Client 2 Case Studies
We would like to showcase case studies grouped in the 4 main industries that participated in the second cohort; Food & Beverage, Personal Services, Retail, and Professional Services
Food & Beverage
Personal Services
Retail
Professional Services
Food & Beverage
Espresso Pizza is a restaurant at Lowell that offers a wide selection of specialty pizza, subs, salads, and dinners
Business & Team Recognition: GROWTH MINDSET
In recognition for opening up an innovative idea to target a different market
COVID-19 Status
Espresso Pizza is open and will remain a takeout-only restaurant during COVID-19
Program Highlights
Going digital
New idea of DIY frozen pizzas
Reconnect with customers out of Boston
Next Steps
Update website
Evaluate the DIY pizzas for special holidays throughout the year
Continue with takeout
A worker-owned restaurant with Filipino-American cuisine and cocktails in Union Square
Business & Team Recognition: CREATING NEW EXPERIENCES
In recognition for creating a safe format for Tanam to re-open a patio and a set of at-home experience ideas
COVID-19 Status
Tanam used to host one-table communal dinning in the restaurant and will now open for outdoor patio service and pickup
Program Highlights
Catering
At-home-experience to-go-kits
Marketing strategy on “how-to videos”
Next Steps
Purchase protective equipment to open patio
Individual setting versus communal
Evaluate catering model and to-go kits
Cozy, old-school jazz & blues club that hosts nightly performances by students & locals
Business & Team Recognition: ADAPTING NEW BUSINESS MODELS
In recognition for helping Wally’s Café pivot the business to an online model and leveraging their loyal community
COVID-19 Status
Wally’s Café has had no choice but to close doors for customers
Unable to offer live music or beverages
Program Highlights
Live streaming concerts with no in-person audience
Selling of merchandise
Partnering with other venues
Next Steps
Livestream sessions on Facebook/YouTube
Connect with network to create brand awareness and brand ambassadors
Merchandise sales
Laid-back, cash-only neighborhood joint in Somerville offering beers on tap & live entertainment
Business & Team Recognition: INCRESING LOCAL DEMAND
In recognition for bringing creative ideas on how to attract and generate new demand in the local competitive market
COVID-19 Status
Union Tavern used to offer only drinks and live music but have decided to open the outdoor patio
Program Highlights
Included Portuguese food
New themed entertainment nights
Special promotions and seasonal drinks
Next Steps
Make journey at the tavern safe
Plan for promotions and themed nights
Test online ordering via Zuppler
A woman-owned & operated restaurant serving creative, locally-sourced Chinese-American cuisine with a twist
Business & Team Recognition: ACCELERATING IDEAS
In recognition for creating new ideas that were quickly tested and implemented throughout the program
COVID-19 Status
Mei Mei will remain closed for in-dinning services but open for takeout and groceries
Program Highlights
Hot take-out food bundling
Cold food/groceries
Delivery/catering
Virtual classes (individual and corporate)
Next Steps
Test cold food subscription model
In-house delivery – test Zippikind
Corporate virtual classes
Personal Services
Harry’s Laundromat is a family-owned business located at Dorchester offering coin user, wash & fold, and dry cleaning services
Business & Team Recognition: SAFETY FIRST
In recognition for helping Harry’s Laundromat for putting customers first and focusing on making all existing journeys safe for continuous demand
COVID-19 Status
Harry’s Laundromat opened late May and demand remained stable after re-opening during the pandemic
Program Highlights
There was an increase in wash & fold service
Demand remains stable & loyal clients
Safe journey for all stakeholders
Next Steps
Purchasing of safe solutions from cost-effective vendors
Communicate safe to old and new customers
Sueños Basketball is a non-profit organization providing comprehensive training & guidance as well as academic and moral support for children & youth
Business & Team Recognition: THINKING OUTSIDE-THE- BOX
In recognition for providing new outside-the-box ideas for Suenos Basketball to think of new online opportunities beyond basketball
COVID-19 Status
The summer program is open digitally
Requested submitted to conduct 1/3 of the program physically
Program Highlights
Online model of training and entertaining beyond basketball
Guest speakers & student online exercises
Video competition and virtual interactions
Next Steps
Define if entire program will be virtual
Plan online schedule and train coaches
Roll out the virtual program
Marvelous Cuts is a sleek barber lounge offering classic cuts, hot-towel shaves, and hair design
Business & Team Recognition: CREATIVE GO-TO-MARKET
In recognition for providing new creative go-to-market ideas for the new location on how to attract demand, build customer loyalty, and remain competitive
