More than ever, small businesses are leveraging technology to meet rapidly changing customer needs. According to the Verizon Business State of Small Business Survey, the number of small businesses using AI has doubled within the past year, from 14 percent in 2023 to 39 percent in 2024.
“It’s been rewarding to help our customers navigate this journey. Our approach isn’t one-size-fits-all,” said Aparna Khurjekar, Chief Revenue Officer, Business Markets & SaaS, Verizon Business. “Our team collaborates closely with each business, as they each have unique needs. We consider them a segment of one. Our teams have spent time listening and learning to create a suite of integrated tools and custom solutions that enable businesses to get the personalized support they need. We are out in the community both from a business perspective, working hand-in-hand with small businesses, and our teams live and are invested in these communities. It’s more than just a transaction. It’s a moment to better the local economy.”
Verizon Business’ ’s impact has been felt across numerous New Orleans businesses, including Mirror Image Photo Booths (MIPB & Co.), which creates one-of-a-kind experiences for guests at events from weddings and Carnival balls to corporate conventions and trade shows. The company has various mobile photo booths, including 360-degree, mirror, selfie, and roaming formats. MIPB & Co. creates event- and sponsor-specific branding and backgrounds, allowing guests to have photos that perfectly capture the moment.
“Instant sharing is the most popular feature that we have,” said Troy Barnes, who co-owns MIPB & Co. with Orlando Whigham. “Once someone takes photos in one of our booths, a screen comes up that allows them to text themselves from the booth. Within a few seconds, they receive a text that takes them to a microsite where they can download their photos and share them to social media. It’s the instant gratification that people are looking for.”
Reliable connectivity is key for MIPB & Co. to provide that level of service. The company runs multiple equipment tests both at its offices and event venues ahead of time and develops backup plans in case of a slower-than-expected connection. However, Barnes said the assistance that MIPB & Co. receives from Verizon Business gives them peace of mind.
“Even before we started this company, I was a Verizon customer, and I was always impressed with the reliability of their connections and the technical support I received,” Barnes said. “I’ve had the same experiences as a Verizon Business customer. Whenever there are new updates or things that may help us grow that we may not even know about, the team lets us know. We’ve been preparing for the Super Bowl by updating some of our equipment with some new technologies that are available. We would not have known about these if we didn’t have Verizon Business. They play a huge role in the success of our business.”
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Khurjekar noted that small businesses often face challenges such as limited access to capital, cybersecurity threats, talent shortages, and access to educational resources. Verizon Business is committed to providing resources, tools, and expert guidance to help entrepreneurs overcome those hurdles and build a foundation for success based on what they call the 4 Cs – connectivity, cloud, collaboration, and cybersecurity.
“Through our Verizon Small Business Digital Ready platform, business owners have free access to dozens of courses and resources in both English and Spanish to help them understand how to run a business and seize the opportunities ahead. We pride ourselves on being their tech champion,” Khurjekar said.
Barnes and Whigham have been spending the last several months preparing for the thousands of additional visitors that will be in New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX. MIPB & Co. is slated to be at six structured experiences in the days leading up to the game, as well as Super Bowl Sunday. Barnes said up to 8,000 guests could be at all of those events combined, creating a valuable opportunity for MIPB & Co. to gain exposure and new customers.
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“We’ve been doing a lot of training with our staff and ensuring that our photo booths will be prepared,” Barnes said. “We’ve been working with Verizon Business to ensure that our mobile connections will be more than reliable and ready to go for a huge crowd. The way that we’ve grown so far has been through building relationships, providing a great service, always showing up on time and providing what we say we will. That’s what we are going to continue to do, and the Super Bowl is a great way to showcase all of that on a bigger scale.”
MIPB & Co. is not alone in their preparations. Khurjekar said the recent Verizon Business study indicated that nearly 70 percent of small businesses in Louisiana expect increased demand around Super Bowl LIX. To meet this demand, 64 percent have increased their investments in technology, 59 percent are putting more dollars toward marketing and 59 percent are increasing staffing.
“New Orleans is a city steeped in rich history and a tight sense of community – good food, even better music, hard work and a resiliency that’s hard to replicate,” she said. “The Super Bowl is a huge moment for New Orleans, as it shines a global spotlight on all that makes this city great, and Verizon Business is here to support small businesses every step of the way. More importantly, we will be here long after this event because we are dedicated to the business and broader community in New Orleans and will continue to be their trusted technology partner. We will connect the community and businesses with our tech, people, and passion.”
Visit www.mipbco.com for more information on Mirror Image Photo Booths.
Verizon Business provides advanced communication, technology and networking solutions to businesses of all sizes. With its global network infrastructure, Verizon Business enables organizations to improve operational efficiency, drive innovation and ensure connectivity for employees and customers, regardless of their location. Visit www.verizon.com/business to learn more.