As a small business owner, it would be a massive understatement to say that 2020 has been a hard year. COVID-19 has decimated the economy and consumer demand for months, and it may be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Fortunately, the saying “This, too, shall pass” applies to COVID-19 as much as anything else. Some reports say we’ll have an approved vaccine as soon as October, and even without that, there’s plenty of good news on the disease-fighting front.
Lockdown orders are ending, and people are leaving home ready for entertainment, food, and shopping. So how can you be prepared for a post-COVID rebound? Here are some tips:
Win Your Customers’ Trust
Many people are still fearful about the spread of disease, even as they are tired of staying at home. The best way to get them to come into your business is to build trust in your cleaning, care, and protection processes.
Make sure your employees wear personal protective equipment (PPE), like masks, and encourage customers to do the same. Post signs about social distancing and cleaning processes.
When people see you taking the remaining threat of illness seriously and providing a safe environment, they will be much more likely to shop with you.
Plan Ahead for Supply Concerns
At the beginning of the pandemic, stores struggled to keep specific supplies stocked as people prepared for the worst. Now, the concern is similar for a different reason. Are you ready for an influx of customers that may have little else to do?
That sounds like a problem you’d love to have, especially after closure or few customers. However, you need to prepare your supply chain to be ready for heavy traffic. If you can’t keep stocked, people won’t be spending much time in your business!
You can also use the end of the pandemic as an opportunity to evaluate and diversify your suppliers so that you can avoid disaster if another pandemic or emergency hits.
Pivot if Needed
Now that we’ve been through a crisis, you’ve seen how “essential” people consider the products and services you offer. What can you do to stand out more? To be more irreplaceable?
Many businesses have found they needed to pivot to offer what the market truly demands. For instance, offering more options at lower price points will help you bring in new customers in a stressful economy. Or you might consider offering — or expanding — direct-to-consumer options like online sales or social media outreach.
Being flexible will help you recover in 2020, but it will also help you for years to come.
Do You Have the Business You Dream Of?
Owning a business is hard work, but it can be gratifying as well. Are you interested in owning a company? If so, don’t let the pandemic scare you. There are incredible opportunities to grow and thrive when you offer exactly what customers want, no matter what else is going on.
If you’re interested in buying a business and want to learn more, contact us today! We’ll answer your questions and help you live your dreams.
