Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
When an extreme Las Vegas summer brought business to a standstill, Denette Braud, owner of Braud’s Funnel Cake Cafe, was ready. After nearly two decades in business, she knew this heatwave could threaten her outdoor café. But thanks to Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, she had a plan. Through the program’s finance courses, Denette learned to manage budgets, track revenue, and truly understand her margins. “Those are the things that will take a company down if you ignore them,” she says. With the financial cushion she’d built, her business survived the slow season – and came out stronger.
From humble beginnings as a pop-up tent in 2006 to a thriving cafe serving locals and major resorts, Braud’s has become a Las Vegas favorite. After taking Digital Ready marketing courses, Denette revamped her strategy,
launching loyalty programs and email campaigns that boosted subscribers by 50%. She also won a $10,000 grant through the Verizon program, helping bolster her growth.
Now, Denette is looking to expand, exploring franchises, new corporate partnerships, and even packaging her signature funnel cake mix for online sales. For her, it’s not just about the money, it’s about the joy of serving others. “I love what I do,” says Braud. “It’s one of those businesses that uplifts people. It’s all about happy customers.”
Learn how Verizon Small Business Digital Ready helps entrepreneurs like Denette rise above challenges and build for the future. Verizon Small Business Digital Ready is part of Verizon’s goal to support 1 million small businesses by 2030 with free resources to help them succeed. To sign up, visit Verizon Small Business Digital Ready. Visit CitizenVerizon.com to learn more about the company’s responsible business efforts. An individual user's experience may vary and results are not guaranteed.
#VerizonSmallBusinessDigitalReady #DigitalReady #CitizenVerizon #SmallBusiness #SupportSmallBusiness #FamilyBusiness
When an extreme Las Vegas summer brought business to a standstill, Denette Braud, owner of Braud’s Funnel Cake Cafe, was ready. After nearly two decades in business, she knew this heatwave could threaten her outdoor café. But thanks to Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, she had a plan. Through the program’s finance courses, Denette learned to manage budgets, track revenue, and truly understand her margins. “Those are the things that will take a company down if you ignore them,” she says. With the financial cushion she’d built, her business survived the slow season – and came out stronger.
From humble beginnings as a pop-up tent in 2006 to a thriving cafe serving locals and major resorts, Braud’s has become a Las Vegas favorite. After taking Digital Ready marketing courses, Denette revamped her strategy,
launching loyalty programs and email campaigns that boosted subscribers by 50%. She also won a $10,000 grant through the Verizon program, helping bolster her growth.
Now, Denette is looking to expand, exploring franchises, new corporate partnerships, and even packaging her signature funnel cake mix for online sales. For her, it’s not just about the money, it’s about the joy of serving others. “I love what I do,” says Braud. “It’s one of those businesses that uplifts people. It’s all about happy customers.”
Learn how Verizon Small Business Digital Ready helps entrepreneurs like Denette rise above challenges and build for the future. Verizon Small Business Digital Ready is part of Verizon’s goal to support 1 million small businesses by 2030 with free resources to help them succeed. To sign up, visit Verizon Small Business Digital Ready. Visit CitizenVerizon.com to learn more about the company’s responsible business efforts. An individual user's experience may vary and results are not guaranteed.
#VerizonSmallBusinessDigitalReady #DigitalReady #CitizenVerizon #SmallBusiness #SupportSmallBusiness #FamilyBusiness
