Saturday we visited the Strawberry Festival at The Produce Place on Murphy Road. The Ross family are long time supporters of The Produce Place and it was fun to get a few friends together and walk down to sample some locally made treats.
One local company that got my attention was Moose Head Kettle Corn owned and operated by Jack and Carol MacDowall. The company name stuck out because my father grew up in a small community called Moosehead on the eastern shore of Nova Scotia – and you know how it’s easier to remember a name when you can associated it to something important in your life. The popcorn stuck out because of the huge variety of yummy flavors (including dill pickle) as well as the fun colors. My daughter really enjoyed the rainbow color bag.
Ask us about using locally made popcorn in your next Tennessee Gift Basket or stand alone gift tins!
For more information on Moose Head Kettle Corn please check out their website.
Gift & Appreciation Marketing Specialist with OBB Nashville
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.
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
Thank you for your emails and calls of concern, thoughts and prayers. OBB Nashville is operating normally, but all around us it is a different story as many of our friends, customers, business partners and vendors assess damages to their businesses and homes.
Within a few minutes of our office, basements were flooded and parking lots filled to the tops of cars, within 10 minutes of here the Cumberland River crested at 2nd avenue causing flooding in Downtown Nashville, and devastated the Grand Ole Opry House, flooded the Opry Mall and The Opry Land Hotel. The historic rain fall closed interstates, caused flooding that reached the attics of many homes, and currents that swept away lives.
Although we just spent days surrounded about too much water our fresh water supply is in danger and we are in a city wide conservation mode. This of course makes the clean up of mud and debris that much more difficult.
If you’d like to know more about what is happening in middle TN here are a few local news sites with pictures and stories. Please note that these sites also offer information on how you can donate or volunteer. As a business owner that often promotes the art of giving I encourage you to send a little something. Most people affected by the historic rains and flooding do not have flood insurance as normally this would be a low risk area.
Nashville is an amazing city smack in the middle of the volunteer state. To see everyone come out to help where they can, even when their own situation is uncertain, lifts the spirit though our hearts are heavy.
These amazing products are hand made by the woman who will directly benefit by their purchase. Thistle Farms, founded in 1997 in Nashville TN, is a non-profit business run by woman who have survived violence, prostitution and abuse.
Either on their own or as a gift basket, the bath teas, hand poured candles and hand lotions will make a wonderful mother’s day gift that represents, supports and lifts up the spirit of woman.
Thistle Farms products are available in four wonderful scents:Lavender, Citrus Vanilla, Tea Tree Mint, and Tuscan Earth.
Nashville, TN is a great location to host a convention. Whether local, national or international, Nashville provides great accommodations, a wide array of events and lest we forget MUSIC!
When considering gifts for conventions hosted in Nashville you have many options. From the traditional to the themed, a custom package for your attendees, guests or speakers can be localized with gourmet treats from Music City USA.
The Goo Goo Cluster, the worlds first combination candy bar was invented in Nashville in 1912 and is still a favorite item among candy lovers of all ages.
But Goo Goos are not the only yummy treat to come out of middle Tennessee.
Page’s Premiums offers a variety of nut mixes with hints of chocolate pieces and gourmet treats. Owner, Singer/Songwriter Tracy Page moved to Nashville to pursue music, but found the industry was driving her “nuts”, inspiration struck and she was soon creating batches of nut mixes – original, music city, monkey krunch, Smokin’ Southwest Blend, Asian Persuasion and a skinny mix along with peanut brittle, toffee and gourmet candies.
Olive & Sinclair Chocolate Co are my new favorite chocolate bars. With a yummy list of unique flavors and brilliant packaging, adding Olive & Sinclair chocolate bars to a gift basket or convention package is a delicious treat on all the senses.
Willa’s makes a great cookie (shortbread, praline, lemon pecan, gingersnaps, key lime almond, chocolate macadamia, mocha almond) and spicy cheese biscuits, both a southern tradition, and offers a full corporate package with private and custom label options. A great option when looking to brand the event or a special thank you. The key lime box made the cover of The Gift Basket Association’s “Tips & Trends” magazine this spring.
Just to name but a few. If you’re interested in learning more about local products please don’t hesitate to contact us or check out the website dedicated to all things made in Tennessee. www.PickTNproducts.org
Gift & Appreciation Marketing Specialist with OBB Nashville
One local company that got my attention was Moose Head Kettle Corn owned and operated by Jack and Carol MacDowall. The company name stuck out because my father grew up in a small community called Moosehead on the eastern shore of Nova Scotia – and you know how it’s easier to remember a name when you can associated it to something important in your life. The popcorn stuck out because of the huge variety of yummy flavors (including dill pickle) as well as the fun colors. My daughter really enjoyed the rainbow color bag.
