While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented economic hardship across the region, nation and world, some South Florida companies are continuing to thrive despite the coronavirus crises that has shut down so many other businesses. Here are three examples of success from Entrepreneurs’ Organization South Florida (EO SOFLO):
Wrecking Ball is a Miami/Fort Lauderdale-based digital design, “devops” and marketing agency. As a “developer’s developer” and “designer’s designer” it has produced numerous complex campaigns, websites, programs and platforms for Adobe, Nike, Time Warner Cable (Charter Spectrum), Bacardi, Black Eyed Peas,Mastercard, Sony Music and many others. Wrecking Ball’s expertise in high-end video delivery systems was critical in the save, then success of the Adobe Summit as it was transformed into a virtual marketing conference due to COVID-19. The original event had 23,000 pre-registered marketers, designers, developers and technologists convening in Las Vegas. In three weeks, the event with eight keynote speakers and 125+ breakout sessions, was converted into a fully digital experience. To date, the online on-demand conference has attracted hundreds of thousands of attendees from around the world. In addition to creating other large virtual events in the wake of the pandemic, the company’s platforms are being modified to enhance ZOOM, GoToMeeting and many other remote conferencing tools. Wrecking Ball also has recently developed and launched www.data.org, a social impact effort led by U2’s Bono, MasterCard, The Rockefeller Foundation and other institutions.
Based in Deerfied Beach, 4G Recycling was recently ranked as the #1 Recycling Company and #191 on the Inc. 5000 list of Florida’s most successful companies. The business specializes in the recycling and waste management industries, purchasing more than 300,000 tons of scrap per year. While the overall economic slowdown caused by the pandemic has hurt some of 4G’s regular clients– they have found ways to grow during the crisis. Boosts in demand for tissues, paper towels and other cleaning wipes is part of this increased revenue. The tissue and toweling industry uses recycled paper as a key ingredient in the making of their products, and 4G is one of the largest independent buyers of these materials in the country. Company principal Zack Kirstein doesn’t understand the irrational hoarding of toilet paper and paper towels, but this mob response to Covid-19 has created unique short-term growth for 4G. Already on the rise with online shopping trends, the use and demand for cardboard used for shipping boxes has spiked with consumers ordering so many essentials from Amazon, Instacart and other delivery platforms. 4G, with more than 100 years on the recycling business, also has sales offices in California and Connecticut, and other operations in several other states.
Based in Boca Raton, SinglesSwag is the first subscription box focused on marketing to single women. Founded in 2016 by Jonathan Beskin who would pack and mail the gift boxes himself from his home, the company now ships more than 35,000 boxes every month to more than 25 countries and earns $12 million in annual revenues. Just before the COVID-19 outbreak, SinglesSwag earned a top ten ranking on the Inc. 5000 list of Florida’s fastest-growing companies with average yearly growth of 700% since its inception. As the COVID-19 crisis intensified, shutting down brick and mortar businesses, the company’s sales grew even more. Customers enjoy receiving the packages – largely containing self-care products – delivered right to their door. And as many companies cut back on their social media ad buys because of reduced revenues in the dramatic economic slowdown, SinglesSwag has doubled it’s monthly spend to about $15,000 per day to take advantage and further fuel its own expansion. Beskin is in full growth mode and also has recently acquired another subscription box company – that he will call Paradise Delivered -- to broaden his customer base. While SinglesSwag has enjoyed growing business success during the Covid crisis, it also has used its resources to thank those on the front lines of healthcare. The company has donated hundreds of special gift boxes, each worth more than $200, to nurses in virus hot spots around the country.
“These are just a few examples of our members who continue to prosper despite this historic pandemic and economic shutdown,” said Jerry Katz, president of EO SOFLO and Premier Protection Insurance. “Talented, innovative, driven entrepreneurs can create success despite almost any challenge.”
EO SOFLO is one of the world’s largest EO chapters, with almost 200 members who run businesses with about 10,000 employees and $2 billion in yearly income in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Founded in 1996, EO SOFLO fosters entrepreneurship and economic development through peer-to-peer learning and experience forums for members; sponsors student and start-up entrepreneurship competitions; partners with area colleges and business incubators; and leads other economic development efforts in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
For more information on EO SOFLO, visit www.eosoflo.com.
