ways." In many areas we can work with one piece to many pieces, for their specific stain colors, the finish and look of the wood, upholstery, and upholstery fabrics. Lin manages the store front from buying, selling, and inventory, to online store management, with all aspects of online shopping. In arranging antique shows in different states, locations, and times.
As a responsibility to my employees its my job to keep them busy. Although the majority of our work comes from word of mouth based off of the quality of the work that the team does here, I advertise on the TV, yellow pages, and network on the internet with linstouchofelegance.com, facebook, twitter, youtube, LinkedIn, Foursquare, Cambridge Registry and list items for sale, on a number of internet based shopping services.
It starts with good communication, walking our customers through thier options, gathering all the details, making arrangements for the projects large or small to start, setting up meetings, and managing time frames. Good communication helps us maintain our goal level of integrity, by finding out what our customers needs are, job tracking, and customer interaction throughout the complete job. We are experienced to the expense and difficulties of product transportation, so we offer pick up and delivery service, even for long distance deliveries, depending on how far, will work with our customers to meet people half way to help people save money! By request we will take pictures of different packing stages of the piece, so if questions arise our customers can rest assured knowing that love and care are paying extra attention to those details.
--
Interior Designer - Lin's Touch of Elegance
October 1987 – Present (over 24 years) Bedford, PA
Furniture restoration and repair is a multifaceted profession. The emphasis of a typical Interior Designer is on arranging the basic layout of spaces within a building. Making an effective use of the space requires an understanding of technical issues such as acoustics, lighting, and window treatments. Through an array of designs including residential, commercial, universal, exhibition, and spatial branding.
Lins Touch of Elegance additionally specializes on the individual needs of the customer for designs, collectibles, and various kinds of woods (cherry, walnut, maple, oak), or painted furniture (Victorian, Georgian, Art Deco, Modernist, etc). With a fine tuned natural distinction between different colors of stain so that in the final presentation our customers can say wow, all these different pieces, all blend together, and they're all old.
--
Professional Appraiser - Lin's Touch of Elegance
October 1987 – Present (over 24 years) Bedford, PA
When looking to buy or sell antique furniture, you will want to get a professional opinion for pricing. Lin is a professionally qualified antique appraiser. Appraisals are used for evaluating the value. Appraisals can not happen over the phone or by email, having it professionally handled and looked at with a trained eye gives the best evaluation.
Educated with the history and the value of many kinds of antiques. She has spent a great deal of time studying antiques, where they came from, how and when they were made. Intensive studies of replicas and fake items helps her recognize the subtle differences between an original and a reproduction.
When you have a wide selection of antiques in your home it is best to have them appraised for the replacement value in case of fire, water, or theft. When appraised they can be places in a safety deposit box which tells you and the insurance company what the piece is all about, therefore you can carry insurance for those valued prices for replacement value. Choose Lin as your professional appraiser, references are available from her solid work history.
Career Achievements:
Minority Woman; CCR; Penndot; NAICS Codes through the Government.
Throughout the duration of your career, what was the one highlight that stood out the most?:
The most gratifying aspects of her career are the glowing recommendations that she receives from her clients, one of many stated: "Lin did a beautiful job on restoring our old trunk from the 1890’s era. The wood, the hardware, everything was expertly restored. It now holds a prominent place in my sun room for all to see and admire. Thank you Lin, and your hardworking team.
Charity:
Various Charitable Organizations; The American Cancer Society: Daffodil Day; March of Dimes; Different Schools; Church Organizations
Number Of Years In Profession:
23
Number Of Years In Current Position:
23
What Does He/She Attribute Success To:
She attributes her success to the Lord.
Why did you become involved in your profession or industry?:
She became involved in her profession because she always liked the way furniture looked once it was stripped and refinished, and while dating someone who did that type of work, she learned the techniques and decided to open her own business.
Extended Bio Profile:
Ms. Finnegan has owned and operated Lin's Touch since 1985. She has earned numerous state and federal certifications. for additional information and a host of testimonials from satisfied clients, please visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lins-Touch-Of-Elegance/146627692060311, https://twitter.com/Linstouch, http://www.linkedin.com/profile/edit?trk=hb_tab_pro_top, http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5064194/Lin%27s%20-%20Services%20v2-WEB.mov and http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5064194/Lin%27s%20-%20Testimonial%20v2-WEB.mov.
Position Responsibilities and Duties:
Working with insurance companies to preserve wooden furniture items damaged by fires or floods; Overseeing the shopping cart on her newly designed website; Ensuring customer satisfaction; Designing interior spaces; Buying, refurbishing and re-selling antiques; Handling the administrative end of the business
Education Certifications:
Certificate for Women’s Business Enterprise
PA Department of General Services
License 131031Linda Fi
August 2011 to October 2013
Public Speaking
Dale Carnegie
June 1998
Awards/Honors:
Top 100 Club
Kwick Kleen Industrial Solvents
1989 - 1996
Each year Kwick Kleen Industrial Solvents evaluates over 4400 very prestige groups of professional refinishers. Our records indicate that your purchases from us place your business as one of the lead services in the top 100 American refinishing industries including Hawaii. We are proud of the contribution that Lin's has made to recycle countless restoration pieces of furniture.
--
Testimonial - Barb Teeter - Johnstown, PA
September 2011
Lin, Enclosed is my check for the chair. It is beautiful and I am very pleased. My family couldn’t pick out the repaired chair. It’s been a pleasure doing business with you and I will recommend you at any opportunity and will bring my future business to you. Thanks again for bringing the chair to Johnstown. God Bless
--
Testimonial - Jackie DeBalli - Ebensburg, PA
October 2010
Thank you for repairing the butler table. Appreciate the pickup and delivery service.
--
Testimonial - Marianne Wheldon - Lilly, PA
August 2010
Ice Box and Vanity - Excellent workmanship - Advantage was pickup and delivery.
--
Testimonial - Stephanie and Thomas Mihalic - Windber, PA
August 2010
Lin’s restored a trunk. Lin did a beautiful job on restoring our old trunk from the 1890’s era. The wood, the hardware, everything was expertly restored. It now holds a prominent place in my sun room for all to see and admire. Thank you Lin and your hardworking team.
--
Testimonial - Jim Miclnik - Hollidaysburg, PA
August 2010
Wall Table - Very pleased with restoration and recommend Lin’s services.
--
Testimonial - Judy Yachere - Rockwood, PA
August 2010
Lobster Trap - Great Job! Advantages: Close and did work before.
--
Testimonial - Rose Zorn - Johnstown, PA
August 2010
Caned back of rocker - Looks great Looks like a new piece of furniture.
--
Testimonial - Lisa Niese - Cresson, PA
August 2010
Very Nice Job.
--
Testimonial - Dee Day - Somerset, PA
August 2010
Trunk was very well done, exceptional job.
Where Will You Be In 5 Years:
In five years, Ms. Finnegan hopes to grow her business, get greater exposure and place no restrictions on the work she can do. She is also looking to spend more time on her farm and continue showing her cows, which have taken grand championship honors two years in a row.