SAF in Action The letter reads in part:


Over a broader period of time, section 166 of the tax code addresses this situ- ation by allowing a deduction for wholly worthless debts or “bad debts.” However, the terms and timing of this provision allow it to be used only under certain circumstances – businesses must meet a nuanced facts-and-circumstances test that may take many years, and in some cases, may not be satisfied until a customer in default has reached a bankruptcy settlement.


Given the current public health and


economic crisis, the value of this provi- sion is severely limited in the event of the sort of sudden shock businesses face right now. Businesses selling inventory goods and input materials on credit are experiencing mounting defaults, and they will continue to experience defaults for months to come. The undersigned businesses respect-


fully request that Congress pass a tem- porary legislative modification to account for this unforeseen event by loosening the facts-and-circumstances test on bad debt


‘REIGNITE YOUR BUSINESS’ WEBINAR SERIES PROVIDES SUMMER SALES BOOST


>As retail businesses continue to reopen around the country, make sure your oper- ation is ready to hit the ground running or continues to build on your Mother’s Day sales momentum. Through the “Reignite Your Business” webinar series, SAF will help you navigate everything from keeping staff and customers safe to driving consumer demand online. Stay up to date on the latest offerings and go to safnow.org to register or watch sessions that have already aired:


PPP Forgiveness Procedures Securing a Payment Protection Program loan was hard enough for small business


owners — now another series of challenges lies ahead: ensuring you understand and are following the rules correctly, to make certain your loan for- giveness comes through. This targeted session will cover the primary details and information you need to know as you continue to navigate the PPP process.


Keeping Staff and Customers Safe As restrictions ease and retail florists enter a new phase of operations, what can you do to help keep your staff and customers safe? This session will cover key strategies for following social distancing guidelines, limiting exposure risks and maintaining confidence and trust, along with how to adapt your delivery and pickup practices for the best customer and staff experience.


Strategies for Lean Teams Everyone’s team is smaller. So how do you make the most of your team while still keeping people on task — and safely distanced? And how do you cross-train your staff for maximum efficiency? Learn efficient training strategies for effective team management.


EXPERT ADVICE Industry leaders heading up SAF webinars include (clockwise) Paul Goodman, MBA, PFCI; Jackie Levine; Heather Waits; and Chris Norwood, AAF, AIFD, PFCI.


Building Virtual Events With new operating and social distancing rules, crowd size restrictions and safety concerns among staff and customers, some retailers have pivoted to virtual events. How do you create online events


business deductions and accelerating these deductions into the present taxable year.


Thirty associations signed the


letter, including the National Restaurant Association, National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, National Beer Wholesalers Association, the Aluminum Association, the Produce Marketing Association and the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association. Stay tuned for further updates as


SAF continues to advocate on behalf of wholesalers on this issue.


SAVE THE DATE


At press time, SAF was finalizing de- tails for a virtual summit in late July focused on strategies to reinvent your business. Find out more and register today at safnow.org.


that draw a crowd and meet your revenue goals? This session will share insight on how to choose the best platform, generate excitement, manage logistics and leverage post-event enthusiasm.


Leveraging LinkedIn Retail florists devote most of their social media time to Facebook and Instagram — but there’s another platform that de- serves more of your attention: LinkedIn. Learn how to use LinkedIn to strategi- cally forge sales leads, enhance your network and generate new business.


Marketing Messages that Sell In today’s environment, telling your story as LOCAL small business owners right now and making personal connections makes all the difference. Mix in the message that flowers are important to people’s happiness, and you have a winning formula for sales success — learn how to leverage it in this session.


Jennifer McNally is director of marketing and communications for the Society of American Florists. jmcnally@safnow.org


The magazine of the Society of American Florists (SAF) 11


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