DECEMBER 2025 5 SOLUTIONS How You Can Help Other Small Businesses Buy from small businesses whenever possible. By skipping the big-box stores and working with other local business owners instead, you’ll make beneficial connections that may pay off in other ways down the road. Refer customers to other small businesses. Whenever a customer asks you for a product or service that your business doesn’t provide, don’t just suggest they “Google it.” That search will often lead to a mega-company to fill their need. Instead, recommend small businesses in the community that offer the product or service and will do a quality job. Promote small businesses using social media. This can be as simple as sharing the Facebook and Instagramposts of other local small businesses—especially new ones—to help them spread the word about their offerings or gain attendees for special events. They’ll also appreciate it if you leave positive comments based on your experience working with that business. Panora Fiber remains committed to supporting our local community and helping small businesses thrive. To find out more, visit www.panorafiber.com. Coffee/Espresso bar located in the space. Besides hot drinks, this bar offers delicious home baked goods, popular “pickle wraps,” and more. Providing excellent customer service is a top priority for Meinecke and her four employees. Judging by the comments on B&B Marketplace’s Facebook page, they’re succeeding in this effort. For example, one customer said, “Kandi is always so welcoming, and the whole staff is happy to help with anything. They have something for everyone here—from home gifts and clothing to baby gifts. And her floral arrangements are always top notch!” Wedding Connections and Internet Connections In addition to this in-store experience, B&B Marketplace also offers rental décor as well as wedding reception design services for other venues. “We provide rentals including candlesticks, lanterns, and flower pieces as well create customized fresh flower arrangements. We decided to focus our design services on wedding receptions since our time is limited, which enables us to stick with what we know best,” said Meinecke. She added, “B&B Marketplace does make our large space available for people to host bridal and baby showers and even graduation parties.” To help keep this business operating efficiently, Meinecke uses high-speed fiber internet from Panora Fiber. She noted, “Our registers and computers must be connected, and we can count on the reliability of Panora Fiber’s service.” Busy Holiday Season What does Meinecke expect from the 2025 holiday season at B&B Marketplace? She replied, “The pace of the holiday season can be challenging at the store, since we expect to have the highest volume of sales in the last quarter. However, I know I’ll be able to rely on our dedicated employees—or should I say elves?—to make it a festive atmosphere.” The community has been very supportive since B&B Marketplace opened, and we couldn’t be happier.” — KANDI MEINECKE, OWNER, B&B MARKETPLACE
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