Cheers To Business

This episode is such a WIN-WIN-WIN Coronavirus business story that has gone viral and become a regional, national, and feel good media story.


Karen and guest co-host Stacy Wellborn talk with Joe Calagaz of Calagaz Printing, a Mobile, Alabama commercial printer known for their menu and restaurant printing.  After deciding to find a way to keep his talented & skilled team employed and busy during this time when orders just disappeared overnight - Joe and his wife decided to take this downtime to cross-train and clean the whole company. Except something different and wonderful happened. An employee had a eureka moment to use some raw materials on hand to start making the much-needed protective face shields for medical and hospital workers. New orders are coming in, hospitals are ordering by the thousands, and Joe's team has possibly created a whole new revenue stream for their printing company.

Plus, Stacy, a college Marketing Professor and PR professional, explains her role in working with Calagaz and helping them spread this feel-good story in a time when we all need some good news.

Key Takeaways


Joe and his team turned disruption into much needed new orders coming in. 

Slow down right now, analyze tour business, take care of your employees, and look for ways to strengthen your company.

In business, we all need to learn to prepare for the unexpected.

Calagaz employees are engaged and super excited to be a part of this business innovation, new revenue source, protecting front line medical workers, and a media story everyone is talking about.


Media, influencers, Mayors, and Governors are contacting Joe and sharing this success story to inspire others because they worked with a PR professional to maximize exposure.

Cheers To:

Let's not think about the dollars we make today. Let's help each other and support our community. - Karen Simmons

You don't make something go viral. It just has to happen. - Stacy Wellborn

When you do social media, you don't have to have perfect pictures and videos. Just let your images tell the story. - Stacy Wellborn

You stay in business because your customers, but what keeps your business going is your lawyer, your banker, and your accountant. Joe Calagaz

April 1 has always just been April Fool's Day. But now, if you're a small or medium-sized business owner, it has taken on a whole new meaning. What are your requirements with this Coronavirus pandemic concerning your employees if they're affected by this disease? On the show today, we have Celia Collins, an Employment Law Attorney with Johnston Adams LLC in Mobile, Alabama. She's in the studio today to help us understand this constantly changing and legal labyrinth for employers and what they can do for their employees to manage unemployment and sick leave. We're talking what's your responsibility (and liabilities) to your employees under the Coronavirus Paid Sick Leave Act and the Extended Family Relief Act. You're going to want to hear this show.

Special thanks to Crow Shields and Bailey PC for assistance with this episode.

Resources

U.S. Department of Labor

Alabama Small Business Development Center

SBA Disaster Loan Assistance

Economic Injury Disaster Loans

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources

Families First Coronavirus Response Act

Mobile Chamber of Commerce

Learn more about Karen Simmons & Celia



Karen Simmons

Ceila Collins

In this critical COVID-19 business survival episode, Karen and guest co-host Michelle Crow of e-worc marketing and advertising talk about the changing economy during this time of quarantines and mandatory "social-distancing," and the disaster loans and relief resources becoming available. It's such a tough time out there for so many business owners, and employees and this show hopes it can shed some light on the best resources, loans, and budgetary assistance out there to help all aspects of our businesses and workforce. The very nature of the way we do business is transforming daily, let's all stay calm, figure out what's working, prioritize expenses, manage our resources, stay positive, and let's all stick together to get through this uncertain time.

Resources

Alabama Small Business Development Center

SBA Disaster Loan Assistance

Economic Injury Disaster Loans

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources

Families First Coronavirus Response Act

Mobile Chamber of Commerce

Key Takeaways

> Look for any additional and new revenue streams.

> If possible, alter your business processes or pivot to a horizontal product market during this business disruption.

> Seek out information on SBA relief loans, unemployment relief, and benefits from the family leave and sick pay act.

> Protect your cash and look for debt relief from your creditors.

> Manage your inventory, raw materials, and resources to get through this crisis.

> Have a plan to maximize the growth opportunity when the economy recovers after the initial Coronavirus crisis.

