9 ways businesses have stayed open during the shutdown
There could be more than 25,000 store closures in 2020, due to COVID-19 and subsequent restrictions. Many of these organizations weren’t prepared to conduct business remotely, or to maintain relevancy during the crisis. But, other companies have flourished because of the shutdown.
In this article, we’ll discuss nine ways business owners have gotten creative to stay relevant and profitable during crises — while helping their consumers maintain a sense of normalcy. But first, it’s essential to understand how the shutdown has changed the needs of your audience. I won’t go into details here, but you can access this link for more details on how to make your product or service relevant with evolving needs: Create a buyer persona in 3 steps | plus a free persona playbook.
1. Create a cooperative
To consolidate offers and provide simple pickup options, some companies are forming cooperatives where shoppers can purchase from their combined inventory and pick it up at one convenient location at a scheduled time—or even have their order delivered. This provides an opportunity for shoppers to buy their favorite local products while supporting small businesses throughout the duration of the crisis, and possibly beyond.
See how one Colorado community is coming together to provide local produce and products to their combined markets.
2. Sell through Facebook
Many companies are setting up Facebook stores. While this may not be as effective as having an established website for shopping, it can be a good option for businesses that don’t already have their own website equipped with e-commerce—when faced with a crisis. It’s quick and it’s tied to your already established social media presence. You can also promote your store quickly to the people who already follow your page — or to any audience you create. The downside is that Facebook hasn’t really established itself as a selling platform, and you may be alienating some shoppers who don’t use social media.
Learn how Facebook stores work.
Learn how to improve your business page on Facebook.
3. Provide parking lot pickup
Perhaps one of the most common ways retail businesses have kept their inventory moving is through offering parking lot pickup. It’s simple. Place your order through their website (or call it in) and make arrangements for pickup. Five Guys Burgers and Fries is rocking this method. Their online order form has everything you need to place your order, arrange a pickup time, and provide a description of your vehicle so they can easily bring it to your vehicle the moment you pull into their parking lot.
For some businesses, this option may continue long into the future—and some consumers may demand it.
4. Offer home delivery
Pizza isn’t the only thing you can deliver to your customers’ doors, as we’re seeing from many businesses that are now offering delivery directly to their customers. More grocery stores, restaurants, and home decor stores are offering this service than ever before. This is a great option if you already have an online store set up through your website.
Contact your web developer to determine what it would take to get this into your e-commerce site.
5. Move your classes online
Dance, martial arts, yoga, and other exercise classes are moving online. Yes, there have been options to view these kinds of classes online for some time, but they’re becoming more interactive. Many teachers are inviting their regular students to streaming sessions where their classes continue to thrive in real time. Teachers and students can interact, observe one another in real time, and still feel that sense of community.
There are several free video conferencing options that could easily make this a reality for your studio or classroom.
6. Introduce subscription services
Many of the businesses that have thrived during the shutdown provide subscription services for their customers. Subscriptions can save trips to town, especially for “at risk” individuals. These services often provide groceries, clothing, meal kits, cleaning supplies, and even toilet paper. One company in particular, Farmbox, already provided subscription fruit and vegetable boxes before the shutdown, but have experienced a significant increase in locations where grocery store shelves are empty.
Get an idea of the types of subscription boxes currently available by browsing this site.
7. Interact with clients remotely
Personal trainers, psychologists, doctors, and others are using technology to continue working with their clients without even being in the same room. This one-on-one interaction allows personal trainers to coach their clients to continue to reach their goals in their own home; psychologists to continue to help their clients find peace amid the disturbance or work through existing triggers; and doctors to consult with patients, recommend next steps, and help people maintain their health without venturing into the office.
Of course, there are benefits to meeting in person over remote, but remote interactions come with their own benefits as portrayed in this article from Psychology Today.
8. Pivot on existing services
Some tech companies are pivoting on current offerings to meet unexpected needs and provide new services. One of these companies, Outer Labs, pivoted on a tech idea that tracked classroom resources to instead provide a software solution for higher education to “help learning communities stay in touch by streamlining class and office hours scheduling,” and “nurture the often unplanned interactions faculty and students.”
Read about 10 industries that have made these kinds of pivots in this Forbes article, 10 Examples Of How COVID-19 Forced Business Transformation.
9. Enable remote work
Many companies are able to stay productive by keeping their people working remotely. To be effective, many businesses implement tools to help them communicate and collaborate across the organization and within their own teams. These include:
- A messaging platform to keep workers talking in a secure space. Check out Slack to see how they make it easy to send messages to any individual or to groups, and do video calls.
- A project management platform to keep projects and tasks organized and on track. There are many to choose from including Wrike, Clubhouse, and Asana.
- A conferencing service to conduct meetings. Again, there are many ways to do this. You can hold impromptu meetings directly through Slack, or organize meetings through Google Meet or Zoom.
Do your thing — your way
As you look for ways to adapt during times of crisis, consider your unique offerings and the opportunities available in your local community. One important thing to note is that as you continue to provide services, you’re helping your local economy and providing a sense of normalcy to your customers. And while your solution may differ from those we’ve mentioned here, or may be a combination of several, you need to do your thing — your way.
Optimize your online presence
Increase your visibility and set your company up for success by optimizing your online presence to fit your business objectives. As your presence reflects your culture and the uniqueness of your offerings, you can provide a sense of normalcy to the people who work for you, and the people who rely on your products or services — even among chaos. If you’d like to discuss ways you can do this effectively through an online presence, reach out to us at connect@alterethos.engineering.
Subscribe to Alter Ethos to be notified of future articles about optimizing your online presence through your existing—or new—website, the way you do marketing, and the messaging you use to reach your audience.
Enjoyed the article? Show us some love. “Clap” generously.
