WELL MANNERED: Evelyn Cannata brings a lifetime of experience to her new venture.
FOUNDERS: Evelyn Cannata
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 1
The Business: Etiquette by Evelyn was founded in August 2019 by Naples-based business consultant Evelyn Cannata. She provides individuals and organizations with consulting services including social and business ethics, brand identity and international culture differences.
The Background: Cannata, who worked in the medical field and in corporate development in New York, relocated to Naples in 2004 with her husband and mother. Locally, she began networking while working for Home & Design Magazine, and while providing marketing services for the Naples International Film Festival, the NaplesNEXT Ideas Festival and Silverspot Cinema. “Naples is known for being one of the healthiest places to live, beautiful beaches, arts and culture,” Cannata says. “I want to add to the accolades by creating a world-class business culture, which nobody has really addressed.”
The Idea: Cannata says a favorite business mantra of hers is recognition, respect, response. “I’ve been observing the decline in manners, appropriate business behavior, and ethics for some time now. I’ve been increasingly struck by ‘textspeak’ replacing proper grammar and polite correspondence. I’m a believer in common courtesies—proper greetings, timing and promptness, and the power of the well-written word.”
Cannata, who earned her online certification in etiquette from the International Business and Management Career College, says etiquette is much more than holding a teacup with pinky raised. “It’s the right thing to do for whatever and whoever you are.” She teaches business- es that good customer service is even more vital in the digital age because unhappy customers can spread their dissatisfaction far and wide through online reviews.
The Money: Each client undergoes a needs assessment and receives a customized price ranging from $250 for a two-hour session to $500-$1,000-plus for half- and full-days, depending on the need and the number of people. Cannata says her three tiers of service focus on clients’ unique needs. For example, customer service employees can be trained in telephone, email and in-person etiquette for dealing with the public. Business executives with international clients can be trained in etiquette for telephone, email, dining, conducting meetings and international codes of conduct. And entrepreneurs starting up a business can be trained in branding style.
What’s Next: Cannata is currently providing etiquette consulting for a New York-based hospitality company. Her goal is to create additional tiers of service as she grows her business among local, national and international companies.
Lessons Learned: Cannata says she has learned the power of networking and the power of social media through her own outreach, joining the Above Board Chamber of Florida and regularly providing etiquette tips on her LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram pages. Links can be found at her website, etiquettebyevelyn.com.
