Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/479683
FBA-20 Hartford Business Journal • October 13, 2014 www.HartfordBusiness.com 2014 Connecticut Family Business Awards What are the family values of your business, and how do they help you remain competitive in the market? Costanzo Clothing's family values have always been, and continue to be, honesty and integrity. We have built the Costanzo brand to represent superior products and outstand- ing service. Most of our clients have become personal friends over the years, reflecting the mutual respect and core values that we share. What would your founder say about the state of your company today and its achievements in the last year? I would say, 'We are on fire!' Costanzo Clothing has grown considerably since last year, not only with annual sales but addition- ally with a new sales professional, assistant, and office manager. What is the biggest challenge to your business in the coming year? Dealing with expansion and trying to manage the new growth of our company. Additionally, as entrepreneurs, we are never satisfied. You always strive for more, to become a better leader, owner, manager, and impact those around you with greatness. What are the family values of your business, and how do they help you remain competitive in the market? EasySeat Tickets prides itself on provid- ing outstanding customer service. The mis- sion is to fulfill individuals' dreams of seeing their favorite band or team. EasySeat guar- antees tickets will arrive in time for events, consumers will receive the exact tickets they paid for, and tickets are guaranteed to be 100 percent real. What would your founder say about the state of your company today and its achievements in the last year? We are pleased with growth and expo- sure of EasySeat Tickets. As a proud partner of UConn, we have been recognized by Inc. Magazine's prestigious Honor Roll as one of America's fastest-growing private companies for five consecutive years and awarded at Marcum Tech Top 40 for the third consecu- tive year. What is the biggest challenge to your business in the coming year? The rise of national ticketing operations, in both the primary and secondary markets, has taken local expertise out of the equation. EasySeat, through its services and its physi- cal presence in the market, is adding local back to the ticket buying experience. Thus far, this unique vision has paid off. Costanzo Clothiers LLC STATS: Location: Wethersfield Industry: Custom Clothing and Fashion Founded: 2002 Founders: Tony and Tara Costanzo (husband and wife) Generation Currently Running Company: 1st Full-Time Employees: 2 Family Members Currently Employed at Company: Tony Costanzo (husband), co-founder; Tara Costanzo (wife), co-founder; Sandee Costanzo (mother), assistant Company Website: www.costanzoclothing.com Finalist CATEGORY: Fewer than 25 full-time employees Finalist CATEGORY: Fewer than 25 full-time employees 2014 Connecticut Family Business Awards EasySeat Tickets STATS: Location: Plainville Industry: Event Ticket Marketplace Founded: 2005 Founder: David Evans Generation Currently Running Company: 1st Full-Time Employees: 8 Family Members Currently Employed at Company: David Evans (husband), CEO; Kinga Evans (wife), COO; Henry Rychlik (Kinga's brother), inventory manager Company Website: www.EasySeat.com (Above) EasySeat Inventory Manager Henry Rychlik pricing the company's inventory. (Right) Katurah Andrews, assistant customer service manager, processes and ships tickets. (Above) Easy Seat CEO & Founder David Evans was honored in 2008 as a Hartford Business Journal Business Champion, after only three years in business. (Above) Husband and wife EasySeat leaders David Evans and Klinga Evans (standing) pose with former New York Yankees (from left) Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, and Derek Jeter. Tony & Tara Costanzo create custom clothing and jewelry for high-end clients. Costanzo Clothiers often meets clients where they are, to provide custom fittings. Costanzo offers a range of products for the business professional. Costanzo handcrafts a lot of its products for clients.