April 3, 2011

So, you've got the connections, the creativity, and the drive, but your business is still struggling to stay afloat. What do you do? You call in the experts! The owner of a flower and coffee shop needed some help, and our team did its best to get her business headed in the right direction.

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• Innovation

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MSNBC's Your Business: American Business , Video, innovation, American Business, MSNBC, Mike Michalowicz

Join the conversation ( 40 )

• Stephen Wan 2 months ago

  

  Coffee we can drink everyday. Flowers, we may need few times a month. But imagine going to coffee shop like no other, with the smell of fresh flowers, hanging out in a surrounding designed with nature's best. That would be a destination to go as much as you can. I would redesign the table area to say Wow, it is so beautiful. That way it would remind all the coffee drinker to buy some flowers for their love one regularity. The trick is to incorporate the supply or storage of all the beautiful flowers into the seating area and still be able to use for sales orders and perhaps even make a focal point like a side show of the master designer at work in creating bouquet while customers can watch and enjoy their coffee. Definitely include many songs birds in the area. Coffee and Tea with flowers and song birds. That the life. Franchise one in NY, especially Bayside. All the best.

• Paul Fountaine 2 months ago

  

  Nice work Mike! Great story, and a great example of what it really takes to grow an sustain a business, which is a team. Now if we could only bottle that kind of team into an affordable business services model, we'd rule the world!

• Becky Blanton 3 months ago

  

  Mike's articles are always right on. He doesn't just blow smoke up your keister. He provides solid facts, tips and help. He's also got a great perspective on things and often comes at things from a wildly different angle. His humor is great and I love how he makes learning something new about business fun and interesting. One of the better finds for me on the net. Open Forum is lucky to have him.

• Rebekah Phelps 5 months ago

  

  Very nice. I kind of got "the feeling" she needs help with something not touched on. In watching I asked myself "what does SHE most want help with?" Perhaps it was all covered and I'm wrong....just sayin' I'd add put some color on the walls.

• Donna Leyens 5 months ago

  

  I really enjoyed that makeover. I hope there are more to come. I really loved Jane's new logo, and her floral arrangements are beautiful.

• Margaret Rekers 6 months ago

  

  Thanks for the inspiration. Wonderfull for Jane to get these tips to make the business a real succes. For me watching this film is like looking in a mirror (same businessmistakes)I wished I met someone like Mike to look over my shoulder and give me good tips and to make my business a great succes.I am looking for more tips and tricks from Mike that can help me in my business. I wish the best for Mike and the other professionals including Jane.Warm greetings,Margaret Rekers, Uniek in verbinden

• Kevin Gillikin 8 months ago

  

  Hi Mike and Jane because I know Jane you are reading these reviews.Nice ROLL by the way Mike. Jane from the video I can only make an observation of your overall business. In other words I can't see the mechanics behind everything that you are doing. I get the the felling you were still a little overwhelmed even after the makeover. Where is Jane time? If you are were I think you are! Your in the same place I was 15 some odd years ago. Working 16 hour days. All business no time for play. Not knowing anything, I'm grasping at straws. You still need help! An intern perhaps or someone you can mentor into your business. Some one that can dig into the dirt with the same pair of gloves that you wear. You have already got the background and a good foundation. You need to back away a little and let someone else buss the tables. Move more into the promoting of your business. Mike has done a great job getting you back on the market ,you have to continue the momentum.Get someone else to dig in the trenches getting the product out! I wish you the best of luck and please, please get come Jane timeKevin

• Leeta Song 9 months ago

  

  I love this video! It hit home for me because I'm an event planner and designer entrepreneur and started my business about a 1 year ago called Luna Earth Event Decor. Still working on the website and trying to get people notice the business which is hard, but it had seemed that the social network, good website, and promote a main product is a good way to grow than being all over the place with different product.Thanks for sharing the video and keep up the great work.Love Entrepreneurette and TPE!Leeta S.www.lunaeartheventdecor.com "Help you to make your special dream day a wonderful one." - Luna Earth Event Decor

• Lisa Rangel 9 months ago

  

  Great Ideas...I love the leave behind idea...With gorgeous floral arrangements as her main product, she has an amazing opportunity to promote herself and her talents/business....Fabulous job, Mike!!!

