Her business was built around the local community. Then she turned it into an e-commerce success.

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Kei Okumura built a thriving scone and afternoon tea business in Los Angeles, bringing in 95% of her revenue from sales to local restaurants, hotels or bakeries and selling her goods at farmer’s markets. It worked for 11 years thanks to Okumura’s strong roots in the community.

A wholesale business reliant on restaurants and hotels, however, was not going to survive the pandemic with those institutions closed or operating at limited capacity. Okumura knew she had to move fast or lose it all, so she created a direct-to-consumer enterprise, selling frozen scones, dough and tea in boxes shipped to the customer’s front door. 

It sounds simple but Okumura had to become an expert in shipping, supply chains, digital marketing and much more.

For #BusinessReimagined — a series where entrepreneurs share their toughest challenges — Okumura describes how she picked up these new skills, what’s worked for her and how it might work for you. 

How has your business adapted to consumers’ focus on shopping online? What’s worked and what hasn’t for standing out from your competitors?

Latest Developments

• Despite the Biden administration changing PPP loan calculations to give sole proprietors more access to funding, the SBA is only allowing new applicants to qualify for the new rules.
• The majority of Canada’s downtown workers feel safe going back to an office, according to a recent survey.
• Those who are already vaccinated are likely most eager to get back after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that vaccinated individuals can gather inside without masks.
• Black entrepreneurs in Canada, however, are still struggling to get access to funding and mentorship.

• Good news for small businesses: more than half of female employees employed at smaller firms say they love their job and that is their top motivation for staying in place. On the not-so-good front, those who are considering a change are sheltering in place. That’s the finding from LinkedIn’s most recent Workforce Confidence Index. Small business employees are sharing why they’re staying put or looking for new work.

Conversations For You

• This International Women’s Day, LinkedIn News is publishing stories all week about what would help create equitable workplaces and how female entrepreneurs should be supported. Join the conversation and see all the coverage here.
• Texas businesses can fully reopen tomorrow. More than a thousand owners are sharing their plans on LinkedIn and what the announcement means for them.
• Why should entrepreneurs keep their personal and business finances separated? What red flags should they watch out for when signing for a loan? Finance expert Cate Luzio addressed this and more on this week’s Together In Business. Get advice from other business owners and check out the whole broadcast:

Resources

• Business and health leaders launched the Health Action Alliance to give resources to other companies on vaccine distribution, resources for opening workplaces and other topics at the nexus of health and work.
• A new fund to help businesses in the South is giving out loans to small firms and nonprofits.
• North Carolina attorneys are giving pro bono services to small businesses.
• Augusta County has made more money available for loans for Virginia-based businesses. Find more information and apply here.

Something Good

• I came across this video over the weekend and it made me ridiculously happy. Hope it does the same for you. May we all have a confused donkey in our lives.