-
Small Business Spotlight: Brooklyn Startup Puts Local Stores Online
By Joe Connolly and Neil A. Carousso
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — A Brooklyn startup has made shopping local in the pandemic easier and it is helping connect small retailers with customers online.
ShopIN.nyc is “the everything store,” as founder and CEO Maya Komerov describes it, for a variety of hometown products.
“People really want to shop local, but the truth is it’s not convenient,” Komerov told Joe Connolly and Neil A. Carousso on the WCBS Small Business Spotlight.
When the pandemic hit, she saw small businesses struggling and large e-commerce companies like Amazon were thriving. Boasting the slogan “Shop Brooklyn Not Bezo$” on its merchandise, Komerov told WCBS 880 she doesn’t like to think of ShopIN.nyc as in competition with Amazon, but they are making it easier and cheaper for small businesses to sell online.
“A single store cannot provide that,” she said of e-commerce. “That’s a fact and that’s something that we need to change immediately and that’s the technology that we built to make that change.”
It is free for businesses to join and the startup pays owners within 24 hours for sales on its website.
Komerov has a background in technology. She sold her first company, Blat Lapidot Business Applications – a Salesforce partner in Israel – in 2017 before moving to New York. She went to the drawing board for ShopIN.nyc in April and launched in July. They currently support 70 stores on the site and house their products in its Brooklyn warehouse for delivery. Thirty New York City stores are waiting for approval.
“They don’t need to go and bring stuff from a warehouse in New Jersey and have all those trucks,” said Komerov, explaining ShopIN.nyc’s appeal. “We build technology to allow the stores to work in a decentralized warehouse to serve the neighbors.”
ShopIN.nyc delivers products the same day an order is placed in one box with the stores’ branding on the package. They pay delivery workers $25 an hour – higher than the $15 minimum wage in New York City.
The e-commerce startup separates itself from other online sites in that it invests in communities throughout New York, including supporting schools.
“Online shopping should be part of the community just by connecting all the stores that are already part of the community together,” said Komerov. “We build more and more tools to allow the money to come back.”
By achieving this, ShopIN.nyc is localizing e-commerce and bringing the neighborhood to the customer.
See how ShopIN.nyc is helping local businesses connect with customers on the WCBS Small Business Spotlight video above.
-
Major Winter Storm Expected to Bring Over a Foot of snow to NYC Area through Tuesday, Blizzard-Like Conditions
By WCBS 880 Newsroom
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) – A high-impact winter storm that arrived Sunday night could bring well over a foot of snow to New York City, and even more to the northern suburbs and New Jersey, before it departs on Tuesday.
While the city and nearby suburbs could see 12 to 18 inches, even more may be in store for inland New Jersey and the Hudson Valley suburbs, according to WCBS 880 meteorologist Craig Allen. Eastern Long Island and the Jersey Shore are likely to see less than the city and surrounding areas as snow mixes with rain.
The National Weather Service is forecasting as much as 18 to 24 inches in the city, eastern Nassau, northern New Jersey, the lower Hudson Valley and southwestern Connecticut.
A nor’easter begins to take shape on Monday. Wind and snow will increase in intensity on Monday afternoon and evening. Near-blizzard conditions are possible, creating hazardous travel conditions.
“We are dealing with our second major snowstorm of the season the first one was pre-Christmas with 10.5 inches of snow for the city and this one could double it in some locales,” WCBS 880 meteorologist Craig Allen said.
Wind gusts of up to 50 mph are possible at the height of the storm Monday. There is a likelihood of power outages.
It will also be very cold. The low Sunday is 26. The high Monday is 34 but the wind will make for RealFeels in the single digits.
A winter storm warning has been issued from 7 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Tuesday for all of New York City, Nassau County, eastern Suffolk County, northern New Jersey, the lower Hudson Valley and southwestern Connecticut.
Eastern Suffolk County and the Jersey Shore are under a coastal flood warning and winter storm watch starting Sunday night through Tuesday. Snow is forecast to mix with sleet and rain along the coasts, pushing the snow totals down there.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that there will be no in-person learning at public schools on Monday and Tuesday. Students will pivot to all-remote. He said a decision hasn’t been made yet for Tuesday. The Learning Bridges childcare program is also canceled Monday.
All Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese of New York, will be closed Monday for a traditional snow day with no remote learning. High schools within the archdiocese operate independently, so families should check with their schools about closings.
“While we are all looking forward to kicking off Catholic Schools Week, the safety and well-being of our teachers, staff and families are always primary, and this is a serious storm that will impact the entire metropolitan area,” said Superintendent of Schools Mr. Michael J. Deegan. “All schools in the archdiocese have provisions for ‘traditional snow days’ in their calendars, and Monday will be exactly that, with no online instruction and all school buildings closed. We will launch our annual celebrations Tuesday.”
