Category Archive

It’s safe to say that no one’s situation looks much like it did 10 or 12 weeks ago. The threat of COVID-19 turned Spring 2020 into a season of upheaval, cancelling events, shuttering once thriving businesses, and creating new obstacles, particularly for those trying to work at home with no childcare or inadequate technology. Some people have struggled to carve out precious alone time, while others have suffered crippling loneliness. And no one knows when it will end. All this unease has probably prompted a little soul searching. What really matters to you? What are your strengths? What feels like …

Although communities across North America are gradually easing stay-at-home orders and allowing more businesses to open, events remain off the table. That has led to a lot of free time — and melancholy — for florists with wedding-heavy businesses. To keep busy and ensure she has wedding business down the road, Mary Dann of Springhill Flowers in London, Ontario has been holding virtual consultations through FaceTime. “I usually shy away from relying on technology, unless it’s a destination bride, because I thought you couldn’t make a real connection that way,” Dann said. “I’ve been pleasantly surprised how well you can …

It’s a tough time for businesses of all kinds. People are staying home, events are cancelled, shopping habits are changing. Even if you manufacture in-demand products, you have to manage keeping staff safe, expediting delivery, and options for adjusting capacity. It seems no one has been spared. As with every challenge, though, we’re starting to see more and more businesses adapting and evolving with some good ideas for survival and growth. We will keep updating this article as ideas are discussed and as recommendations change. Update Your Website Gift cards for local businesses Delivery instead of in-store Curbside pickup Google …

March Madness is nearly upon us, and soon, thousands will participate in the annual ritual of predicting the next NCAA basketball champion. To tie in to the cultural phenomenon, DVFlora came up with a clever (and oh-so-lovely) floral spin: “the Game of Thorns.” The tournament, a pun on HBO’s award-winning series that ended last summer, seeks to crown the ultimate rose. Like the NCAA version, the competition has 64 competitors, divided into four divisions (Purity, Charm, Gratitude, and Passion). We caught up with John Burk, e-commerce project manager for DVFlora, to learn more about the company’s latest promotion. Strider: There …

To state the obvious: running a retail flower business is hard work. Perishable product, intense competition from seemingly every corner (national floral companies, grocery stores and mass merchandisers, non-floral retailers), increased customer expectations, and constantly evolving technology are just a few of the challenges that might be keeping you up at night. With more than 40 years’ experience in the industry, Vonda LaFever, AIFD, PFCI, has been there — and she wants to help. That’s what inspired the Florida-based floral consultant to join forces with fellow TeamFloral alums, Lori Wilson and Kami Martin, and her daughter, Ellie, to create a …

When the small business owner who started as a one-person operation has achieved enough growth to hire additional staff, that small business owner has become, for better or worse, a manager. As a one-person operation, a small business owner needed to have a gung-ho attitude in order to achieve business success. While the gung-ho attitude probably persists with company growth, that success now has to be tempered with a change in the way they personally do business – especially as a manager. There are a few different types of managers, but we’re going to just mention three of them, the:  …

If it seems as though Strider is talking a lot about Google My Business here in these blogs, you aren’t mistaken. It’s a wonderful tool that small business operators should be taking advantage of.  People say that about a lot of things, but we’re harping on it because it’s true.  Now Google My Business is not necessarily the be-all or the end-all of marketing for local businesses. No, of course, it isn’t. So why should you use Google My Business?  Simply put, this free online platform helps local-area business owners (small, medium, and large) increase their online visibility when prospective …

Whether you are a small local business just starting out or have been plying your trade for years, you need to have an online presence – and a strong one at that. Why? It’s a simple answer – when people are looking for a product or company, 97% of them search for information online, according to SEO Tribunal. Unfortunately, small business marketing only seems to revolve around a website, e-mail, social media, and maybe a blog. Nothing wrong with these – they are important, and all work. But there are many more things a small business can do to increase …

The lead generation program, designed to support small businesses serving their local communities, has now expanded beyond its U.S. boundaries. This is great news for some Canadian providers of local services who can now extend their reach to a wider audience within their area. The Expansion Of Local Services Google Local Services was originally launched in 2015 with the title “Home Services”. Originally only available in the San Francisco area, to date it is now available across 17 U.S. cities. It is also now available across 13 different home service verticals and in over 90 different markets nationwide. The success …