Learn more about Karen Simmons & Michelle



Karen Simmons

Michelle Crowe  |  e-worc |  Facebook  |  LinkedIn

On this episode, Karen has a crucial conversation with HR management specialist Gia Wiggins (Morale Resource LLC) about employers and employees and what they need to do to keep their businesses healthy during this COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the nature of news, regulations, and information changing so radically during this time, Karen and Gia wanted to lay down some solid guidelines for businesses impacted by this global health and business issue.

Key Takeaways

> Relax employee attendance policies concerning sick leave, vacation time, doctor notes, and remote working during this time.

> Have open and transparent conversations early with your partners, employees, team members, and customers regarding difficult issues and problems during this crisis.

> Find creative solutions and positive ways for the things that you can do to help your employees and customers.

> Social Distancing can be used by spacing out your office and factory workers by spreading them out using your whole facility.

> Look for ways to use remote working to continue to bring in revenue and find ideas for your employees to continue still to do work.

< If possible, use this time to retrofit your company or change some processes and structures that can improve the way your company can maximize new technology and 21st-century tools.

Resources:

Gia Wiggins - Facebook  ///  LinkedIn

Morale Resource LLC - Website

Guidance on Preparing Your Workplace for COVID-19 - OSHA

On this episode, Karen and Cadie continue their Knowledge Nuggets Series with a discussion on the 12 (and more) steps to starting a business. Using and commenting on an article by entrepreneur.com Associate Editor Matthew McCreary, the Cheers ladies run through what you need to consider, analyze, prepare, and implement for starting that business the entrepreneur within you has been dying to launch. You do not need to be a Steve Jobs or an MBA to start your business empire, but having the right business knowledge, foundation, and a strong business plan get help you take that big idea into a successful new career.

Resources:

The Complete, 12-Step Guide to Starting a Business  |  by: Matthew McCreary

Key Takeaways:

> You need more than just drive and passion for beginning a new successful business.

> Do the research, test markets, and beta testing before going all-in on a new business.

> Get real feedback for competitors, customers, and your closest friends with an open mind.

> Use experts when forming the basic foundation of your company. It will save you a ton of headaches and money in the future.

Learn more about Karen Simmons & Cadie Gaut



Karen Simmons

Payroll Vault - Mobile & Baldwin Counties

On this episode, Karen and Cadie uncork their Knowledge Nuggets Series and talk income management. Karen and Cadie explain what is and is not business income. Plus, Karen shares the ins and outs of Alabama Sales Tax.

Key Takeaways:

> Report your revenue and all loans in detail on your ledger.

> Make sure you are only being taxed for revenue streams and not any loans.

> Sales Tax is not cash flow and is not your money.

> Always charge sales tax on taxable items and pay your sales tax by the 20th of every month.

> Some states charge sales tax on services.

Learn more about Karen Simmons & Cadie Gaut



Karen Simmons

Payroll Vault - Mobile & Baldwin Counties

Cheers To:

Know your income, identify all the income sources, and record them in detail on your ledger or accounting systems. - Karen Simmons

Loan payments are not expenses and not income. Make sure you are not mistakenly taxed on any loans. - Karen Simmons

Sales tax is based on only what the end-user pays. - Karen Simmons

Before you open up a business or reach out to other states, make sure you are fully aware of how that state works and what it charges sales tax on and what it doesn't. - Karen Simmons

Everybody's business numbers sing, and they tell a story. Find out your KPIs or hire someone to help you. - Karen Simmons

On this episode, Karen and Cadie admit that they didn't know that KPIs stood for Key Performance Indicators, so you are not alone. Key Performance Indicators are the information metrics that quantify your business as a count or a percentage or any other type of measurement that reveals something specific about the status and health of your business operation. People, we all need to know our KPIs!

Key Takeaways

> KPIs are the vital signs of your business.
> KPIs help you monitor your company more closely
> KPIs allow you to be more proactive in your business then reactive.
> KPIs help you see patterns and trends in your business.
> KPIs help you to see if your business is heading in the right direction.

