Finding your niche in life is something that can take years, explains this mother of three and local store owner.
As Nancy Cushman heads into her 10th year in business at Seasons Gift Shop in Norwich, she explains although it is a different career path than she originally imagined, she can’t imagine being anywhere else.
The oldest of ten children, Nancy grew up in Medina in western New York. “It’s a big family, but we are very close-knit, and we have a lot of fun,” she said. Cushman explains being the oldest, she of course was the first to go off to college.
Nancy went to Alfred University to study sociology and soon thereafter, met the man she would marry. Jim Cushman and Nancy were married while still attending college, and following graduation, the couple moved to Ohio so Jim could attend law school.
As a child, Jim would spend summers and vacations at his grandparents’ home in Plymouth. The couple knew they wanted to come back to upstate New York and decided to take a look around the Norwich area. “All the other lawyers and the bar were great,” said Nancy.
By the time the couple moved to Norwich, their daughter Christina was a toddler and their second daughter Andrea was on the way. Jim wanted his own practice, and Nancy explains, she wanted to be home to raise her children in a safe community. Nancy stayed with her parents in Medina as Jim brought their belongings back to New York. “He was on the road, traveling home when I had Andrea,” said Nancy.
Nancy explains the move to Norwich was very new to her. With a two-week-old baby and a toddler, Nancy says Jim knew the area but for her everything was totally new. “It was a place I had never even heard of,” she says.
The couple found a duplex, and Jim set up shop dowtown over The Norwich Grille. “Becoming a part of the YMCA community helped us get acquainted and has always been a part of our lives,” said Nancy.
While Jim was in Saint Louis for his Army Reserve annual training, the couple’s third daughter, Stephanie, was born. “I stayed at home with my girls until the youngest was in high school,” explains Nancy.
Nancy says she wanted to get into the workforce and see what interested her. She got a job at Skillin’s Jewelers, which she says she loved. “I loved working there and it showed me what it was like to be out of the house,” she said.
She explains she is a social person and fulfilling the need to meet new people and be a part of that life satisfied what she was looking for.
While Nancy was working at Skillin’s, Jim and his partner, Mike Morse purchased real estate encompassing the Colonia movie theater and the building next door. “They refurbished the movie theater, and their goal was to do something great for downtown,” said Nancy.
Tenants came and went, and at one point there was no tenant at all, and then Mike, his wife Carol and the Cushmans began to brainstorm what they could occupy it with. The concept of Seasons Gift Shop was born, and the store officially opened in October of 1997. Following the busy Christmas rush at Skillin;s, Nancy explains she went to work at Seasons full time.
She and Carol Morse operated the shop until Carol opened her own store in Earlville, The Gate. Nancy explains she loves coming to work, she loves where she is and what she is doing. “I care more about building personal relationships with the customers rather than simply making a sale,” she said. The real estate has since been sold, but Nancy says she likes her location and has no intention of moving.
Nancy has three employees and says the shop is well on its way. “Ten years definitely says something,” she said.
“I feel blessed to have a wonderful place to come to every day,” said Nancy.

Editor’s Note: People in the Chenango community perform extraordinary feats under extraordinary circumstances every day. Oftentimes they go unnoticed or unappreciated; “Chenango Stories” puts the spotlight on those people whose compelling stories you might not otherwise hear. If you know someone who is interested in telling their “Chenango Story,” contact Jill Osterhout at 337-3075 or e-mail: josterhout@evesun.com.