Small Business Tips | Gourmet Birthday Gifts

Internet Bullies or Genuine Jerks

March 18, 2019

by Loni Shaw with No Comment Business Information Small Business Tips

I started posting to gain exposure for the business. It is relatively easy because running a small business brings Joyful, stressful, chaotic, and even maddening situations.

Many people have Blessed us with their replies. So I decided to continue blogging to encourage others because it’s a struggle to accomplish something Good.

Unfortunately , For every encouraging post there are at least sixty malicious posts. Hackers work very hard trying to infect our website. Some have positive comments with pornographic URLs. Others are very long paragraphs with spam URLs and fake email addresses.

Thankfully WP Engine does not automatically publish blog replies.

In addition, BrightCloud provides a free URL and IP lookup tool. Anyone can copy and paste URLs in their search engine to find out if a website is safe. Plus FreeEmailValidator.com verifies email addresses. I’ve spent countless hours authenticating URLs and email addresses because it’s necessary to publish the Loving replies.

This life is short. Why would someone waste time trying to hurt others? I barely have enough time to do my laundry.

Evildoers have been around since the beginning of time. However, I wonder if the internet (which started as the ARPANET) has created a desensitized world. It happens all of the time. A wonderful invention is eventually used for evil. The internet has brought us closer ……………………..and cruel people can hurt strangers for fun.

No one has to see the side effects of their hateful actions anymore.

I just don’t understand. We all share one need……..the desire to be Loved. I think more people would practice the Golden Rule if they couldn’t hide behind a computer monitor…..don’t you?

Please follow and like us:

What do you do when hard work doesn’t pay off?

January 29, 2019

by Loni Shaw with No Comment Business Information Encouragment Small Business Tips

I was advised several times to move our eCommerce site from WordPress.

After days of researching different eCommerce platforms, I opened an account with Big Commerce. They provided wonderful support. In addition, there were a lot of great features.

I spent weeks learning the new platform and uploading our products. Then I discovered we had to pay extra monthly fees for a good looking website. Plus our blog would have to stay on WordPress.

We could afford it, but our mission is to help others in need. I guess this is how the rich get richer 😐

My second attempt was with Volusion. It’s a great company with a very nice eCommerce platform.

I uploaded all of our products and started to design the site. The page builder was easy to use. Google Shopping and weight based shipping with discounts were also included.

However, using the essential apps had more additional fees. I wanted to start singing the chorus of Donnie Iris’s “Ah Leah” when I found out they didn’t support blogs.

Just like Soundgarden I “Fell on Black Days” too. Why can’t life have a remote control?

I wasted almost two months trying to accomplish something positive.

This is just a small business scenario, but it happens all of the time.

Sometimes hard work doesn’t pay off.

When we fail, how do we fail forward? How can we make lemonade out of lemons? I think one way is to forgive, don’t give up, and share our failures to help others succeed.

Of course this is easier said than done. Nevertheless, if we would Gift this type of Kindness, wouldn’t everyone be successful?

Wouldn’t we have more time to enJoy each other?

For all of my WordPress/WooCommerce colleagues:

If you have been using WordPress/WooCommerce for a while, keep it.

Woo Commerce has a Google Shopping plugin.
Use the plugin Gift Up .
In our opinion, Elementor Pro is the best page builder.
The Mega Menu Pro will add style to your navigation.
The Grid Kit Pro plugin creates easy to configure catalogs.
Use the SNAP Auto Poster plugin to reach a broader audience with your blogs.
Don’t forget to use cache cleaning plugins.
There are a lot of weight based shipping plugins.
Last but certainly not least, use WP Engine as your host.

I hope this saves someone time and money 🙂

Please follow and like us:

Can I call 9-1-1 too?

December 11, 2018

by Loni Shaw with No Comment Business Information Encouragment Small Business Tips

Public radio recently reported a nine year old called 911 because her parents were trying to make her clean the bedroom. I couldn’t help understanding her frustration. Sure this is minor for adults, but it’s not minor for a child. She had a stressful situation. Why not call 9-1-1?

