How Hi-Gear Products and Main Street Bank Achieve Business Success
When a business is fueled by innovation and community values, remarkable things happen. Hi-Gear Products chose Main Street Bank as a business banking partner, and are redefining what it means to serve, support, and grow together. Hi-Gear Products isn’t just another name in automotive and household chemicals, they’re trailblazers. With over 4,000 products and a relentless drive for eco-friendly innovation, Hi-Gear is setting new standards for quality and sustainability.
As a women-owned and operated business thriving in a traditionally male-dominated space, Hi-Gear has earned global recognition for a commitment to quality, innovation, and customer service. The company operates out of Leominster, Hudson, and Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and is known for its eco-conscious manufacturing practices, including solar-powered facilities.
“Even though we are a chemical facility, we use green energy to produce everything,” explains Svetlana Aptekman, President of Hi-Gear Products. “We’re generating green energy, which is really weird because usually chemical facilities are polluting the atmosphere. We are not.”
From advanced fuel additives to eco-friendly household cleaners, Hi-Gear’s diverse product portfolio meets the needs of customers nationwide. Their expertise in private labeling and contract manufacturing brings innovative solutions to shelves at Walmart, Target, and beyond. “We produce quite a bit for other players in the market, from the conception of the idea to the point where their products are sold on the shelves in Walmart and Target,” says Ekaterina Aptekman, Director of Strategic Business Development.
Culture and Values
At Hi-Gear, diversity is a way of life. As a women-owned business, Hi-Gear champions empowerment, fosters a close-knit team, and actively supports women pursuing careers in automotive through scholarships and mentorship. “A majority of us here in the office are women, and it’s great to be a part of that. It really makes me happy, and I always try to bring more women into the industry,” says Daisy Ruas, Director of Global Sales.
Hi-Gear is also a proud member of the Women in Auto Care Association, actively fundraising for scholarships to support women pursuing careers in automotive. Ruas adds, “It’s really phenomenal to be a part of that community and help grow it.”
Customer Service Philosophy
Hi-Gear’s customer service goes beyond transactions and is about building lasting relationships. By listening closely to client needs and offering tailored solutions, Hi-Gear ensures every customer feels valued and supported. As Ruas puts it, “I don’t sell just the product. I sell a full service. I pinpoint what their pain points are and what their needs are.”
They also differentiate themselves from the competition. “We have unique formulas, eco-friendly formulas… We produce household chemicals for the company that distribute them in Walmart and Target,” Svetlana Aptekman explains.
Banking Challenge
Before partnering with Main Street Bank, Hi-Gear faced impersonal service and frequent staff turnover at larger institutions. The need for a business banking partner who truly understood their business became clear. These challenges hindered operational efficiency and financial literacy support for their diverse workforce. “With large banks… there was a lot of movement of personnel… If you have a senior VP changing every week, you have to do the tour of the building or explain what we do again,” says Svetlana Aptekman of her experience with large financial institutions.
In addition, Hi-Gear places importance on its employees’ access to financial services and education and found their experience at bigger banks was less than welcoming. Svetlana Aptekman is empathetic to her team’s experience; “They were shy to go to the branch. They were one of many.”
Choosing Main Street Bank
Choosing Main Street Bank for business banking solutions marked a turning point for Hi-Gear. Drawn by the bank’s commitment to personalized service and shared values, Hi-Gear found a true partner invested in their success. Originally cautious, Svetlana Aptekman speaks highly of her decision to change her business banking relationship. “I had my reservations… but what I tried over a year ago, it was a great move. I wish I would have done it before.”
Ekaterina Aptekman adds how working with a business that has a similar culture and set of values strengthens the professional connection. “Main Street Bank itself is a very similar culture… really taking care of your customers just like we want to take care of ours.”
Operational Efficiency
With Main Street Bank’s digital tools, Hi-Gear’s team manages finances seamlessly across locations. Reliable technology and responsive support keep business moving, no matter where work takes them. Compared to the company’s banking experience at other institutions, Svetlana Aptekman remarks, “[The] system is very robust. It doesn’t crash. I work with my financial department every day.”
That convenience extends to Hi-Gear’s employees and their banking needs as well. “People can deposit checks from Leominster, from Fitchburg, from Hudson… It’s a lot of flexibility.”
“If I need something today, I know I’ll probably get the answer either today or as soon as it’s possible and I’m not going to be on hold forever,” adds Ekaterina Aptekman, highlighting the business’s ability to get answers from the bank when they need it.
Cost Savings
Main Street Bank’s transparent fees and straightforward loan processes have delivered real savings for Hi-Gear, and that money is reinvested in growth and innovation. “There are no fees, no underwater currents, no extra fees. Whatever was promised was delivered,” notes Svetlana Aptekman. More importantly, this has not changed over time. “The cost savings was there and it stayed there.”
Security and Support
Main Street Bank’s vigilant fraud protection and rapid support give Hi-Gear peace of mind, ensuring their business is secure wherever they connect to their accounts. “I was on a cruise ship and logged in through VPN… Main Street Bank caught it right away and shut the mobile app. It was frustrating at first, but I was very happy—it’s an extra layer of security,” Svetlana Aptekman says, recognizing that the security in place for her business banking holds true in any situation. “Everything was fixed right away. The team addressed it. I was able to work.”
Sales Enablement
Quick payment confirmations from Main Street Bank mean Hi-Gear can deliver on promises and keep customers happy. “I’ve had a client in Venezuela make a payment in the morning, and I got it by the afternoon… It’s great to have that available,” Ruas highlights of the money movement experience. “If it was a bank that wasn’t able to give me the ease and rapid responses… it would add another layer of delay.”
Conclusion
Hi-Gear Products’ partnership with Main Street Bank exemplifies how shared values, personalized service, and operational excellence can drive mutual success. The relationship has empowered Hi-Gear to grow, innovate, and continue leading in a competitive industry. Svetlana Aptekman notes, “It’s very important for small businesses to stick together… I think it’s better to work with small businesses and be a small business.”
“You’re not sacrificing on the excellence of service… you’re also getting that personal, personable service,” Ekaterina Aptekman adds, underscoring the value that the business has gained in its banking relationship with Main Street Bank.
Hi-Gear’s journey with Main Street Bank shows what’s possible when a business banking partner shares important core values. Ready to experience the difference? Connect with Main Street Bank today and let’s build your success story.