COVID-19 Status
The original location in Brockton remained open and they opened a brand new location in Boston on July 2nd
Program Highlights
Local partnerships
Art weekends, barber nights
Website content and live broadcasts
Loyal customer benefits and cards
Next Steps
Open new store with safe journeys
Go-to-market plan defined for new location
Create online content to promote it
Retail
Intriguing Hair is a one-stop solution offering high quality hair extensions and wigs, as well as custom coloring and installation
Business & Team Recognition: PATH FINDERS
In recognition for creating a safe format for Intriguing Hair to re-open in phases while making employees feel safe
COVID-19 Status
Intriguing Hair was forced to close and experienced a 70% decrease in revenues
Program Highlights
Employees no longer scared to return to work
Opening in phases – online sales first, light version of services next, and then full services
Next Steps
Communicate re-opening plan to customers
Update website with pre-booking COVID survey
Re-open physical store in July
Stop & Compare Markets is a family-owned and operated neighborhood supermarket, founded in 1996 by immigrants from Cuba
Business & Team Recognition: MAKING IT REAL
In recognition for proposing an actionable plan with short-term solutions to make business safe and long-term solutions to make it more efficient
COVID-19 Status
Remained open and experienced an increase in demand
Program Highlights
Team provided real-time solutions to make the business safe with long term solutions to improve efficiency and safety while managing increased demand
Next Steps
Decide which short-term solutions to implement first
Explore feasibility of developing online ordering
Tails Inc. is a family-owned and operated doggy daycare that offers daycare, boarding, walking, home visits, and products to pet owners in Boston
Business & Team Recognition: NEW APPROACH TO MARKET
In recognition for bringing new ideas to capture the lost demand and build offerings to engage with loyal customer base
COVID-19 Status
Tails was forced to close due to COVID
They re-opened at the end of May but have only experienced 30% of demand
Program Highlights
Re-opened the business
Leveraging loyal customer base
Targeting new audience
Next Steps
Update website
Explore Doggy Happy Hour option to attract new target market
As a member of America’s Food Basket LLC, Austin Morda is co-owner of two stores located in Mattapan and Randolph
Business & Team Recognition: MODERNIZING THE BUSINESS
In recognition for exploring an online ordering option to reduce foot traffic and improve safety
COVID-19 Status
Remained open and experienced an increase in demand
Program Highlights
Considering investments in digital tools to stimulate demand and limit in-store traffic, such as online pre-orders and pick-up
Next Steps
Explore implementation of online pre-orders
Communicate changes to staff and customers
Professional Services
Include Innovation is a digital design and development agency that helps social impact organizations tell their stories digitally
Business & Team Recognition: PIVOTING THE BUSINESS
Include Innovation received an actionable plan to create a digital accelerator to help local businesses transition from offline to online business models
COVID-19 Status:
Transitioned online to make business safe
70% of pre-COVID revenues came from in-person events and interactions
Program Highlights
Committed to creating a digital accelerator to service minority-owned businesses in Boston
Next Steps
Finalize offerings and modules
Secure partnerships with both social impact and economic development organizations
Kornegay Kapital offers a variety of products to meet several needs such as, college funding, retirement, managing costs, and lifetime income strategies
Business & Team Recognition: STANDING TALL ONLINE
In recognition for uncovering the path for Rodney to move his personal brand and business online
COVID-19 Status:
Transitioned to digital to make business safe
Rodney easily stands out in-person, but is struggling to transition personal brand and business online
Program Highlights
Implemented a digital scheduler
Created first FAQ video session for clients
Next Steps
Create regular content schedule
Update website to reflect personal brand
Take business 100% online
Synergy Contracting in a union signatory that specializes in environmental remediation, demolition, and post-construction clean-up
Business & Team Recognition: ADOPTING NEW BUSINESS MODEL
In recognition for helping Jeysi identify a new service offering to pursue during COVID-19 using existing resources
COVID-19 Status:
Transitioned to digital to make business safe
Unable to conduct business until the state allows non-emergency construction
Program Highlights
Pivoting to offer COVID-specific commercial cleaning in offices and buildings
Created and distributed brochure with new value proposition & service
Next Steps
Continue distributing brochure
Secure first customer for commercial cleaning