Synchrony Announced Grant for Small Business Digital Transformation

November 1, 2022  by HFBusiness Staff in Business Strategy, Industry   

This year the company will help small businesses address digital transformation through a total of $210,000 in grant awards. Each grant recipient receives $10,000 and consulting services from Synchrony experts to expand the digital transformation of their business.

Herb Hays Furniture & Mattress was one of the grant recipients. Their business has been a fixture in Hopkinsville, Ky. for decades, and the timing of the grant couldn’t be better, as small businesses, in general, continue to deal with myriad challenges like supply chain, inflation, staffing, and continued impacts from the pandemic.

A recent IDC Small Business Digital Transformation survey found small businesses that are leading in digital transformation saw eight times the revenue growth of small businesses in the earliest stages of their digital efforts. 

Lee Ann Naghtin is the owner of Herb Hays Furniture. She is the youngest daughter of Herb and Marilyn Hays who started the store when they moved their family to Kentucky. Lee Ann took over the store in 2015 and always strives to make a difference in her community.

Lee Ann saw an opportunity to help after several tornadoes touched down in 2021, affecting many of the homes in Hopkinsville. Lee Ann took time off work to help the community center that fed first responders and families and offered a discount to anyone who needed to replace furniture from the tornadoes.

With the money from the grant, Naghtin plans to add internet access to the business’s three warehouses to enhance tracking deliveries, moving merchandise, general communication, and upgrade to a barcode scanning system to improve inventory accuracy.

Naghtin also commented, “Another upgrade we would make is our phones and monitors as they are very outdated. Additionally, we would greatly appreciate any coaching that synchrony experts can provide, especially to engage our customers more with effective advertising.”

The Pillars Project grants will help the winning small businesses advance their digital competitiveness through transformational projects, including:

• Increasing their digital capabilities by enhancing website and mobile experiences, search engine optimization, digital marketing, and social media content;

• Updating technology including mobile devices, cybersecurity software, company-based apps, and wireless connections; and 
• Driving brand awareness and enhancing marketing.

Michael Bopp, Synchrony’s EVP and chief growth officer, congratulated the winners saying, “Supporting small businesses is foundational to Synchrony’s commitment to helping partners grow. With these funds and our experts giving time and talent, small businesses will have the opportunity to accelerate their growth and digital transformation.”