Disasters, such as the recent flooding in Nashville, have a far reaching economic impact.  As we find ourselves in recovery mode some business owners are asking themselves when and if they can re-open.  With issues ranging from the physical loss of property or product to loss of vendors and customers the U.S. Department of Labor says that over 40% of businesses never reopen after a disaster.

So many circumstances are beyond our control as business owners, but one thing we can do it plan.  Contingency plans or disaster plans can be scary to think about because we are planning for something we hope will never happen.  It isn’t a plan B, it’s a worse case scenario.

As a department Assistant Manager in a bank in an international port town maintaining a Contingency Plan was part of my responsibility and part of it actually went into effect on the morning of 9/11.

Recovery after a disaster can take many avenues depending of the size of your organization but I will focus on the Small Business Owner.

1.  You’ll need to assess your damage.  Everything from minor to total loss should be documented.  Having a comprehensive inventory of your office plus any product loss will help expedite insurance and federal aid and will be important when claiming the loss on your taxes.

2.  Overall finances can take a serious hit during a disaster, especially in circumstances where both the home and the office have been lost.  Naturally you will take that into consideration when planning to re-open your business, however I must note that the work from home business can be such, that as soon as you have a computer and a cell phone you are back in business.  Since time is of the essence this may be good news for your business when faced with a city or state wide problem.

3.  Creating a plan and executing isn’t always easy when there are so many other irons in the fire.  Here are a few tips from Patmos Consulting in Nashville that may help: Tips for Creating a Plan and Working The Plan to Help Your Business Recover.

My Contingency Plan is a file folder with the following information:

a.  Important Contact Numbers – Emergency Personal, Closest Business Partners, Vendors, and Regular customers (If you have employees they should be on your contact list)

b.  Office equipment list and photos as well as a list of what I’d need to be operational

c.  List of software

d.  List of online tools and passwords to access them

e.  Back up hard drive of all my files.  – Technology is such that if you have data that if lost would ruin your business off site storage and retrieval systems are becoming more affordable for the small business owner.

f.  Copy of the business plan.

g.  A check list of what I need to do to get up and running in case I experience a total lost

NOTE: A copy of this folder is also kept off site at an out of town family members home.

I know it can seem like a bit too much, but once it’s done it’s just a matter of reviewing it every year and hoping you never have to use it.  Anything from a complete computer crash to a natural disaster can shut a business down.  Being prepared can help get you in to action mode and help you make sound decisions  on the future of your business.

Gift & Appreciation Marketing Specialist with OBB Nashville

Be Original! Give Original!

My daughter turned 4 last week… I know, WHERE DOES THE TIME GO!

She is a little sweetie and the day was filled with lots of pink, princesses and a fairy hunt at dusk.  She had a wonderful day and felt like a princess, but it wasn’t until the next day that I truly understood how our children mimic us.

As you know I’m a big fan of the Thank You Note, but I have to say I was beaming with pride when my 4 year old got up the day after her birthday and busily put pen to paper.  She had written pages of squiggle lines when she came to me and asked for envelopes and stamps.  I was amused, so I asked her to read the first letter to me and she began with ‘Dear so and so, thank you for my “birthday present”, it was very sweet of you to think of me on my birthday.  I will have fun using my present with my friends.  Love Peyton.’ It was so cute I wish I would have recorded it!

I know that sometimes it’s hard to know what to say in a thank you note so here are a few basics to help get you started.  A couple of sentences is all you need.

1.  You want to say thank you for the actual thoughtfulness

2.  Say how it made you feel

3.  OR how you plan to use it

Note that you can use this format in note or via a video.  A quick personally recorded video message sent via email or a video host such as YouTube can be a huge hit and shared among your friends.

Gift & Appreciation Marketing Specialist with OBB Nashville

Be Original! Give Original!

MY FAVORITES – PRODUCT PICK OF THE WEEK!

One of the great perks of owning a gift basket company is meeting and trying all the gourmet foods. My recent discovery (via Eric at Willa’s) is Willa’s Shortbread. They are “Traditionally Southern”.

Willa Allen started baking her traditional shortbread cookies for special events from her home in the Highlands of North Carolina. Before long her legendary shortbread cookies and cheese biscuits were being shipped via mail order across the country. Soon gourmet stores, bed and breakfasts and gift basket shops began carrying Willa’s products.

Now in business for over 30 years and owned and operated by the Rion Family, Willa’s was relocated to middle Tennessee where the southern tradition continues.  Willa’s offers a variety of southern flavors and designs perfect for a Tennessee themed basket, Corporate Gifts, Thank You Gifts, and Wedding Treats.

Flavors: Gingersnaps, Lemon Pecan Bites, Spicy Cheese Bites, Shortbread Bites, Praline Bites, Chocolate Macadamia Bites, Mocha Almond Bites and my favorite Key Lime Almond Bites.

Ask us about using Willa’s treats in your next basket order OR as a stand alone gift tin silk screen imprinted with your company’s logo, corporate colors and special message.

Gift & Appreciation Marketing Specialist with OBB Nashville

Be Original! Give Original!

Ciad Mile Failte

An old Irish greeting for you on St. Patrick’s Day!!!

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.

Gift & Appreciation Marketing Specialist with OBB Nashville

Be Original! Give Original!

OBB Nashville was proud to donate a gift basket to the silent auction… one of 160 items!!!  Thank you to our customers for attending and supporting the event.

The “Fifth Annual Music City Mardi Gras” event was a huge success! Thanks to everything that attended. We are growing each year and are already looking forward to 2011!

Event Photos:
To see pictures from the event click here

Event Video:
To see video from the event click here

The Lisa Ross Parker Foundation

The Lisa Ross Parker Foundation is a charitable foundation founded in 2004 by Janet Ross, and operated by Janet and a small group of committed citizens, dedicated to the memory and charitable legacy of Lisa Ross Parker, whose life was taken at age 33 by leukemia.

Although Lisa is no longer with us, her legacy of giving continues through the Lisa Ross Parker Foundation. The organization was founded in 2004 with a mission that encompasses two things most dear to Lisa:

1) Providing support for families touched by cancer, and
2) Assisting animal welfare organizations

The Lisa Ross Parker Foundation strives to charitably honor the legacy of Lisa Ross Parker by continuing to pursue her charitable passions, including (but not limited to) assisting and caring for patients with leukemia, lymphoma and other blood-related cancers, and their families.

In addition, we continue Lisa’s legacy by assisting with charitable animal welfare and supporting other animal advocacy organizations that follow the same principles. We are a tax-exempt public operating charity under Internal Revenue

www.lrpfoundation.org

Tami Ross
Gift & Appreciation Marketing Specialist with OBB Nashville

Be Original! Give Original!