Fiberbuilt Tips From an Old Professional: My Experiences as a Supplier in the

Tips From an Old Professional: My Experiences as a Supplier in the Hospitality Industry By JORDAN BECKNER, President, Fiberbuilt Umbrellas and Cushions

Next time, we will discuss strategies for how to get involved.” Wow, how things have changed since I penned my first article back in early January. I had just gotten back from a great holiday season with the expectation (and budget) for at least an increase of 10% in sales for 2020. Now, I am looking for ways to safely keep my doors open and get my employees paid. With everything cancelled, it is too late to get involved, but it is not too late to continue to support the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association.

I am sure each one of you has your own story of survival. So, instead of trying to teach you how to get involved, let me tell you what years of involvement have done for my company during this time of a worldwide pandemic.

FRLA has kept me informed better than any news agency around. They are engaged with all levels of government and PHOTO BY JACOBLUND / ISTOCK “

our national associations to ensure that Florida’s industry is represented in all aspects of the response to the pandemic. FRLA has provided excellent resources for us so that we are confident that we have all the latest information we need. I have contacted FRLA’s Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Richard Turner for a family member, whose bar is not a member, and he provided the information I needed to get him some money. Additionally, I have been able to help other non-members, by referring them to the FRLA website, which has information necessary to keep them open and pay their employees (they will be members soon.).

Dan and his team have reached out to me to see if there was anything they could do for us. See, that’s family, not associations — family that has grown out of association participation. I guess that is what I want to say in closing. When things get back to normal, and I truly believe they will, the benefit of

being involved is you to become part of the family. Your customers become more to you than the B2B relationship: they become partners, friends and family. The business then becomes a byproduct of the relationship. I have a saying I use a lot with my partners: “If I cannot offer you a better product and a better price, then you do not need my product. But we can still be friends!”

So in closing, as you would do with any friend, family and/or partner, I am asking you to continue supporting the FRLA with your dues. I promise you will reap dividends from helping them when times are tough. Next time, we will discuss how we are all learning to do business together again!

Celebrating

20

Years 2000-2020