How to boost your business right now
Could your business use a pick me up? You’re not alone. It’s a trying time for businesses all over, due to the novel Coronavirus pandemic. Research shows that 43% of small businesses have been forced to close, either temporarily or permanently, due to heightened restrictions from the pandemic. For many businesses, this really is a “do or die” situation.
If your business is struggling and you’re looking for creative ways to grow your business in these trying times, you’ve come to the right place. We’re here with oaur tips for boosting your business, right now.
Tips for restaurants
The pandemic has been particularly difficult on restaurants. From increased cleaning requirements and limited capacity to the on-and-off closure of dine in service, restaurants are being hit the hardest. Restaurant owners around the country have been forced to get creative in order to maintain their cash flow.
Read on for some of our favorite ways that restaurant owners have coped with these changes.
Explore delivery options
Services like Grubhub and UberEats have been all the rage for years now, but they’ve never been more vital to business than they are right now. Set up your business on popular delivery apps and build a robust profile. Include detailed descriptions of your food, as well as high-quality photos.
Remember that these apps will take a percentage of your orders, typically around 30%. Some restaurants have temporarily increased their prices on delivery apps to compensate for the lost income. Explore whether that’s a good decision for you.
Consider building out a market
You’ve probably noticed that restaurants just like your own have re-invented themselves as specialty markets. It’s a clever solution to an all-to-common problem: business simply isn’t what it used to be.
While customers may have once scoffed at the thought of buying fresh pasta sauce or specialty produce from their favorite restaurant, restaurant owners all over are now finding that’s just not the case. Customers who can’t go out as often as they used to love the convenience of being able to enjoy their favorite foods from the comfort of their own homes. They’re also thrilled at the opportunity to help keep their favorite restaurant alive. It’s a win-win!
Consider building out a market with some of your restaurant’s best-sellers for sale in do-it-yourself kits. A DIY pizza kit complete with dough, cheese, and pasta sauce is a great activity for a date night at home. Explore what your wholesalers have that your customers may not be able to get other places. That includes things like specialty fruits, vegetables, international items, and more!
Tips for retailers
Retailers haven’t been as squelched by the Coronavirus pandemic as restaurants have, but that doesn’t mean they’re not hurting. Retailers all over are finding that their business is diminishing. Customers aren’t shopping for clothing for work, food for events, or browsing just for the heck of it.
Here are some of our favorite things retailers are doing to maintain a steady flow of business.
Polish up your online retail store
Brick-and-mortar retailers used to be able to get by without an online presence, as long as their foot traffic was high enough. Now, that’s not the case anymore. If you want to survive as a retail business, you’ve got to build a strong online retail store.
These days, building an online store is pretty simple. You’ll need photos of your products, descriptions, pricing, and payment and shipping methods. Offering free in-store pick-up is a great option if you’ve got a strong local customer base. Plus, customers who come in the store to pick up are more likely to find something extra that catches their eye!
Think about hiring
Stay with us, here. For most, hiring is not top-of-mind right now. But consider this: we’re at some of the highest unemployment rates we’ve seen in decades. There are thousands of hard-working people who are desperately seeking a job. And many of them are really, really good employees.
Why not take a look at who is out there, and consider how they might fit into your business. A potential employee may have a wealth of experience that could be vital to your business and get you to the next step as a company.
No matter who you hire, be sure to do a thorough pre employment screening first. Ask for references and perform an online background check. That way, you can feel confident about your new team member!