• Lisa Marie Hart 1 year 0 months and 25 days ago

  

  This was a fun video and reminded me of an important lesson: When you're too close to your business, it can be tough to improve it. Bringing in outside pros, or even stepping back to look at things from an outsider perspective, can make a world of difference. Thanks, Mike! You're always positive and inspiring...

• Larry Ulman 1 year 1 months and 12 days ago

  

  Great story. Hopefully Jane will use these tips to grow her business. We need more stories with these folks especially the CPA from DSZ Forensic Accounting.

• Marti DenUyl 1 year 1 months and 23 days ago

  

  Nice job. I enjoyed the format and how the team was introduced and each expert broke down for the owner how to fix a particular part of her business and it didn't need to be a huge overhaul. Also integrating point of sale and accounting software can be a great time saver that later can translate to financial savings as well.

• KRISTIN WITTENBERG 1 year 1 months and 23 days ago

  

  Love the video - thanks so much Sarah, for sharing it on Facebook. Great work to the makeover team! Like others here, I am green with envy that Jane had this "dream team" of help. Love Entrepreneurette and TPE!Kriswww.BeGoodToPeople.comwww.SayNoMorePromotions.com

• Rob Jager, M.B.A. 1 year 1 months and 25 days ago

  

  Great show! It really highlights some important steps in fixing your business. As a business consultant myself, I start with the numbers, the the operational portion, then the marketing...similar to the show. It's important to note, as it wasn't directly stated on the show, that if you fix your marketing before you fix your numbers/operations, you'll create larger problems (negative cash flow) due to the increased business. Kudos to the accountant who suggested that she pay herself a little something first. Too many business owners pay themselves last. Best of luck to Jane! And I hope to see more from Mike! Rob

• Heather Lopez 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  Love the name of Jane's business. I had a client doing food, coffee, and flowers in Miami Beach so I know it is hard to tie them all into a brand. This was great guidance that I can refer her to.Congrats Mike! I know you had been looking to do a show with business makeovers, so I am so glad you got this opportunity. (I was briefly on MSNBC last year btw). Can't wait to see you again for Super Mom. Hopefully, Sarah can make it this time! Good luck with getting a show. I know a producer of a well-known, nationally-aired show that I can refer you to. Thumbs up Mike!

• Heather Ledeboer 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  Mike, you provided some wonderful tips to Jane and it is exciting to see how powerful a fresh perspective can be for business growth! I respect your opinions and think you offered ideas that were both actionable as well as practical. My business could use your fresh perspective as well. We have focused for the last year on making a much needed change to a new shopping cart for our website but in the process other aspects of the business have suffered. Want to step into the powder room to discuss it? :)

• Nicole Bienfang 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  Great tv bit Mike. I can't believe she didn't have any flowers in the bathroom! Small business owenrs can get expert advice like you and your cohorts gave Jane, through a service my company provides called GoSmallBiz Toolbox. Our consultants can help with tax,accounting, marketing, finance, advertisng, technology, and general business concerns. Feel free to refer people to me when you are short on time yourself!

• RACHEL MEHTA 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  Really enjoyed seeing the transformation. A great example of how sometimes it takes a 3rd party to provide great insight into how to improve a business. I heard her say a few times how "overwhelmed" she felt -- was there any exploration into how she could lighten her workload?

• Barbara Zanelli 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  It's wonderful, Michael, that you are helping people in so many creative ways! We need people like you these days!!!

• Dino Herbert 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  Great segment! Mike Michalowicz, in true Toilet Paper Entrepreneur fashion, provided some simple solutions that had a major impact on Jane's business. Jane has had her fair share of major publicity and hopefully will use this PR and these great tips to focus on the coffee and floral portion of her business (it seems that event planning and interior design were a distraction). Perhaps I missed it, but it would have been great to know the total timeline of Jane's makeover. Great segment, MSNBC!

• Stephanie Treasure 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  Fantastic job Mike, Jane and all involved. All the bits of advice and expert help came together like a perfect puzzle. I am sure that Jane is on the way to being in the black for good.

• Lisa Hayes, SPHR 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  Great new format - Mike Michalowicz brought new life to Your Business! Loved it! It's "Extreme Makeover - Business Addition!" Great idea!

• Heather Pierce Giannone 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  Great job Mike! And congrats to you and Jane - loved the 3 action steps!

