Maria was a journalist in Peru, but struggled to find work when she moved to Westchester because she didn’t speak English. After working miscellaneous jobs, she began freelancing for newspapers and radio shows across New Jersey and New York. Maria dreamed of owning her own Spanish-language newspaper; fourteen years ago, she opened Westchester Hispano to provide news to the Spanish speaking residents of the tri-state area.

Why did Maria need TAP?
Despite being Westchester's largest newspaper in Spanish, Westchester Hispano was struggling to attract the right salespeople and needed help with cash flow management. The niche media outlet was also in need of updated marketing materials and a stronger social media strategy. Due to the Covid pandemic, Maria lost some advertisers and needed ideas on how to pivot and conserve cash. For the longer term, Maria felt it was important to expand the newspaper’s use of digital media but she needed to navigate how this might affect customer behavior, particularly her readers in the hispanic community.

​How did TAP help Maria and Westchester Hispano?
TAP consultants, Claudine Kelly and Rebecca Shalam, created a customized tool to help Maria manage her cash flow.  They developed a marketing sales sheet and established weekly sales meetings for Maria and her team to coordinate geographies and goals. The consultants also created detailed job descriptions, provided Maria with recruiting contacts in the area to help her source additional staff, and brainstormed best compensation plans for the sales team. They discussed social media strategies and equipped Maria with the necessary tools to expand her presence on different platforms. The consultants presented the idea of reducing print cycles during Covid to reduce expenses, and lastly, TAP provided ideas for an eventual migration from print to digital for the newspaper.
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Where is she now?
By focusing her time and energy on her most responsive clients and hiring reliable salespeople, Maria has been able to expand her business. After three months of collaborating with TAP, sales have increased by 20% and profitability has improved. Maria has also implemented QuickBooks to manage her cash flows and improve financial health. “I’m very thankful to TAP for helping me in so many areas: marketing, accounting, cash flow management and digital media. They really made a difference in my business.” Maria is using her talents as a reporter, publisher, editor and salesperson to work through challenges, and is hopeful for the future.

Cross Culture Kombucha
Ian Ceppos decided to stop drinking alcohol in search of a healthier lifestyle. When traditional juices and sodas didn’t satisfy, he and his wife Liz began brewing kombucha at home. They founded Cross Culture Kombucha to share their newfound obsession and now offer many flavors like Mojito and Earl Grey. You can purchase their products on their website, visit their taproom in Danbury, or find their bottles lining the shelves of many New York and Connecticut cafés and markets.
 
Why did Cross Culture Kombucha need TAP?
Ian and Liz looked to TAP for guidance on how to develop a healthy growth plan and increase sales. They needed help constructing accurate revenue and production forecasts, establishing a relationship with a distributor, recruiting employees, and implementing a strong marketing plan.
 
How did TAP help?
TAP consultants Natalie Rawlinson and May Lee were eager to work with CCK to reach these goals, but first needed to help Ian and Liz navigate the pandemic. CCK established home delivery options, curbside pickups and partnerships with local companies. They also upgraded their website to accommodate online sales. The consultants worked with CCK on loan applications, contingency planning and PPP terms and devised plans to grow retail sales. They developed a forecasting model for budgeting and planning and made recommendations on distribution, physical space requirements, and market competition.
 
Where is Cross Culture Kombucha now?
With TAP’s help, CCK not only survived the pandemic, but has grown its business. They are now working with a distributor and hiring independent workers. CCK has also added a fun new flavor, Lemon Lavender, to complete their six regular kombuchas. To reach even more customers they will secure more vendors after their planned move to a new location.  They also worked to enhance their social media presence. The Ceppos’ determination to share their delicious products and promote a healthy (and tasty!) lifestyle paired with the new tools TAP has given them will ensure CCK’s continued growth and future success.

Maria Elena is the quintessential multitasking entrepreneur. As a student of the NYU nursing program and a single mother of two young children, Maria Elena owns and operates a residential cleaning business based in Westchester County. Her clientele have been mostly residential clients in New York City. 

