Everyone knows that we are in a deadly pandemic. Some people will be dismayed to learn that it is expected to get much worse before it gets better. But it will get better. The end is within sight. You have to be ready to get things restarted when that time comes. If you are not prepared, rest assured, someone more eager to succeed will take your place.
It is also well known that many businesses are no longer in business. A study by Yelp suggested that businesses were closing at a rate of 800 per day. It is not just the handful of closures in your neighborhood. The country is reeling from the effects of the pandemic; none worse than California. Even now, Ambulance crews in L. A. county have guidance not to transport patients to the hospital if they have little chance of survival. That is the reality of this age.
That said, it is also reality that we have new COVID vaccines. And these new vaccines are a source of hope for millions. It is the hope and promise that the nation will recover. 2021 will be a year of reopening and renewal. Businesses, including yours, will come back with a vengeance. Here is how to prepare for your reopening:
Prepare Your Marketing Push
There will be live sales events, conventions, and expos again. Some estimates suggest that will start to happen by the second half of 2021. A lot of large and small businesses, alike, are making preparations and buying up the needed supplies.
You need to secure your 10′ by 15′ canopy today while there is time to get them customized for your future events. Get your order in before the crunch because you will not be the only one making preparations for a better and more productive time.
You are also going to want new signage. You are reopening an old business. It is important to make it feel new while at the same time, feeling well established. Just realize that your reopening will be competing with a lot of new businesses with new, eye-catching signs that will stand out against those old, weather-beaten signs. Reopening in 2021 means preparing your marketing push well in advance.
Prepare Your New Policies
You will be able to restart your business. But it will not be business as usual. To get some idea of the changes coming your way, have a look at the CDC guidance for businesses and employers regarding the coronavirus. While you will be restarting at a time when it is much safer to do so, you will still need to take some precautions if for no other reason than to assure that your potential customers and employees feel safe.
If you haven’t already, it is time to upgrade your POS system to accept contactless payments. You don’t want to handle cash and cards when it is not necessary. Your customers don’t, either. Don’t force your customers to choose between shopping at your store and one that is more up to date and safer. Don’t wait until it is time to open. Set up your new policies today.
Prepare Your Long-Term Strategy
Reopening does not mean returning to where you left off. It might take a while before all is restored. It will be more like a marathon and less like a sprint. It will take a while before people are fully comfortable getting back out and shopping the way they once did.
All of your business challenges will not evaporate with opening day. Just as when you first opened, you need to obtain enough capital to get through the lean times. You need the patience to stay the course and the wisdom to know when adjustments need to be made. If it takes a little longer than you first thought, don’t panic. Prepare a strategy that recognizes the time it will take for everything to be set right again.
2021 is the year of new beginnings and reopenings. Make your reopening a success by being prepared with the right marketing, new safety policies, and durable strategies for the long term.
