With the current COVID-19 pandemic reaching its 18th month in September of 2021, it has not only directly affected those who actually contracted the virus or lost a loved one, but it also led businesses and industries, big or small to go astray.
When the pandemic began, a lot of businesses, especially those in physical environments like retail, food, and hospitality suffered greatly. Millions found themselves closing their doors, out of a job, and struggling to survive.
However, Filipino resilience still managed to shine through like it always does. Working from home, deliveries, online shopping and contactless pick-up options for retail became the new normal.
Eventually, most businesses transitioned to other avenues like the internet to keep their doors open. The pandemic also gave birth to a lot of new small, local businesses and passion projects mostly being managed from home.
With new strains of COVID-19 emerging, cases rising, and insufficient vaccine roll-outs, there is no telling when these times of despair and uncertainty will end. But like every other pandemic in history dictates, this too shall pass.
There is still a glimmer of hope left for everybody, and every day is another chance to start fresh, plan efficiently and make peace with change and uncertainty – which is what we will be talking about in this article. We have gathered the best tips and traits of businesses to survive and even thrive in pandemic-ridden times.
Take care of your existing assets: your customers and your employees
Cutting employee hours is better than having to lay off employees during these times.
Unfortunately, some of us are left with no choice. If you find yourself in this situation, do it fairly, with empathy, and never burn bridges. Let them know about the possibility of getting their jobs back in the future, and give them some sort of parting gift like essential goods for their family to lessen the blow.
Do however keep one or two valuable employees who you know are fully capable of keeping your business afloat during the pandemic and make it a priority to pay them fairly. Communicate with full transparency. Ask them about the minimum work hours they would need per week to survive with this job, and make it a priority to reach that. Get them heavily involved in day-to-day planning and brainstorming so that you can gain honest feedback while training them to be savvier with your business at the same time. Also, protect them by providing vaccinations and regular weekly or monthly testing.
As for your customers, transparency is key, too.
Allowing them to stay updated with all the changes of schedules and capacities on both your physical and online shop, following safety protocols and encouraging them to stay home, and encouraging them to opt for contactless transactions are all good practices up until the time it is safe to go out again.
If you can, start a blog or social media account to keep them updated about what you’re working on. This is a good chance for entrepreneurs, new or old to innovate and make lasting impressions and strong relationships with the customers. Never forget to thank them for their continued support, no matter how little the return.
Be resourceful, flexible and help others out as much as possible
If you’re struggling to keep your business afloat right now, you are not alone. And while it’s absolutely necessary to find the cheapest possible suppliers for your business, make sure to buy from those who are struggling too, just like you. If you’re used to ordering in bulk from big groceries, brands, and supply chains, try to source out some cheaper alternatives from your farmer’s markets, mom and pop shops, and local businesses.
This is not limited to restaurants or food businesses. If you are in the retail or e-commerce industry, try to employ local suppliers and laborers for your product and packaging needs instead of ordering ready-made items from big factories in Asian countries that tend to be involved in breaking labor laws and causing harm to the environment.
Invest on marketing and advertising
Reducing your marketing budget might have been a great move in the height of the pandemic (2020), but now that more and more countries are opening up and the vaccines are starting to work their magic, you may need to come up with an improved marketing plan and strategy for the long-awaited return of brick-and-mortar retail shops.
Know that the majority of the people have been kept inside their homes for over a year, going against their very nature of cultivating human connection and celebrating wins with the people who matter to them most. While some companies and businesses like offices are opting to shorten their workweeks or are switching to a more remote setup moving forward, one thing is still evident: people cannot wait to take vacations, hit the malls, see a movie or simply dine out with friends and family. In fact, we are already seeing this now among vaccinated individuals despite the uncertainty of this pandemic’s timeline.
While continuous online advertising is ideal, make sure you are ready for this comeback by setting aside a portion of your marketing budget on some print marketing materials for your shop that are affordable, without having the print quality suffer. If you don’t know where to begin, this Aluminum Retractable Roll Up Banner Display Stand is lightweight, printed with the best quality ink, quick to assemble, and would look good at any corner of your shop.
There is no greater feeling than that of connection, generosity, and gratitude even during trying times. In fact, this is what the rest of the world admires about the Filipino spirit. Keep your greatest assets close- namely your customers and employees, think of ways to make win-win situations for you and others who are struggling, and be sure to keep your marketing as a top priority. People will remember your business for fearlessly persevering and pushing on in both good times and bad. Contact us today for your next marketing initiative.