How did Covid impact her business?
Maria’s business was severely affected by the public health restrictions imposed to control the spread of Covid. The business from residential clients contracted by 58%. She quickly realized that she needed to pivot her business, diversify her service offerings and utilize resources more efficiently to remain viable and profitable.​

How did TAP help?
TAP consultants Regina Altaras and Becky Schamis worked with Maria to expand her business beyond residential work to commercial cleaning.  They did a competitive analysis and developed a marketing plan to rebrand the business and expand to this new sector. The consultants developed a website plan, to include online reviews to optimize for SEO and business credibility.  They also recommended creating a business profile on home service websites, such as Angie’s List and Yelp, as well as local B2B business organizations in Westchester. To enhance her brand further the consultants suggested adding certifications such as Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise and Green Clean Institute Certification. 

Where is she now?  
As a result of TAP’s engagement, Maria Elena is more confident to advance her business. She updated her business cards with a more professional look and is focused on allocating resources more efficiently. She is trying to tighten her geographic area to reduce travel time by focusing on fewer buildings but increasing the number of units cleaned in each location. She is also delegating employees to execute cleaning jobs that she previously did herself. Her revenue is up by about 30% from last year, and she has added 7 new residential clients.  While she still plans to expand to the commercial sector, that focus will wait until the fall when businesses are fully reopened. In terms of promotion, she’s been using social media channels to market her brand and plans to develop her website later this year. She also hopes to get some of the certifications TAP suggested and collaborate with online platforms to expand her client base.

Maria Elena believes TAP helped her advance her business by offering a new perspective and giving her the incentive and tools to change her operations. Those tools combined with her business savvy  and “can do” mindset will propel her to more success in the future.

Meet Elizabeth Reddin, Founder & Director of The Dog Institute of Williamsburg
As a longtime Williamsburg resident, Elizabeth has deep community ties and over 15 years of experience helping new parents of puppies and dogs. After securing her certification through the Dog Training Internship Academy (DTIA), she launched The Dog Institute of Williamsburg in 2018. Along with teaching pet parents how to raise well-behaved pups through positive reinforcement, The Dog Institute provides opportunities for dogs and puppies to socialize through drop-off “play and train” programs.
 
What Were Elizabeth’s Key Challenges?
Due to pandemic restrictions, Elizabeth moved from site-based training to offering private virtual lessons. As she planned to transition to a blended model in a post-COVID environment, she felt uncertain about the financial impact of changing her offerings. She also needed help adding eCommerce capabilities and increasing her overall profitability.
 
How Did TAP Help?
TAP consultants Tasha Kewalramani and Alison Schlesinger compiled financial information to gain a better understanding of the business, both pre and post-COVID. They analyzed Elizabeth’s pricing compared to her competition and uncovered opportunities to reduce costs like rent and other supplies. The consultants also reviewed The Dog Institute website and mapped out an enhanced site structure to incorporate eCommerce capabilities. Elizabeth received an action plan complete with supporting tools and detailed next steps.
 
Where is She Now?
Elizabeth is more knowledgeable about her financial position and understands how to make business decisions with the bottom line in mind. Most notably, TAP used data Elizabeth had collected from competitors to guide her pricing strategy, allowing her to be more in line with the marketplace and maintain her client base. Armed with a fully developed eCommerce plan and refined hiring strategy, Elizabeth is excited to start selling products on her website, hire a new employee and implement some of Tasha and Alison’s other recommendations. She now feels better equipped to advance her business.

Meet Daysi Briones, owner of IQ Contracting, Inc. & Associates
Daysi Briones, originally from Peru, always dreamed of running her own business. While working as a real estate agent she developed a passion for remodeling, which grew stronger as she watched her father and brother working in the construction industry. With $5,000 and the help of the NYC Women Chamber of Commerce,  Daysi started her own contracting business. She constantly works to prove herself in this male dominated industry.

