Monica Colgan, owner of the HeartBeet Organic Superfoods Cafe, is a native of Seattle. Her mission is to share good health and healthy food with the world. Free of all major allergens, her restaurant’s menu includes delectable entrees, salads, juices and smoothies and more, all vegan, and gluten-, soy- and corn-free. Besides growing her business, Monica’s challenge has been to find a way to keep affording a vibrant urban lifestyle, staying connected with the world, visiting local restaurants, and traveling.

Founded in 2008, Thrive is among the leading plant-based restaurants in the Pacific Northwest. Her loyal clientele includes meat eaters and vegetarians alike, lining up for the “green juice,” the “Buddha Bowl” or one of the many nutrient rich snacks, drinks and meals on the menu. When Monica decided to try BizX for her business, she discovered that it opened a new source of revenue she didn’t have before.

Monica is eager to accept any amount of business via BizX. This is because she knows she has a ton of different businesses to spend her BizX balance. On a monthly basis, she uses BizX for restaurants, tickets to a show, or cleaning services, leveraging her balance both for her personal life and for her company. “I just used the card today to get my car washed; and I spent 4,500 BizX dollars last week for security cameras and an alarm system,” says Monica. From a trademark attorney to a dentist, from a massage therapist to a chiropractor, she never has any trouble spending her BizX balance.

Monica has never had to restrict the number of BizX customers at the door.

“I always have a shortage of cash. Any time we can get BizX, it’s great, and it helps me do things I can otherwise not really afford to do.”

As a seasoned BizX user, one of the things she values the most is the range of companies that make up the BizX community. She spends time actively looking for new businesses that are offering their services on BizX and shopping for what she needs without spending cash. She also has the support of a responsive BizX account manager to help her find what she needs.

As a small restaurant in a tough industry, marketing the business is a big priority. She uses Facebook for marketing, and is constantly looking for events and avenues to reach her target market. She uses BizX to help with graphic design, website design, and printing T-shirts. Again a big fan of community, Monica values BizX’s strong reputation in Seattle, and is evangelizing businesses that offer marketing services to do business with her on BizX. She hopes that more businesses will “get” BizX and see what it can do for them. “The more the network expands, the better my ability to spend.” We’ve got good news, Monica.