• Pat Valentine Ziv 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  Congratulations to Mike and Jane - Great makeover and wishing you wonderful success! I would add that the big blank wall in the bathroom is an other oversight! Maybe take a big photo of the flowers there or of the giveaway. I can't see where the flower arrangement was placed but it should have a place of honor - even in the bathroom. :)

• Suzy Mac 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  Fantastic job, Mike!I wanted to make a comment about Sarah Shaw at Entreprenette.com; I listened to her CDs regarding how to get your product into celebrity hands and on television shows, and cannot say enough regarding the value of her advice. Now that I am handling my own PR (thanks to tapping out my business loan on difficulties during product development) I am relieved to have a roadmap on how to do this! I shudder to think the fool I would have made of myself had I unwittingly broken the unsaid rules while trying to get past the "gatekeepers". lolSo Mike, how does one hire you (or become the next business owner who becomes featured)? I have a great backstory, and the first product of its kind (its "Shapewear for the Bedroom")...care to "sink your teeth" into my company's challenges? The guantlet is down. ;)

• Virtual Work Team LLC 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  Fantastic Mike! Thanks so much for sharing this. Shilonda DowningVirtual Work Team LLChttp://virtualassistantblogs.org

• Cindy Watts 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  You Rock Mike! Fabulous ideas which take very little time to implement with the right team.Good Luck Jane!

• Matt Wegner 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  Great segment and great advice Mike! Keep up the good work!

• Antoinette de Janasz 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  Great job Mike & Sarah! Jane is very fortunate to have you guys in her corner, hope she sent you one of her beautiful floral arrangements! Mike, I'm proud to be one of your First Million Club members! Sarah, I'm proud to be an Entreprenette!

• Patricia Weber 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  How motivating that you kept those three things to such simple, easy and low-hanging tips. What I love about the three experts you brought in is - the power of networking for Jane.I'd love you to feature a service business in the future. Many entrepreneurs (and soon to be unintentional entrepreneurs) are likely to be service oriented. In any case, I'm following your series and hope to learn and act on ideas as I can.

• Ros Guerrero 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  Sometimes the most simple ideas/changes can make the most impact in turning a business around as witness here with Mike's clever assignment. Great job Mike & Jane!!

• Harry Husted 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  Congrats to Mike and Jane. Way to go. It is so exciting to see a business that is struggling find a way to boost their income. I believe Jane's concept of selling flowers and coffee is a wonderful idea. Hey, maybe she will beat Starbucks. You never know. Good luck to Jane. I wish my writing and SEO business was as busy as hers. Maybe you can give me some tips regarding how to better my business. I'm always open to new ideas. Take care and thank you.

• Janet Bernasconi 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  A big Congratulations Mike and Jane! Mike you really made me think about my own business. I need to make some changes too. Boy oh boy how I wish I could be as lucky as Jane and have the help she received. That's just what I need. Professionals to give me the right advice and redo my site! lol.I really enjoyed watching you on tv. I will be sure to share it with all my friends who also have businesses.Thanks a million Mike and all the best to Jane!Janet BernasconiJanet's Creative Pillowswww.janetscreativepillows.comwww.janetscreativepillows.blogspot.com

• Robin Gerhart 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  This is great, Mike to the rescue! You rock Mike!

• Kerri Salls 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  Good story, good tips, kudos to Mike and Jane. Lots of take-aways for business owners. Well done.

• Chris Moore 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  Congrats Mike and Jane, it's great to see that changes businesses need to make are not always complex, sometimes we just need to refocus and think a little out of the box.Best of luck to Jane and look forward to seeing more of these from Mike! If you have any ideas for how to jump my successful but stunted sideline computer repair business to a full time Geek Squad killing company I am all ears!

• Ellen Paxton 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  Fascinating insights that demonstrate cross over between retail, face-to-face and online experiences. I learned a lot that we'll look to transfer to our own business development efforts. Looking forward to seeing more. Thank you!

• Margo Biblin 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  Networking genius, TPE style. You rock, Mike.

• Sandy Wheeler 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  Wonderful job Mike and team! I love the 3 step action plan and homework assignments that were right on the mark. And sprucing up the bathroom with her fresh flowers--true TPE genius.

• Elena Patrice 1 year 1 months and 26 days ago

  

  This is so exciting Mike! I'm thrilled for you and for the wonderful businesses you are helping! We need this, right now especially! Rock on TPE!! Can't wait to see more!