Milford Small Business Spotlight: Discount Watch Store

Every local business has a story worth sharing with the community. And that’s the belief behind this exciting series — to shine the spotlight on all our favorite local businesses, and to learn a little about the ones we may not know that well.

Business: Discount Watch Store
Owners: Zai Zhu
Website: www.discountwatchstore.com
Address: 500 Bic Dr. Milford, CT 06461

How did you come up with the name? I’ve always had a personal interest in watches and wanted to sell quality brand name models that most people couldn’t afford. At its core the business is about value; Discount Watch Store seemed like a good fit because it directly communicates the fact that we are a watch store offering discounts.

Why start a business in this town? I actually started the business in Massachusetts, but moved to Connecticut when my family relocated here. While researching for a town to locate my business, I found Milford to be attractive location, with its business friendly environment and affordable rent when compared to Fairfield county. The fantastic transport options make it very convenient too, with the I-95 and the Merritt Parkway running through it. As an additional perk, I travel northbound to work each day so avoid the daily rush hour traffic.

Briefly, what business are you in? We are an Internet retailer of brand name watches and fashion accessories. What started as a single brand website in 2002 has now evolved into one of the largest watch specialty sites on the net with over 3500 styles from over 65 brands. Although the website has grown substantially since its early days, the company mission has remained the same: offer customers value and more value.

What’s the most difficult moment or challenge you’ve faced as a business owner? The most challenging moment I faced as a business owner was during the inception period. As a newcomer to the trade, I had trouble getting brands to sell to me because I had neither the name recognition nor the capital to make a large purchase.

What’s been your favorite moment or proudest achievement since opening? There have been two stand-out moments that I look back on with particular pride. Surviving the first year and not becoming one of the many of businesses that don’t make through the first 365 days was incredibly pleasing. The second milestone that I am proud of was moving my operations out of my parents’ house. After starting the business with $10,000 on my personal credit card, getting to the point where I was able to have a small office and warehouse of my own was a big achievement. Even though the first space I rented was only 600 square feet behind a small pizza parlor, it gave me tremendous satisfaction in knowing that all the hard work I put into the business was well worth it.

How does your business give back or get involved in the community? Being a web-based business, it is difficult at times for us to interact with the community as much as we like. In addition to frequently donating to the food pantry and the local Goodwill store, we are looking forward to embarking soon on an initiative to assist under-privileged elementary school children learn how to tell time on an analog clock. It is alarming how many children can only know what a digital clock reads.

Would you like to see your small business showcased in this series? Email wendy.mitchell@ patch.com.