Business Challenges Lead IQ Contracting to TAP
Daysi turned to TAP to help her revamp her proposal process and better track her finances to increase profitability. She also needed help outlining both short and long term goals to navigate the uncertainty that Covid brought.

How did TAP Help?
TAP consultants Natalia Alarcon and Laura Stobbe helped IQ Contracting analyze finances on a per project basis. To ensure Daysi more accurately quoted jobs going forward, they reviewed costs from previous projects and studied competitors. They developed an estimation process that was clear to customers, aligned with industry standards and allowed for profit. The TAP team also helped Daysi determine revenue levels needed to satisfy her monthly expenses. They worked collaboratively with Daysi’s new accountant to categorize her expenses more thoughtfully and coached her on the best types of hires to help her with administrative tasks.

Where is Daysi now?
Daysi now has better tools to price jobs appropriately and the confidence to push her business to the next level. She added four full-time employees, three independent contractors and an administrative assistant. She also plans to hire an operations manager so that she can focus on sales. IQ Contracting transitioned out of her home office to a new rented space, and has secured some new clients, with a new focus on the private business space. Daysi utilized an SBA loan to purchase a new truck and new computer. With new financial awareness and a fighting spirit, Daysi is prepared to take advantage of the post-Covid recovery and realize her dream of making IQ Contracting a strong, profitable business.

From seedbeads to symbols to semi-precious stones, Bead Everything offers customers all of the resources they need to create and style beautiful pieces of jewelry.  In 2016, Owner Debbie Daum took her shining passion for gemology one step further and opened Bead Everything, a full-service bead store in White Plains, New York.  Offering all types of beads, gemstones, and raw materials, her store attracts both novice and professional jewelry designers alike.  Not only does Bead Everything have the materials to do-it-yourself, but it also offers beautiful finished pieces and jewelry-making classes.
 
Why did Debbie need TAP?
Debbie was looking to expand her customer base, update her website and explore new marketing tactics.  With the goal of increasing revenue, Debbie also wanted to determine whether or not she should invest in a POS system.  As a result of COVID-19 restrictions, fewer people were visiting the store, having an effect on revenues, but also giving her more time to make strategic changes for the future.
 
How did TAP help Debbie and Bead Everything?
TAP consultants Laurie Medvinsky and Stephanie Bettis worked closely with Debbie to implement several changes to maximize efficiency.  The consultants made recommendations around her different customer segments. They encouraged Debbie to target new customers, while improving marketing efforts to leverage her existing loyal base.  They also offered ideas to increase website functionality for ecommerce transactions. To improve operations, Laurie and Stephanie helped Debbie compare different POS systems, and assisted her in evaluating her cash flows. 
 
Where is she now?
As a result of TAP’s engagement, Debbie was given a better idea of what needed to be prioritized. She purchased Clover, a POS system, to better track customer purchases and inventory. She began utilizing "grab and go" kiosks to move out older inventory and is watching her expenses more carefully. Her client base has increased as more people have discovered the store through classes in waist beads and jewelry made by her new wire artist.  Debbie is increasing social media activity and using virtual guest artists and craft shows to attract customers across the country to her products. She now has a roadmap to direct her efforts going forward. Debbie’s determination and creativity combined with TAP’s professional expertise helped Bead Everything position for growth in the future.

Since the age of six, Kyra Johnson has danced with elite schools including The Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey, Joffrey, and Steps on Broadway. In order to share her lifelong love of dance with others, “Ms. Jay” opened the New Beginnings Performing Arts Studio in 2009, offering dance and performing arts instruction to children, adolescents and adults. The studio focuses on retaining students throughout their progression with learning options ranging from walk-in classes to residency programs (pre-COVID). A recipient of the 2018 Woman of Excellence Entrepreneurial Award, Ms. Jay is a community leader creating mentorship opportunities for college students, fighting childhood obesity, and providing scholarships and other programs to support underprivileged youth.
 
How Did COVID Impact New Beginnings?
The COVID crisis had a devastating impact on the performing arts industry. The shut-down meant lost customers and declining income for the studio.  Kyra prepared to offer virtual classes and invested in screens and cameras for the studio, but she was unsure of how to market it to new and existing clients.
 
