Blog - Connecticut Business Directory

5 Tips for a Successful Sales Interview

Preparation is Key

As with anything we strive for in life, proper preparation can be closely correlated with outstanding outcomes. As you put yourself at the ready for your interview, consider these finer details in your preparation routine. Thoroughly research the company, and the interviewer [if he/she/they are known to you]. Be on your toes to answer their inquiries by way of intimate company information. i.e., “[This answer] relates to the news release last week; I learned that your company is directly involved with the structuring of the [insert name] Project.” Attend ready to mention something that you read in the interviewer’s bio on the “Meet the Team” page of their website.

Sell Your Strengths

This is your opportunity to shine! Some would say: “You only get one chance to make a first impression”—this rings true every time. Highlight your most important strengths first. What can YOU do for THEM. Focus less on what you have done in the pas…

A Holiday Tradition

Cava in Southington bills itself as America's Most Decorated Restaurant. I'm pretty sure that is true. I think like many people, we discovered Cava on the Today Show. If you haven't seen it, almost every year Kava is featured on today's show because of their decorations at the holidays. The displays are amazing, and every room is different. We've been in the last few years.

We wondered what would happen with 2020 but Cava did not disappoint again this year. Actually they really took it to another level which, in the middle of a pandemic is an amazing thing. Like many restaurants, they were forced to leverage their parking lot to meet social distancing rules. Add a tent for the winter, and you have the makings of something that wouldn't be possible inside the building. Their Polar Express room has a near full size train in it. You have to see it to believe it.

Last year, I think one of our favorite rooms was the Game of Thrones room, which had …

Work At Home Tips

Are you ready to work at home? If you haven’t worked from home before, it could be a difficult adjustment experience. You’re used to having a fixed schedule and having people around you to tell you what to do and interact with and now you are distanced from both. You are responsible for your own behavior and this can actually be very challenging for a lot of people. It’s really tempting to sleep in or get sucked in to a Netflix series. Some people just sit and wait for direction. You don’t want to get caught in any of these traps.

Have a Dedicated Work Space

Try to have an organized work-space that is similar to what you are used to in the office. Try to have a desk, a chair, and a computer set up that is comfortable and set up in a professional manner. It’s generally not a good idea to setup your office so you can watch your kids. That’s usually not why you are working from home. You want it to be dedicated space to the extent possible. Now if you are working…

Connecticut Wines

Connecticut Wines are not the first home for their favorite vintage. Most people know Connecticut is as the Nutmeg state. It is actually one of the fastest growing wine regions in the US with almost 40 wineries. In 1978 the Connecticut Winery act was established. This act allows winery owners to sell their products directly to the public. All wineries provide tasting which helped lead to all the wineries in the state. They have so many wineries that you can even take a Winter Wine Trail tour: (ctwine.com)

The wineries are primarily located in the Western Connecticut Highlands and in the southern and eastern part of the state. The locations in the south and east, as well as the Sharpe Hill Vineyard in the northeast, make up this trail. Some of the wineries are even award-winning. Priam Vineyards, for example, has 13 international award-winning wines that are all grown, blended, bottled, and cellared on site.

They are also on the Connecticut Wine Trai…

The Tolls are Coming

As of today, the highways of Connecticut remain toll-less. Shortly after entering neighboring New York or Massachusetts, though, one can expect o see the overhead toll devices. The toll booths are gone and so are some of the lines. But the major intersections still get backup just the same. So why isn’t Connecticut following suit and charging folks for driving on their highways?

Well, it’s not for lack of trying. Returning tolls to Connecticut roads is an issue that is definitely on the table. If you ask Connecticut residents about it, most drivers will have an opinion, as they are the ones who stand to have their daily commutes impacted. Opinions also abound among Connecticut business owners. Tolls do make a difference to the business community, as well.

Most of the reasoning behind adding tolls to Connecticut’s roads is they will support infrastructure improvement. Still many businesses don’t find much comfort in this. They view tolls as unnecess…

Connecticut Startups 2016

Usually when you think about startups in tech, or even the tech sector in general, the places that come to mind are NYC, Silicon Valley and maybe even Boston. But when discussing Connecticut on the other hand, one may think of insurance companies like The Hartford, Ivy League school and UConn basketball. However, Connecticut is starting to make a name for itself in the tech startup world.

In 2016, there were several tech companies that made the Technology Fast 500 list. This is the ranking of the top 500 fastest growing tech businesses. Those are:

#43 Achillion Pharmaceuticals - they are currently leveraging their work in treatment for Hepatitis C and looking to tackle many of the rare diseases out there.#239 Evariant Software - Evariant is building a world class patient management system for the medical industry#357 HP One - provides outsourced managed healthcare plan systems for large carriers.#385 Clarity Software Solutions - solution…

General Electric Leaving Connecticut

General Electric’s Connecticut departure: Was it increasing taxes that caused the company to flee the longtime home of their headquarters, or was there more to the story?

For 42 years, General Electric’s headquarters resided in Fairfield, Connecticut. This town of around 60,000 located about an hour and a half northeast of Manhattan, New York. In 2015, the company announced it was considering a move stating that “Retroactively raising taxes again on Connecticut’s residents, businesses and services makes businesses, including our own, and citizens seriously consider whether it makes any sense to continue to be located in this state.” In January of 2016, the company confirmed that they were planning to move the company headquarters out of state, to Boston, Massachusetts.

The Reason Why

Reports were mixed about the true reasons for the company leaving the state of Connecticut. It can’t be ignored that in June of 2015, the governor of Connecticut signed…

Connecticut Tech Startups

Over the past few decades Connecticut has emerged as new player in the tech startup world, brushing shoulders with well known Tech Business hotspots in Silicon Valley, Chicago, and New York. Legislation on the public side and support from private companies and organizations who seek to improve Connecticut’s standing in the tech world have led to a new, thriving ecosystem for companies to flourish in. Thus, many exciting new Startups have been gaining recognition in the area.

The Connecticut Technology Council has been the champion of these Startups through a yearly award in conjunction with Marcum LLP, one of the largest independent public accounting and advisory services firms in the nation. The award, called the Marcum Tech Top 40, seeks to determine the top achievers among CT startups in six categories; Overall Best, Life Sciences, Software, Green Technologies, IT Services, and New Media/Internet/Telecom. In anticipation of the 2017 winners who will be announc…

Things are Brewing in Connecticut

Microbreweries are booming in Connecticut and there is no sign of them slowing down. As John Kraszewski (founder of Armada Brewing) said, “We’re not even close to having enough breweries.” In 2011 there were only 16 microbreweries, brewpubs and contract brewers in the state. At the end of 2015 there was 35 in the state and as the new year rolled around there was 55. Sales for these beers increased by 12.8% from 2014-2015. Connecticut's share was around $569 million. There is no sign of slowing down. There are many breweries that are in planning stage now, that will boom even more this year.

New Breweries

There is a bustling scene of new microbreweries in Connecticut popping up all over the place. According to 2016 data from the Brewers Association, the craft beer industry in Connecticut contributed $718 million to the economy. Here are some of the breweries to keep your eye one.

Shebeen Brewing is renowned for its Irish pub-like ambiance, which ma…