I wanted to call someone because of our most recent small business problem. We’ve been using WordPress for years. WP Engine (our host) has been a Blessing. However, in order for the business to grow, the website must move to Big Commerce. This is a huge problem because moving will take a lot of time and effort to accomplish.

I didn’t want to do it. There are SO many things small business owners have to do. Why would I create more work for myself?

When I finished whining and complaining like a nine year old girl, I created an account in Big Commerce. I couldn’t find reasons to keep our WordPress site. 🙁

Big Commerce has Google Shopping, better drop shipping integrations, and other features like Printful.

Thanks to Printful, we will soon be launching our Eat Some, Wear Some collection.

I still want to keep the comfort of WordPress. Plus I’m sure the nine year old wants her room the way she likes it.

Nevertheless, we will both become better people by exercising Self Control. This will be the last post until our Big Commerce store is ready.

I guess it doesn’t matter if a person is nine or ninety. We only grow to the threshold of our discomfort. It’s the True way to experience the Goodness in life.

Please follow and like us:

Why do you do it?

August 17, 2018

by Loni Shaw with No Comment Encouragment Small Business Tips

A friend and I were talking about her new business plan. I wanted to help with her brainstorming session and possibly get some business tips. She purchased property to create an outdoor eating area. Several independent food trailers will supply delicious lunches to customers.

I was on board with the idea until she wanted to charge the small business owners an unreasonable monthly fee. I asked why would she charge so much.

Her response was, “I’m in business to make money.”

It made me wonder how many other businesses are taking advantage of their customers for the love of money.

I know it takes money to run a successful business. Unfortunately It takes money to do almost everything. However, is it worth stepping on others for money?

I did some soul searching to find out why we have a small business. We know our business is FOR helping former inmates, disabled veterans, the homeless and others who need a second chance. However, it was necessary for me to find out WHY we started one.

Initially we had to use a contract manufacturer. It was difficult, but rewarding because we still call Fairlight Bakery (now Bake Works) our friends.

When a commercial kitchen opened in our area we were finally able to make our own products. There were a lot of hard days at YourProKitchen in Panama City, but the bond we made with Jeff Lawrence was priceless.

Now we have our own private bakery. There are countless stories of Loving, Kind, and Joyful moments with many people despite the difficulties of business.

I’ll admit there are many times we’ve considered giving up. Looking back, I now see giving up is not an option. There are too many people who do not realize Loving others is important. No one is perfect. If we would think about reasons why we do things, a simple random act of Kindness could brighten someone’s day.

Sooner or later eventually we’ll need that Kindness too. For us, it’s all about relationships. I hope it is for you too.

Please follow and like us:

What about this? What about that?

July 3, 2018

by Loni Shaw with No Comment Good News Small Business Tips

Although we have sugar free and gluten friendly all natural desserts, I wanted to make a new healthier snack.

I tried to blend oats, berries, honey, and other ingredients. My goal was to create a great tasting healthy treat that doesn’t have deceiving ingredients like rice syrup.

I gave the snack to part our Research and Development team……….…it was awful.

Feeling defeated but choosing not to give up, I tweaked the recipe and tried again. As our team tried the second recipe, it felt like I was on the show Chopped.

The second recipe was better, but needed improvements too.

During this effort, it was interesting to discover the vast differences in tastes. Some people could not taste flavors. Some wanted the snack to be crispy, but others disagreed. As we were brainstorming improvement possibilities, there was also a debate whether or not coconut has a mint aftertaste.

I wanted to give up. However, I realized we have not seen this type of snack in stores. We were developing something new.

Version three was packed with flavor……but.…..a few people made more minor suggestions.

As the desire of banging my head against a wall increased, I noticed something.

If trivial things like taste buds are so different, wouldn’t our personalities be equally as different? Wouldn’t our perceptions be immensely different too?

It also makes me wonder if we could stop the hate in this world just by being Kind, Good, Gentle, and Patient to others who seem different.

I think it’s worth a try…..don’t you?

Please follow and like us: