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A Week Of Pandemic Violence
By Neil A. Carousso
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — A surge in gun violence this week began with the killing of a 1 year old in Brooklyn and continued throughout the week as police officers, including NYPD Chief of Department Terrence A. Monahan, were injured in a Wednesday protest on the Brooklyn Bridge that was billed as a march against violence.
Neil A. Carousso produced the Week In Sound as heard on WCBS Newsradio 880 for the week ending July 17, 2020 that included an increase of gun violence in New York City, spikes in COVID-19 cases nationwide, progress on a vaccine from Moderna, and debate over reopening schools safely. Hear it on the media player above.
You can listen to The 880 Weekly Rewind with Lynda Lopez Friday nights at 7 PM ET for a deeper dive into the top local, national and international stories of the week, featuring interviews with newsmakers and the Week In Sound as heard on WCBS Newsradio 880.
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Long Island Moms Accelerate Digital Sales When Retailers Shutdown
By Neil A. Carousso
EAST HAMPTON, N.Y. — Two Long Island mothers have increased the sales of their DEET-free insect repellent 6,000 percent over the last year despite the COVID-19 pandemic-related shutdowns with a keen focus on influencer marketing.
3 Moms Organics, LLC co-founders Lisa-Jae Eggert and Jennifer Decker told Joe Connolly and Neil A. Carousso on the WCBS Small Business Spotlight, sponsored by BNB Bank, that a meaningful, personal message on Facebook from customers has brought in more sales than buying online advertisements.
“We’ve realized that spending less money is actually working,” Eggert said.They spent more on customer acquisition costs in the first weeks after the business shutdowns in March, but they have drastically reduced those expenditures when they saw revenues accelerate due to modern word-of-mouth marketing from satisfied customers, mostly parents, with substantial social media followings within their communities.
“They love our product and there’s nothing that sells a product better than someone loving the product,” said Eggert.
The synergy is seamless with “endorsements” from customers to which they give discount codes to share with their social media followers. Lisa-Jae and Jennifer chose the company name 3 Moms Organics because they’re the two moms and the customer is the third. By shifting growth strategies, the name holds more true than ever.They both had been going store-to-store to demonstrate how TickWise, made from natural essential oils, repels ticks that are prevalent on the East End and other wooded and grassy areas where deer and other animals they feed on roam. It is on the shelves of about 80 stores with the goal of expanding to another 100 retailers in the next year. When that opportunity sailed because of the coronavirus, they improved their website and reached a national direct-to-consumer audience they hadn’t yet tapped into.
“In this day and age, this takes the place of touching and feeling,” Eggert said, adding that everyone’s public feedback matters, “good and bad.”
Of their 6,000 percent increase in revenue, 5,000 percent of that 3 Moms Organics attributes to Facebook content from local influencers and their own pictures and videos. Eggert told Connolly and Carousso that education is important for 3 Moms’ success. One video they posted of ticks on a pink sheet avoiding the border where they sprayed TickWise is proof of concept.
They have also taken the last three months to improve the quality of their website.
“On our website, when you click on it, it immediately goes to our shop page, now,” Eggert said.
They continue to personally manufacture and ship TickWise across 47 states and Washington D.C., now that they are registered through the Environmental Protection Agency in all states except California, Maine and South Dakota. 3 Moms Organics also used the past three months to apply and receive the Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise Certification (MWBE), which has opened new doors for potential revenue streams.
“Places like PSEG, they use that as a kind of vetting for us,” Eggert said. “They’re piloting our product on twelve of their trucks, and so far, the response has been fabulous.”
They developed TickWise in their homes to keep their children safe from further tick borne illnesses of which both families have histories. Decker had been experimenting with essential oils for at-home remedies for years and would spray early renditions of their product on her kids and dog before they went outside in Montauk. Eggert studied entomology and Earth sciences in college. They combined their expertise to produce a product that is effective, has a pleasant smell, provides skin nourishment, and is vegan for those who suffer from Alpha-Gal or meat allergies.
Two Long Island moms developed TickWise to keep their kids safe. When retailers shut down, they focused on digital marketing and boosted sales 6,000%.
Hear growth ideas for this tough economic climate with @JoeConnollybiz and @NeilACarousso: https://t.co/fl3D7mVzQH pic.twitter.com/G8OaaODBz0
— WCBS 880 (@wcbs880) July 15, 2020
Hear ideas on how to recover and grow your business even in this tough economic climate on the WCBS Small Business Spotlight Podcast on the RADIO.COM app or on the media player above. -
Doctor Advises Americans To Avoid All Gatherings To Stop COVID Spread
By Lynda Lopez
Produced by Neil A. Carousso
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Coronavirus cases have been spiking throughout the country over the past weeks, and some believe some states should not be moving as quickly as they are to get the economy running again.
The New York Times reports much of the surge of new cases has been driven largely by states in the south and west that were among to first ease restrictions.
At least six states set single-day records on Thursday for daily coronavirus cases – Albama, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Oregon and Texas.
As New York and New Jersey continue to see a significant drop in cases, there’s worry that travelers from surging states may lead to a spike in the Tri-State, but both Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Gov. Phil Murphy have began easing restrictions to allow for some indoor and outdoor gatherings again.
Currently, areas in Phase 4 in New York are allowed to hold gatherings of up to 50 people and indoor gatherings at 33% capacity. Meanwhile, New Jersey permits outdoor gatherings of up to 250 people and indoor gatherings of 25% capacity.
WCBS 880’s Lynda Lopez spoke with Dr. Waleed Javaid, director of infection prevention and control and Mount Sinai Downtown, who cautions for more safety measures.
He says with areas still experiencing a rise in cases, there’s a chance the virus has not peaked in certain areas and the death toll could continue to increase.
“What we’re seeing across the country if the spike,” he said. “Hospitals are getting overwhelmed. I was listening in to some reports from Florida and other places that, literally, they are running out of space. This is very much the same or similar to what we saw in New York a few months ago.”
“The transmission of the virus takes time and when it does, it take about 10 to 14 days before we’d be the peak and then also mortalities falls a few weeks behind that as well,” Dr. Javaid explains.
The doctor thinks gatherings should not even be permitted at this stage and Americans should consider the fact that the pandemic is no over and the virus remains a real threat.
“I know it’s very hard harsh statement to say something like that but we need to think beyond today and beyond tomorrow beyond next week and look into months from now,” he said. “All activities we do today impact what happens tomorrow, so overall my final statement would be avoid gatherings if at all possible.”
He notes that while outdoor gatherings are better than indoor gatherings, that does not mean the virus still cannot be transmitted from person to person. Dr. Javaid says people still need to wear masks and need to practice social distancing.
Meanwhile, he says while younger people may think the virus does not affect them, they are wrong.
Many of the new cases in states with spikes are people from the younger generation and he believes the easing of restrictions may have contributed to that.
“You and I both heard the reports of a lot of people mingling, a lot of outdoor activities in certain states. I’m not saying one is equal to the other, but there is some degree of link between the activities – going to the beaches for example and parties – and having a higher number of cases. Even though we might see a higher number of younger people going to the hospital, the severity of the illness is almost always worse as the age progresses,” he tells WCBS 880’s Lopez.
Dr. Javaid says in a perfect world, he would ask everyone to avoid all gatherings until a proper treatment, vaccine or cure is found.
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Week In Sound: COVID Spikes and Classroom Debate
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Coronavirus cases increase throughout the nation, including in New Jersey where Gov. Phil Murphy mandated people wear masks outside when social distancing is not possible. Plus, leaders debate how to reopen schools safely and much more on a busy news week.
Neil A. Carousso produced the Week In Sound as heard on WCBS Newsradio 880 for the week ending July 10, 2020. Hear it on the player above.
You can listen to The 880 Weekly Rewind with Lynda Lopez Friday nights at 7 PM ET for a deeper dive into the top local, national and international stories of the week, featuring interviews with newsmakers and the Week In Sound as heard on WCBS Newsradio 880.
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NYC Businesses Seek Ways To Boost Consumer Confidence
By Neil A. Carousso
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Personal care services such as nail salons, massage parlors, tattoo shops and tanning salons turned on their lights in Phase 3 of New York City’s reopening this week, but indoor dining was halted because the airborne coronavirus spreads in closed environments with poor ventilation. The City is encouraging business owners to adapt and listen to health experts to dictate their economic future.
“As people begin to feel safe, they’re going to come out,” said New York City Small Business Services Commissioner Jonnel Doris on the WCBS Small Business Spotlight Podcast with Joe Connolly and Neil A. Carousso, sponsored by BNB Bank.
Doris was appointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio to lead the city agency through the pivotal survival and recovery period. He previously served as senior advisor and director of the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Enterprises. He also worked as chief diversity officer in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office of Storm Recovery.
“There’s going to be some change in customer behavior,” Doris pointed out. “Make sure that you are as safe as possible. Do face coverings, make sure it’s on, make sure that you use social distancing; that’s going to bring the confidence level back, and then, we’re going to be able to see, really, the customer foot traffic pick up.”
He told Connolly and Carousso the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) has sent 5 million Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) items to City companies in the first three phases. He expects they’ll be able to distribute another 2.5 million masks, face shields, gloves and goggles.
“We’ve got a lot of resources for businesses that are ready to go particularly our restaurants who have really been hit hard during this time,” said Doris.
Restaurateurs had been preparing to welcome patrons inside by hiring and rehiring wait staff and ordering food from their suppliers, but now, many are turning to SBS for financial resources, including fundraising.
“Customers are eating out differently, they’re coming out different times, their likens have changed, they’ve been locked up for three months,” the City’s business leader said. “As they see and they hear from their customers, they are making changes and they’re pivoting.”
Doris said about 7,000 restaurateurs are engaged in the agency’s reopening program in which they provide tools and ideas for recovery.
“Financial resources and/or education really is key for the success of these businesses and that’s what we are able to provide,” he said.
Yudelka Carrera received operations training from SBS before she launched her catering and events-planning business Events By Yudy in 2015.
“During COVID-19, Yudy had to really transform her business from a catering company to preparing, now, and delivering lunches for people at home, healthcare workers, first responders and more,” Doris said.
President Donald J. Trump on Saturday signed an extension of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) low-interest loan that is forgivable if business owners use it to pay their employees. The original deadline for small businesses to apply for the program was last Tuesday, but $130 billion remained in the fund. Congress unanimously approved the extension for assistance until August 8.
Many prominent companies received millions of dollars in loans, including P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and Chop’t. The unintended assistance to large corporations has raised concerns that the government program funded owners with political connections. Doris is encouraging small businesses in need of capital to apply.
He points to three core principles for business owners in adapting to the so-called new normal: innovation, creativity and collaboration.
“We can’t do business like we’ve always done it before,” Doris said, continuing, “Industries got to work together, government and business needs to work better together, and that’s what we’re trying to do here.”
Hear examples of how business owners pivoted to survive and the financial and educational resources available to New York City companies on the WCBS Small Business Spotlight Podcast on the RADIO.COM app or the media player above.
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