Third generation retailer Katie Andrios grows business
Geneseo, Illinois – As downtown Geneseo mixes civic charm and quality stores, Katie Andrios blends community involvement with the family business.
“Fashion has to be fun,” she said. “We always want something new.”
Andrios, 40, is president of GWK Enterprises, a company started by her dad, George Kutsunis in 1962. She’s a third-generation retailer operating Four Seasons stores in six locations across Illinois and Iowa.
“Retail is such a tricky business,” she said. “You have to keep changing. That’s what makes it fun and challenging.”
While finding a niche in a competitive marketplace, she’s keeping up with the latest trends. Continuing a legacy that began in 1909 with her grandfather, William Kutsunis, who operated a store in Geneseo for many years.
Whether it’s denim designed for comfort or state-of-the-art shoes, her passion for marketing comes down to serving the customer.
“We want them to feel welcome, of course, and we want them to find fashions that they love,” she said.
While Katie Andrios is a strong business leader, she also makes quite an impression in the community. A community that she also calls home.
Inside Pegasus, a gift shop started by her mom, Linda Kutsunis in 1992, Katie talks about combining community, parental and business duties.
