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A Lot More Than Nuts
Ruth Ann Steinberg and Vivian Kantrow opened More Than Nuts in 1990 at 60 Skiff Street in Hamden. Three years ago the two women were joined by Vivian's husband, Richard. Both women are blessed with a sense of humor that one senses mere moments after meeting them.
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Business New Haven
10/4/1999
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How did the two of you end up in business together?
Steinberg: We're been friends for 25 years - and are still friends, in spite of the fact we've been in business together for ten years. We still go on vacations together. We both had time-consuming jobs: Vivian was a social worker; I managed condominiums. [We conluded that] if we were going to have to work that hard, we decided to work for ourselves. Another reason for starting the business is we both like to eat.
How would you describe More Than Nuts, and how did you decide what your product line would be?
Steinberg: Besides the obvious nuts, we carry dried fruits, gourmet chocolates and many other items, but our specialty is made-to-order gift baskets. We couldn't make a living selling a pound of nuts; our line had to be bigger than that. We also do party favors and we attended "Ballooniversity" to learn to decorate with balloons. And yes, we do sell Beanie Babies and Beanie Buddies.
What separates your business from other gift basket stores?
Kantrow: Our baskets are custom-ordered, made for the person, so we need to know something about the person in order to customize each basket. Our business has grown because customers go away happy and come back again for more, and we are grateful for that. We appreciate our customers and we make sure that they know that. We're still blown away by the fact that we're on people's lists to stop at our shop. We're in a small strip shopping center and people have to go out of the way to come to us. We are determined that this business will thrive so we are constantly looking for ways to improve. We encourage sampling - one should always know what one is giving. We're more than a candy store; we're a gift store. We sell items that candy can go into, for example. We look for the unusual. Customized orders separate us from other gift-basket stores. No two baskets are alike.
Steinberg: We do a lot of corporate work, and find that a lot of corporations like to give holiday gifts before Thanksgiving so that the gifts don't get lost in the holiday crush. It's a corporate thank-you for your business. We encourage them to do it early - there's too much food at Christmas. If someone has taken the time to put a special gift together for a reason, the gift deserves to be appreciated.
What other elements go into making your business tick?
Steinberg: We have girls that started in high school and still come back during the holidays to assist even though they are out of college now. And some of our best customers are now employees. We are a family - they joined the Nuts family. Problems are aired out in the lunchroom - communication with one another is important. [Vivian and I] like each other and everyone goes that extra mile for our customers.
Do you advertise?
Steinberg: We do some print and some radio, but the best advertising is word of mouth, so not as much is needed now in our advertising budget as in earlier years.
Smart Start Comes To Bridgeport
BRIDGEPORT - Managed by the Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Smart Start assists businesses in registering with such agencies as the Department of Revenue Services, the Department of Labor, Department of Consumer Protection, Department of Public Health and the Department of Agriculture. Launched a year ago with headquarters in Rocky Hill, Smart Start will now be available to entrepreneurs, who can schedule appointments at the Bridgeport Economic Resource Center at 10 Middle Street in the Park City. Smart Start eliminates the need for entrepreneurs to spend time researching what paperwork is required by state agencies to make their new ventures legal. For more information about Smart Start, call 800-392-2133.
I'll Take 'Retirement Pensions' for $100, Alex
HAMDEN - The Hamden Chamber of Commerce has come up with an unusual approach in its fundraising campaign. The Game of Hamden features local businesses and notable landmarks. Played like "that other popular board game," players roll the dice and buy various properties when landing on the space. The game contains 40 advertising spaces. In addition, the first 300 people who order the game in advance will have their names printed in a list of patrons on the board and the game cover. According to the chamber, the game board has proved to be a big hit with businesses wishing to advertise and the general public. The Game of Hamden will retail for $20.
Classes in Business-Building Offered for Latinos
WATERBURY - The University of Connecticut's Small Business Development Center is offering a free nine-week workshop series in Spanish designed to help members of Waterbury's Hispanic community start and grow their own successful small businesses. Called "The A.B.C's of Building a Successful Small Business," the workshop is being presented in cooperation with the Greater Waterbury Chamber of Commerce and BankBoston. The series will take place on Wednesdays, beginning October 13, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Greater Waterbury Chamber of Commerce, 83 Bank Street. The series is free, but pre-registration is required. Call 860-560-4209 or 203-237-7419.
Broadway Merchants, WKCI To Hold Children's Fair
NEW HAVEN - The Broadway Merchants Association will offer a Children's Fair, presented by radio station WKCI (101 FM), on October 9 from noon to 4 p.m. on York Street between Elm Street and Tower Parkway. The fair will feature hands-on activities by local organizations as well as a wide assortment of entertainment. The Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History will offer educational activities on dinosaurs and insects, the New Haven Colony Historical Society will feature items from the early days of New Haven as well as early children's games, the Eli Whitney Museum will have a canal complete with working lock. WKCI and WELI (960 AM) will broadcast live from the site. In addition, WTXX-TV will feature games with cartoon characters Doug, Hercules, Xena and more. Neato the Clown will present two magic shows and the Yale Children's Theater will create an audience-participation production. Yale Rep will present a skit, too. According to Wendy McGee, marketing manager for the Broadway Merchants Association, "We wanted to present a children's program that would be interesting enough to children to take their parents to and that would provide healthy entertainment that is educational but at the same time fun." And at the same time free to all. For particulars call 203-230-9759.
Sensational Sundays
MERIDEN - The Meriden Public Library will be "Exploring New Worlds" on Sundays at 2 p.m. beginning October 17. Authors will be on hand to talk about and sign their books. Linda Kelinschmidt, author of Police on Patrol and More Police on Patrol, will be the first author to give a talk. On November 7 Deborah Werksman, editor of I Killed June Cleaver: Modern Moms Shatter the Myth of Perfect Parenting, will be the speaker. The programs are free and will take place at the Meriden Public Library, 105 Miller Street. Call 203-238-2344 to find out more.
A Seoul Man for Ninth Square
NEW HAVEN - The Ninth Square Project Limited Partnership has announced the opening of JK Hair Arts at 74 Crown Street in New Haven. The salon is owned by James Kwak and Richard Jay, both master hair designers in Hayashi international hair design. Kwak also operates salons in Seoul and Queens, N.Y. The salon is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Do Downtown Through October
NEW HAVEN - The Town Green Special Services District will continue its "Do Downtown" lunchtime entertainment programs on Thursdays through the end of October at various New Haven locations. On October 7, "Do Backstage At ahe Shubert" will take place at the Shubert Performing Arts Center, 247 College Street, from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. At the same time a magic show featuring David Garrity will take placed in front of the Yale Center for British Art, 1080 Chapel Street. All programs are free. For a complete schedule call 203-401-4245.
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