Biznuzz celebrates 10 years

WINSTED — Today’s marketplace is a fast-paced environment that requires most businesses — whether big or small — to navigate the twists and turns of the information superhighway.

Many area businesses have turned to Winsted-based Biznuzz IT Services for help.

The Internet technology company provides several services, including automatic data backup, file servers, Web and e-mail hosting, Web site design and SPAM and virus filters.

Biznuzz is owned and operated by John Morici of Colebrook. This year the company celebrates its 10th anniversary.

Morici, an engineer who also has a master’s degree in business administration, spent several years working with Motorola when the corporation was on the cutting edge of developing microcomputer technology.

“For me, at my age, I grew up with it... so I have a great deal of knowledge working in that area,†Morici said, adding that he “was part of the conversation†during the development of the first Ethernet, the current standard for computer networking technology.

But after moving from Milford to his Colebrook farm in the mid-1990s, Morici said he decided to leave the corporate world, and make a fresh start as a small businesses owner.

“We love living here,†he said. “People come here to take vacations, and we actually live here. It’s priceless, it really is.â€

Initially, he opened a computer repair businesses in Torrington. But Morici — the current chairman of Winsted’s Economic Development Committee and the former president of Friends of Main Street — said he quickly realized that there were more income-generating opportunities  in the area of computer tutoring, and so the engineer switched gears and began working with customers, both area residents and businesses.

During this time period, Morici said many of his business-based clients began asking him if he could build them a computer network or company Web site, as well as for other IT-related services.

And so, in 1999, Morici decided to switch gears again. He changed the name to Biznuzz and reopened his doors as a business-to-business company. A short time later he moved his office to Winsted.

Morici said he specifically chose the unusual spelling of his company’s new name to stress that he would no longer be serving residential customers.

“And everything with the word ‘business’ in it was taken,†he said.

Since then, Morici has steadily increased his small company’s client base by offering three main areas of service: marketing, Internet technology and networking solutions.

In addition to Morici, the company boasts a staff that includes a marketing professional with some 30 years of experience in print work and advertising, a graphic designer and engineers.

“We’re really a marketing and engineering company,†he said. “But because of the Internet, we have to be a technology company, too.â€

Morici said one of the advantages of his company’s approach to IT services is that his clients do not purchase their equipment from Biznuzz. Instead, they rent the items, paying a regular monthly fee.

“That means that if something goes wrong, we have to fix it,†Morici said, adding that this allows companies to more easily budget and control costs, by removing the possibility of having to unexpectedly pay thousands and thousands of dollars in fees to repair a computer or networking system that breaks down.

“If you suddenly get a bill for $5,000 — I don’t care how big or small you are — that’s going to hurt,†he said.

In addition, with the Biznuzz staff’s strong marketing background, Morici said his clients not only receive a beautifully designed Web site, but one that will also meet the company’s business needs.

“You have to make sure it’s part of your marketing plan,†he said.

For the past few years, Biznuzz has offered its clients automated data backups. The service backs up a company’s computer files every hour and safely stores the information at two off-site locations operated and maintained by Morici.

Although the company has focused on building its regional client base  — most recently Biznuzz has began to work on specializing its services for animation and manufacturing companies based in Connecticut — Morici said he will be launching a national campaign centered around his specialized data back-up boxes this fall.

And while that may be part of his future focus, Morici said he will continue to look for new ways to carefully grow his Northwest Corner company.

Owning “a small business means being able to react quickly to the changes in the market place,†he said. “But you can’t react to all the opportunities.... you have to match what your people’s talents are to what’s available.â€

For more information about
Biznuzz, visit biznuzz.net or call 800-448-7531.