Owning and Running A PACK AND SHIP Family Retail Store | Box & Send Business Center

**2 Options for Virtual Mailbox**
Anytime Mailbox Link:
https://boxandsend.anytimemailbox.com...

iPostal Mailbox Link:
https://ipostal1.com/boxandsend

Our Location:
Box & Send Business Center
2903 W. New Haven Ave, West Melbourne, Fl 32904
boxsendbusinesscenter.com

More about this video:
As the owner of Box & Send Business Center, a packing and shipping family-owned retail store for the last 8 years, we’ve learned a great deal about what to do and what not to do. Following are several things you can do to have the best chance for success and ensure that your business runs smoothly and effectively:
1. Develop a business plan: We didn’t have a plan in place until 3 years into ownership. Looking back, we would have had this complete on day 1. It’s helped keep us focused and was key when we needed financing.
2. Build relationships with your customers: Your customers are your business's lifeblood, so building strong relationships with them is important. Customers come back to us because of how they are treated. They also respond in kind. Several had baked us cookies, bought little gifts for our daughter, and even tipped us! It pays to service your customers.
3. Invest in marketing: A strong marketing strategy is crucial for attracting and retaining new customers. Consider advertising in local publications, using social media, and partnering with other businesses to promote your services. This is something that has always been a challenge as we are a small business and weren’t always in a position financially to spend money on marketing. However, we did the best we could, and the marketing we have done and continue to do have brought us business.
4. Streamline your operations: Look for ways to make your packing and shipping processes more efficient. This could include investing in new equipment or software, implementing new procedures, or hiring additional staff. For Box & Business Center, it’s the little purchases that make the difference. We have a dedicated phone for our virtual mailboxes, and we set up the packing area in such a way that everything we need is within reach.
5. Stay up to date with industry trends: Keep an eye on industry trends and new technologies that could impact your business. Attend conferences, read industry publications, and network with other business owners to stay informed. We are members of different trade organizations like AMBC that allow us to read about trends.
6. Focus on employee development: Your employees are an important part of your business, so invest in their training and development. Provide opportunities for professional growth, offer competitive salaries and benefits, and create a positive work environment. Finding quality labor is a challenge these days. We work hard to incentivize our employees by giving them a little extra in their paychecks for gas, bonuses when they make a big sale, and opportunities to learn the business. It’s paid off well for us.
7. Manage your finances: Keep track of your expenses and revenue, and regularly review your financial statements. This will help you make informed decisions about pricing, investments, and other important business decisions. By far managing our finances is the biggest challenge of being a small business owner. We don’t have the large number of clients the UPS Store does, even though we have lower prices on many of the same services. So, it’s important that we pinch pennies and spend money on the things that are important like quality employees. Being frugal is so important as a small business owner.