As the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on the economy and revenue streams, creativity helped one business owner buck the trend.

What You Need To Know

  • Mad Batter Brownies is going against the grain, thanks to the creative talent of owner Risa Honablue

  • One fifth of small businesses are expected to shutter during the pandemic

  • Some workers who have been re-hired after being laid off say employers warn of being laid off again

  • Risa Honablue has seen sales rise 75% thanks to modifying her business model

Last weeks jobs report show 1.8 million jobs were added in July — a steep drop from the month earlier — indicating hiring is leveling off, as the pandemic continues to spread across much of the U.S.

Thousands of U.S. small business owners are considering layoffs in coming months, as they plow through government aid. In fact, one fifth of small companies are planning to dismiss workers or have already done so after using up their federal Paycheck Protection Program loans, and nearly half of firms say they will need additional aid over the next year, according to a National Federation of Independent Business survey.

Another poll, led by Cornell University, showed about one in four workers hired back thanks to PPP were told by their employer they may be fired again. And the Census Bureau's Household Pulse report highlighted a steep drop in employment in mid-July.

All this comes as Congress found no way forward to new stimulus measures. Instead, President Trump issued several executive orders and directives over the weekend, including extending partial enhanced unemployment benefits, though whether or not he has the legal authority to do that is currently being hotly debated.

One local small business owner is, however, defeating the odds. 

Staten Island resident, Risa Honablue, owns Mad Batter Brownies. Her home-based business was born out of her love for art and creating, as well as her love for her fiancé. The former graphic designer and hotel food and beverage worker was trying to find a way to come up with a surprise treat for her beau, John. 

She decided to whip up a batch of something he loved, brownies, but decided to hand decorate them for the extra “wow” factor.  

The entrepreneur/artist's creation got so much attention from friends and family she decided it was time to turn her hobby into a business. Soon thereafter, she had orders from around the world, including the Philippines.

Then the pandemic hit, and brownies became hard to ship, orders trickled to a halt. So, instead, she got creative and decided to adapt her model and began shipping novelty cakes and cookies. Business took off.

“By adding cookies to the menu and shipping I saw it increase by 75 percent, since it's a lot easier to ship cookies compared to brownies, and people can't say no to cookies!" said Honablue.

Honablue credits her can-do spirit with helping her persevere, and finding a creative solution around the pandemic, and she expects even further growth this year.

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