Learn more about Karen Simmons & Cadie Gaut



Karen Simmons

Payroll Vault - Mobile & Baldwin Counties

Cheers To:

If you know your KPI numbers, it can prevent disasters in your business and prepare you for great streams of revenue. - Karen Simmons

To grow your business, you need to know and have your KPIs in order, and the sooner you start collecting the required data points, the better. - Karen Simmons

Find out what your KPIs are. You don't have to totally understand them to start looking at your numbers. - Karen Simmons

Do you want to run a successful growing viable entity? Determine your KPIs or hire someone to find them for you. - Cadie Gaut

On this episode, Karen and Cadie are back in the studio together, and they are talking to food blogger, Instagram influencer, photographer, and wanna-be podcaster Amanda "Birdie" Gibson of the Lemon Baby food blog. Stuffed with Amanda's own original recipes, food photography, and thoughts on Gulf Coast cuisine, Lemon Baby, is an online blog created to educate and demystify the ingredients, instructions, and dishes that everyday people think are too complicated to make. Have you ever wanted to know how a blogger gets started and makes money? Amanda shares her secret recipe for getting started in blogging, content marketing, and online writing.

Key Takeaways

Lemon Baby is a labor of love side hustle for this college professor, advertising copywriter, and full-time Mom.

Adsense by Google is a good way to monetize your blog or website.

Make things happen for yourself. Don't sit around and wait for anyone else to start something you really want to do.

Learn more about Karen Simmons & Cadie Gaut



Karen Simmons

Payroll Vault - Mobile & Baldwin Counties

Cheers To:

It's not going to happen to me. I'm going to have to make it happen. And sometimes it works and then sometimes it doesn't. But I think it's always worth the effort. That is how I approach life. - Amanda Gibson

Most of the content on the blog is my own original recipes, but occasionally, if I want to try a restaurant, I'll go there, do a review, and take some photos. - Amanda Gibson

I started a catering company with a friend. I got a taste of the catering life, and that wasn't for me. - Amanda Gibson

If you want to start a podcast, get a professional producer to help you do the show or get started. - Cadie Gaut

On this episode, Karen talks with CPA John Calderone, and he shares three ways on how to get the most out of your CPA when preparing your taxes and tips on keeping your tax bill lower. Plus, John reveals the best KPI's and financial reports for small businesses to monitor the health of their company.

3 Best Tips To Help Your Tax Preparer:

> Accumulate your data and all your documents in a single delivery to your CPA.
> Have separate personal and business checking accounts, credit cards, and other financial accounts.
> Once your CPA gets the ball rolling on your tax return, be available to answer all questions.

Learn more about Karen Simmons & Cadie Gaut



Karen Simmons

Payroll Vault - Mobile & Baldwin Counties

Cheers To:

There are only three places your business money can come and go: operations, investing, or financing. - Karen Simmons

The Cash Flow Statement is an excellent way for small businesses to know where the cash goes and where it is coming from. - John Calderone

If your business cost percentages jump way up or down, it's going to show you where you have problems. - John Calderone

In this raucous episode, the Cheers Ladies laugh and learn with John Serda, owner of Serda's Coffee and Serda Brewing Company. John tells the origins of his love and knowledge of the coffee business, becoming a teenage brewmaster, and dispels some common entrepreneurial myths. Plus, he candidly explains his philosophy of knowing your customers and not letting your business own you.

Key Takeaways:

> Discipline is essential when working for yourself.

> Don't let your business own you.

> Never ignore your customer's tastes.

> Be productive, not busy.

Resources:

John Serda:  Facebook  |  LinkedIn

Serda's Coffee:  Website  |  Facebook

Serda Brewing Co.:  Website  |  Facebook

Cheers To:

You have to have discipline. That's the biggest lesson I've learned so far. - John Serda

Everybody thinks when they're getting into their own business, they'll get to work when they want to because I work for myself. That is not how it works. - John Serda

Sometimes the business will own you, so you have to have discipline. - John Serda

Nine out of 10 times when somebody says they want to start a business, I can tell whether or not they're going to do it and if they're going to succeed. - John Serda

It takes a lot of discipline to be able to wake up in the morning and sit down and go to work when you don't have somebody telling you to have to do this or that, have a real strict deadline, and write a real business plan. - John Serda

It's hard to write a business plan, especially if you've never written one. - John Serda

I like to make beers that I like, but it doesn't matter what you like. It's what your customers like. - John Serda

Am I being productive or just busy? - John Serda

I try to do the things on my list that are actually going to move me forward, and that keeps me busy. - John Serda