Alternate side parking is canceled Monday and Tuesday in the city. Open Restaurants is also canceled Monday. Vaccine appointments scheduled for Monday will be postponed.
“Everyone stay off the roads, we’re going to say it 100 times,” de Blasio said, adding that the city is expecting five inches of snow by Monday morning. “The Monday vaccine appointments will be postponed. We’ll get them done as quickly as humanly possible, but it’s just not going to be safe out there on Monday.”
A Code Blue alert has also been issued for Monday in the city. A hazardous travel advisory will be in effect on both Monday and Tuesday as well.
The city Department of Sanitation has issued a Snow Alert starting Sunday at 7 p.m.
City Sanitation Commissioner Ed Grayson said over 2,000 plow vehicles and 270,000 tons of salt are on hand for the storm.
“This is definitely shaping up to be a challenging and unpredictable storm,” Grayson said. “Very dangerous conditions out there that we’re prepping for, and we’re pulling out all the stops. We’ll have all hands on deck. Our workforce has been split into two 12-hour shifts beginning this evening at 7 p.m. And we will be out there in full force throughout the storm.”
The department has already pre-applied liquid brine to more than 400 miles of city roadways.
Emergency Management Commissioner Deanne Criswell said its downed tree and tow truck task forces will be on alert.
“Our Emergency Operations Center is going to be activated virtually and it will bring together all of our agencies, private partners, stakeholders so we can respond accordingly as the event continues to unfold,” Criswell said.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed state agencies to prepare emergency response assets, anticipating up to a foot of snow in New York City, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley.
“Another storm system is set to impact New York with potentially heavy snow, strong winds and possibly coastal flooding downstate,” Cuomo said in a statement. “I have directed state agencies to prepare all emergency response assets and they stand ready to assist any of our local partners who may need help in the coming days. We will also be closely watching the response of utility companies to ensure any power outages are addressed immediately. In the meantime, I am urging all New Yorkers to pay close attention to their local forecasts and to begin preparing their households for this latest round of winter weather.”
After the storm moves out, Wednesday will be breezy and cold with a high of 34. RealFeels will be in the teens.
Thursday is sunny and not as cold, with a high of 40.
Neil A. Carousso produced and edited WCBS Chief Meteorologist Craig Allen’s snowstorm video updates.
-
WCBS 880 Weekly Rewind: Dr. Fauci Says Schools Can Safely Reopen with Specific Resources, Opines on J&J’s Less Effective COVID Vaccine
By Neil A. Carousso and WCBS Newsradio 880
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, has been at the forefront of the country’s battle against COVID-19 since the virus emerged in the U.S. last year.
Fauci turned 80 years old on Christmas Eve.
He’s been on the job a long time, going through SARS, Ebola, Zika, HIV, to name a few and is now President Joe Biden’s chief medical advisor.
During a conversation Friday afternoon with the New York Press Club, moderated by WCBS 880 morning anchor Steve Scott, Fauci was asked, “How much longer will you keep doing this?”
“You know, Steve, I don’t know,” Fauci replied. “I don’t focus on a number. Age number is irrelevant, it’s how you feel. Your functional capability. Are you still able to give it 100% or 110%? Are you still up to the task? As long as that is what I have, namely, the energy, the capability and giving 110%, there’s no limit… I’m pretty honest with myself, I have a real good reality-testing wife who doesn’t hesitate for a second to give me constructive criticism about things. I’ll know when to step down, but I don’t see that in the future right now.”
During the nearly 40-minute long discussion, Fauci reiterated Biden’s plan to try to get K-8 grade students back in school in the first 100 days, but he admits that there are teachers and others who don’t think it’s safe just yet.
He said part of his job is to try to convince those who have questions about it that it is safe to go back but, only if the rules are followed, such as mask wearing and social distancing.
He stressed the recommendation is for K-8 and that it’s a little bit of a different ball game when it comes to middle, high school and college.
Vaccines are also a key part of the discussion, especially given Johnson & Johnson’s promising news about its one-shot vaccine.
It proved to be 72% effective against moderate to severe COVID-19, which isn’t as impressive as 95%, which Pfizer and Moderna got.
“So although it was not as good as a couple of the others in preventing early symptomatic disease, what it did do very well was prevent severe disease, including hospitalization, death,” Fauci said.
He predicts it could get an emergency use authorization within a week or two, with doses possibly being administered in the U.S. in February.
Fauci was also pressed about working in the Trump administration and his frustration level during that time.
