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Business & Tech

10 Questions for Gioia Company Owner Katherine Winkelman

Winkelman brings 'Gioia' to her clients through the Italian arts she showcases at her Los Gatos business.

Meet the Owner is a weekly column that features business owners in the town of Los Gatos. Los Gatos Patch asks each owner the same 10 questions every week so the community can get to know the people behind our local businesses.

Katherine Winkelman finds that sharing her Italian treasures at her store, Gioia Company, brings joy not only to her customers, but to herself as well. Her affinity with Italy was nurtured by her Italian-American family, and, while living and studying in Rome, her future became clear: a business that focused on the beautiful arts and crafts of Italy.

Los Gatos Patch: What did you dream of being as a kid?

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Katherine Winkelman: I dreamed of being a teacher as a kid. After high school and college, I chose to follow a creative teaching style.

Patch: How does your personality play into your business?

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Winkelman: Learning was always exciting and enjoyable to me. When I found something interesting and wonderful, I always wanted to share this. I am the same today, and Gioia, which means “joy” in Italian, is about sharing the joy and history of the Italian Arts.

Patch: At what moment did you decide to open a business?

Winkelman: I knew I would work directly with the Italian people when I was 20. I lived and studied in Rome, Italy. As the oldest of eight in our Italian family, I felt at home in Roma. I was raised in California with the same traditions, values and hospitality of the Italian people. I formulated my business plan at that young age and looked forward to the opportunity to begin working.

Patch: What inspired you?

Winkelman: I am inspired by the incredible arts and products of Italy, especially the Rinascimento, the Renaissance period. The fact that the people of Italy and many Americans here in the U.S. are dedicated to continuing the 16th, 17th century arts and techniques of a magnificent time period in history is very exciting to me, and I love being a part of it.

Patch: Describe the biggest challenge of owning a business in the town of Los Gatos?

Winkelman: The challenge that I have is with the Internet website part of our business. It is complicated as we have an online store and capability of affiliating with like-minded businesses online as well as physically.

Patch: Describe the best thing about owning a business in the town of Los Gatos?

Winkelman: The best thing to me is the people. I have always felt blessed to be a part of a community that cares about each other and is willing to roll up its sleeves to get the job done. Historically, Los Gatos, “The Gem of the Foothills,” has been “home” and welcoming to art and artists. I am a team worker, and this is a community where people enjoy working together in support of one another.

Patch: What is one thing you would never change about your business?

Winkelman: I would not change the focus of our business. The focus is to bring joy to ourselves and others by offering arts and products—made here and in Italy—through traditional, old world hospitality, personal care and association with like-minded businesses.

Patch: What is your business' greatest asset?

Winkelman: Our greatest assets are our clients’ ideas and our artists. Gioia is flexible and can respond to the needs and ideas of our clients. Our featured artist is award-winning mask maker and sculptor from Florence, Italy, Carla Almanza-deQuant. “Your vision is our creation.”

Patch: What is your favorite spot in town?

Winkelman: is like going over to Patty and John’s house. I love how they host our town events like the Crab Feed Fundraiser, celebrate St Patty’s Day, hosted the firefighters meals when LG had a huge brush fire in the hills near Lexington, home of the Jackalopes, my husband’s softball team, and where we Santa Clara University friends like to get together when out-of-towners come to visit. Second favorite: Old Town and fond memories of events at the amphitheatre.

Patch: What's one thing the community should know about you?

Winkelman: My business partner, Lee Marie Michals, and I enjoy working in support of the nonprofits.

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