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30 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | MAY 5, 2025 SMALL BUSINESS WE E K INDUSTRY: Printing and promotional products TOP EXECUTIVE: Greg Confessore, Vice President HEADQUARTERS: West Hartford ANNUAL REVENUE: $2 million EMPLOYEES: 8 WEBSITE: www.cricketpress.net CONTACT: 860-521-9279, greg@cricketpress.net Q&A talks with Greg Confessore, vice president of Cricket Press Inc. West Hartford-based Cricket Press is a professional printing company offering a wide range of services, from business cards to yard signs and stickers. Established in 1971, it blends traditional techniques with cutting- edge technology to deliver tangible assets in an ever-growing digital world. Targeting local businesses, nonprofits and individuals, Cricket Press aims to combat digital fatigue by engaging more senses through print — sight and touch — offering an alternative to screen overload. How did you get into this business? What motivated you? I took over Cricket Press in West Hartford after my father, Tim, passed in 2017, just three months after earning my bachelor's degree in mechanical Category Winner JEFFREY BUTLAND FAMILY-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR engineering and a master's in project management. Leading came as second nature, as I was essentially born into the business and began helping at age eight. I joined a passionate team, including my mom Michele, in late 2017. The constant enjoyment of evolving the business through modern technology to meet customers' needs has been one of many driving factors in the enjoyment by our team. How has your business grown in the past year? What have been your company's biggest accomplishments? Cricket Press has thrived over the past year by maintaining its 'family business' feel while adapting to diverse customer needs, from local mom-and-pop shops to NASA and Fortune 500 companies. This focus drove remarkable growth, with revenues soaring over 200% in the last four years. A key accomplishment was navigating a shifting print industry by adopting innovative tools and software, enhancing our offerings. This adaptability earned us SBA recognition for exemplifying resilience and innovation, positioning us as a leader in the evolving printed media landscape. What's a major challenge your business has overcome in the past year? In the past year, Cricket Press overcame a major challenge: adopting the tools and software needed to stay ahead in a printing industry shifting toward digital methods of communication. This effort is aimed at reshaping the public's view of modern print's potential. Cricket continues to innovate, expanding beyond its original offerings in 1971 with cutting-edge products. Print isn't fading — it's evolving into its most powerful era of communication methods. There has never been a more exciting time in the world of print than we are currently experiencing. What major strategic plans do you have in the next few years? Cricket Press is set to boost client success with bold plans: Wide- format flatbed printing, an interactive e-commerce site, fulfillment services, and eco-friendly product lines as well as a few big secrets not ready to be shared. Cricket Press Inc. It's often difficult for CT business owners to manage health benefits for employees. That is, until now. Thanks to the new Access Health CT BusinessPlus platform, business owners now have an easier way to manage health benefits, including Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRA). Find the benefits employees want at the budget your business needs. Visit AccessHealthCT.com/BusinessPlus. Get more health coverage with BusinessPlus. flexible Cricket Press team including (from left): Marvin Elkey, Carol Teasdale, Dom Marino and Greg Confessore.