“I don’t want to go back and rehash things, I really want to look forward,” Fauci said. “That’s in the past, let’s take a look at the things we can do to end this outbreak.”
But Fauci did say that he never thought about quitting.
“The enormity of the task and the responsibility that I had was such that it never even entered my mind to step down and quit,” Fauci said. “It was just too important a problem that we were facing.”
Neil A. Carousso produces The 880 Weekly Rewind with Lynda Lopez Friday nights at 7 PM on WCBS Newsradio 880.
-
Small Business Spotlight: Making the Right Hire for Your Job Opening
By Joe Connolly and Neil A. Carousso
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Hiring workers can be challenging, especially for business owners with limited resources in the pandemic.
Companies that are fortunate to be in the position of hiring have a vast talent pool to choose from as remote work has become commonplace.
“Emphasize what’s most important,” WCBS 880 “Your Next Job” host Steven Greenberg told Joe Connolly and Neil A. Carousso on the Small Business Spotlight.
Greenberg’s career highlights include leading a human resources team for a major toy manufacturer, founding a staffing firm and operating a job board for jobseekers over 40 years old. He stresses owners must refine and focus their job descriptions to get the most qualified applicants.
“You want to send up a flag: ‘We’re seeking the person who’s the best at making outbound sales calls for our company. We want a killer person who could sit at home and make 100 calls all day and has a close rate of 20 percent,'” he said. “Everything else is sort of gravy.”
Greenberg told Connolly and Carousso that employers should look for résumés that are specifically tailored to that job description. He noted people with generic résumés are often sending applications for numerous open jobs, and likely, will not be a good fit for a company’s specific needs.
“A generic résumé tells the company, really, if you’re really looking at it carefully, I’m not that interested in working for you. I’m just sending out this résumé to 20 companies and I’m just hoping to get lucky,” he explained, adding it’s like “playing the lottery.”
The “Your Next Job” host suggested employers implement a practical test in the hiring process to gage if a candidate is right for the position. An example he gave on the Small Business Spotlight is having a sales applicant make some calls to see how much they know about the company during their pitch.
Candidates who do not face a practical test that would allow them to demonstrate their skills and qualifications, Greenberg said, should take the initiative to prove themselves.
“Why don’t you say… ‘I did some more research on it and I saw that you’re working on these three potential clients and let me tell you about how I can add value to that effort,'” he advised. “That’s an email that gets read, that gets noticed and I think should generate more interviews.”
Greenberg suspects his pet peeve about follow-up emails is shared among employers; he strongly encourages applicants to avoid using the phrase “I’m just following up” because it diminishes one’s application.
The HR consultant told WCBS 880 it sometimes takes creativity to stand out from the pack of applicants, especially with high unemployment due to the coronavirus pandemic. He shared one of his favorite stories from an unnamed, well-known college basketball coach who gets flooded with emails from people who write it’s their dream job to work for him.
“He said, ‘Steven, you know what happens after those emails? Nothing. I’m not going to hire somebody then who doesn’t want to act on their dreams. I make my dreams come true. I don’t wait for other people to come true for me,'” Greenberg recalled. “One day, somebody sent him that email, and then, when he came home from a road trip at midnight, that person was waiting for them with their resume printed on a basketball.”
The coach hired him for backing up his words with actions.
Greenberg also told Connolly and Carousso about an unemployed chef he advised to write part of his resume in icing on top of a cake. That person got the job.
See more examples and hiring advice on the WCBS Small Business Spotlight video above.
-
WCBS 880 Weekly Rewind: The Biden Battle Plan
President Joseph R. Biden signed a flurry of executive orders in his first three days in office on combating the pandemic and taking steps to reverse and reform the nation’s immigration policies.
You’ll get a deeper understanding of President Biden’s policies and his vaccine battle plan on The 880 Weekly Rewind with Lynda Lopez, including an audio file on Mr. Biden’s first 56 hours in office. Plus, a curtain call to the late baseball Hall of Famer and one-time home run king Henry “Hank” Aaron.
The 880 Weekly Rewind with Lynda Lopez airs Friday nights at 7 PM ET on WCBS Newsradio 880 in New York. Featuring interviews with newsmakers on the top local, national and international news of the week, it is produced by Neil A. Carousso.
News Stories
Social Feeds
VIDEO: Told the airline to book us on the next flight out (SPONTANEOUS TRIP!)
VIDEO: The Taylor Swift Effect | WCBS Business Breakfast
VIDEO: Future of NYC | WCBS Business Breakfast
VIDEO: Reasons for New Yorkers to be Optimistic | WCBS Business Breakfast
VIDEO: NYC's AI Chatbot | WCBS Business Breakfast