World Opening Back Up - How Small Businesses Should Prepare

The effects of COVID-19 linger in the productivity of every business. 60% of business owners have been unable to restore their employee headcount to the degree that it was at pre-pandemic. Moving into the next three months it is expected that 3 out of 10 businesses will not survive. However, after a whole year of a global pandemic, we are finally seeing hope for a return of normal life. For those small businesses that are still standing, there remains a great amount of uncertainty. Along with the eager anticipation to return to normal, there are actions that can be made to prepare for success. 

Here are some tips to ensure your company will be prepared when those doors open and customers meet you. 

First things first, consider what exactly you can do to make your business a safe environment for your employees and customers. 

Create and implement rigorous cleaning procedures

Install temporary plexiglass barriers

Rearrange furniture to better allow for social distancing

Open windows and utilize outdoor space if possible

Creating a safe space may also require teaching your employees about specific ways to be safe and clean. This can begin with providing encouragement for a healthy diet and exercise. Incorporating fun games or team efforts towards a goal can be an easy way to promote healthy lifestyles and team bonding. Believe it or not, some people still struggle with public hygiene awareness. Take the time to instruct them on proper ways to cover a sneeze or cough, wash their hands and prevent contamination. Most importantly, encourage them to stay home if they feel ill. During this time, the saying “better safe than sorry” should be the mindset of every business. The problem with call outs has always been, the inability to replace them at the last minute. You can combat this by developing a strong team culture to provide support for one another. Keep an eye out for our blog on How to Create a Strong Company Culture. 

Now that you have planned an effective safe procedure to reopen, you need your customers to come in. Transparent communication is key as the world cautiously continues forward. Your customers need to be able to trust that the place they are walking into is safe for them and their families. 

Communicate with your customers through social media, your website, emails, texts and local signage. Let your customers know of what actions you made to construct a safe environment. As you face unexpected challenges, be transparent with your audience on how you are working to fix issues and show gratitude for their understanding. Try to maintain an empathetic tone and kindly set the standard for what it means to be a customer in your space. Go above and beyond for your customers in ways that they are not expecting. After a year of virtual communications, getting treated as special and a priority will go a long way. Remember, keep asking for your customers to give you feedback and to write about you on review platforms. This will help you know what to change, increase brand awareness and build customer relationships. 

From surviving to success, here’s to what’s next!