Why reliable internet is a must-have for a growing Brooklyn retail business

• Alma Lacour runs two shops and an e-commerce business while also caring for a child as a new mother.
• Strong connectivity supports team collaboration and customer interactions, fueling growth.
• Stable pricing and reliable coverage provided by Spectrum Business allow her to focus on growing her business.

It was a shift in priorities that first led Alma Lacour to open Rider Gifts, a gift shop curated with playful goods from independent makers and local artisans.

With a young child at home, she was ready to escape the work-hard, play-hard environment of the advertising industry. When a retail building opened near her house, she decided to take a chance on herself and open the gift shop she had always wanted to see.

Now, three years later, Rider has two brick-and-mortar locations in Park Slope and a thriving e-commerce business. "In theory, I'm really running three businesses," Lacour explains. "That's where good internet comes in — we all have to stay connected in real time to make sure that everything's humming between all of these satellite locations where we're working."

While she was researching the best business internet providers, other small business owners in the area shared their positive experiences with Spectrum Business, saying that it offered the best balance of reliability and cost. When she saw Spectrum's unique Wireless Internet Backup offering — which keeps businesses connected even during a power outage — she was sold. Plus, with a 30-day money-back guarantee, small business owners like Lacour's can even try Spectrum Business risk-free.

Now, thanks to that strong backbone of support, Lacour is able to balance all her priorities: growing her business through smooth operations and meaningful customer interactions, being present for her family, and finding peace of mind amid it all.

Staying mobile to keep the business running smoothly — from anywhere

Lacour says that one of the biggest keys to growth has been the ability to collaborate with her team anytime, anywhere. "There's no way I could scale in the way that I have without having robust internet and being able to talk real-time with each other," she shares.

Whether it's helping a shopkeeper, answering a customer question, or checking inventory across two locations and multiple storage units, Lacour doesn't have to be physically present to keep her business running. For example, she appreciates being able to use the My Spectrum App — the highest-rated support app in the US among all national telecommunications providers¹ — to remotely reset her store's WiFi.

And when she is in the store, she has the tools to pivot quickly in the face of unexpected hurdles, such as using her phone, connected to Spectrum's fiber-powered internet, as a cash register if their tablets are down, or even emailing a loyal customer an invoice when they forget their wallet at home. "The combination of being as mobile as humanly possible, coupled with being willing to meet people on a very human level, has helped us to stay nimble and take on new projects, new programs, and be able to troubleshoot when we need to," Lacour shares.

Creating multiple channels of customer connection to drive growth and retention

Even though Rider was a brick-and-mortar store first, its internet storefront has been a critical ecosystem for the company's expansion and growth. A social media post drives foot traffic, and a positive online review fuels website sales.

Lacour shares that being able to quickly feed into that digital footprint, thanks to strong in-store internet, has been a key growth driver. "Having the ability to post in real time without worrying about whether something's going to go through alleviates the pressure, which allows us to be more creative," she adds.

But she finds old-fashioned communication with customers just as important, which is why she bundles Spectrum phone services as part of her business package. "You'd be surprised at how many people call a business throughout the day," says Lacour. When they're able to speak to a real human on the phone, they appreciate it — and keep coming back.

Finding reliable partners that support growth rather than get in the way

As a small business owner, there are so many uncertainties that come your way. Surrounding yourself with people, partners, and tools you can count on will create peace of mind, allowing you to focus on more important things.

For example, Lacour says finding service partners with steady costs is critical given the seasonality of her business. "I need to be able to know, from month to month, that the budget for my base costs is going to be consistent," she explains. Spectrum's guaranteed pricing for up to three years provides business owners like Lacour with peace of mind.

Perhaps most importantly, stability in the core infrastructure of your business creates mental space. "When you have that reliability, you're able to do the important things," she explains, contrasting it to her experience using thermal label printers that regularly stop working. "It's a running joke in the shop how much we hate these thermal printers because we can't get the job done. They completely impede the process."

Partners like Spectrum Business, on the other hand, keep her business running smoothly with the fastest and most reliable internet² and bundled services that ensure a seamless experience, all backed by an industry-leading customer commitment. "You want it to be this invisible partner that's allowing you to do everything [else]," she says.

Learn how Spectrum Business solutions can help your small business scale and grow.

This post was created by Insider Studios with Spectrum Business.

^{1 iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play) average ratings as of September 2, 2025. Apps must have at least 150k reviews through combination of iOS & Android store reviews as of September 2, 2025.}

^{2 Based on Broadband Download Speed and Reliability Experience among the top 5 national providers in Opensignal USA: Fixed Broadband Experience Report — May 2025. © 2025 Opensignal Limited.}

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