How Did TAP Help?
TAP consultants, Paula Hernandez Rios and Souha Alameddine, assessed Kyra’s revenues and expenses to determine how to price her classes and calculate the number of enrollments she would need to ensure profitability. They also created a monthly cashflow tracker, and trained Kyra how to use it to make more informed business decisions. To strengthen digital marketing efforts, the consultants conducted a customer segmentation analysis, delivered a social media toolbox, helped with website improvements and coached Kyra on the use of social media analytics. TAP also offered information on grants and other business resources to provide additional financial relief.
 
Where is She Now?
New Beginnings Performing Arts Studio has an increased social media presence, resulting in improved brand awareness and new clients. Course offerings now include a robust mix of virtual and in-person classes. Most importantly, Kyra feels better equipped to run her business. She has a clearer understanding of New Beginnings’ key differentiators, as well as competitor products and pricing, and she confidently reviews her cash position on a regular basis.

As a NYS Licensed Massage Therapist and Psychic Medium, Alyse Shyne realized her dream of being an entrepreneur and opened a three story, chic wellness and healing spa with all female service providers. Located in White Plains, NY, The Healing Collective provides wellness treatments and contains an elegant boutique which offers leisurewear, oils and energy crystals. It also delivers a welcoming community with a focus on 360 Health, as well as diverse and alternative services.
 
How Did COVID-19 Impact The Healing Collective?
The pandemic devastated The Healing Collective’s business, which relies heavily on in-person services and sales. Not only was Alyse burdened by fixed expenses, but she had also recently signed a five-year lease for the three-story building and needed to quickly pivot to cover the mounting costs. Concerns were also rapidly growing around her lack of a structured strategy for marketing, customer acquisition and social media.
 
How Did TAP Help?
TAP consultants Jenny Carragher and Anna Denysenko developed recommendations for prioritizing Alyse as a landlord, to cover her lease obligations, and utilize excess capacity of unused treatment rooms. The consultants also assessed current rental income and inventory to maximize THC revenue. Lastly, they helped develop a robust marketing program and tailored customer acquisition plan.
 
Where is She Now?
The Healing Collective is open once again, with increased customers and revenue! Motivated by TAP’s support, Alyse has added a new tenant and is almost at full capacity. She has also begun using Shopify to assist with her e-commerce business and has seen a consistent increase in revenue each month. Most importantly, Alyse is running her business with renewed energy and confidence as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to decline. She is equipped with new business tools to guide her through the next year

Leni, a lighting design expert with over twenty years of experience, has won several awards for her ability to “transform the night”. She believes lighting can change the way people and cities operate after daytime hours. Her dazzling displays and strategic use of light have enabled many to see the “other side of day” in a whole new way. 

Why did Leni seek TAP’s help?

Leni came to TAP because she needed help leveraging her international reputation to restart her urban lightning business, Leni Schwendinger Light Projects. She wanted to consolidate her product offerings into one strong brand and develop a marketing plan to identify new clients, forge strategic partnerships and generate revenues.

How did TAP help?
TAP consultants Susan Berman and Pam Miner helped Leni develop a plan to expand her customer base and identify potential partners. They suggested targeting local governments, businesses and commercial property owners. They also recommended changes to her website so clients could better visualize the creative possibilities she could implement for personal and public spaces. Susan and Pam also aimed to increase income by helping Leni prioritize short term opportunities like speaking engagements, podcasts and her innovative Nightseeing™ program. 
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Where is Leni now?
With limitations on travel and cancellation of in-person events imposed by COVID, Leni is focused on offering virtual speaking engagements about nighttime lighting. These are helping build her brand and provide a steady source of income.  As many activities have been forced outdoors, she is capitalizing on the increased need for, and value of, purposeful urban lighting. Leni is excited to use her knowledge and creativity to increase safety and security, stimulate economic growth, improve public health, and increase social interactions into the night hours for cities around the world.