Do You Need to Pivot Your Business to Survive During This Pandemic? by @XLConsultingGro
by Elaine Slatter
As we are firmly in the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic all across the world, small businesses are suffering. As a small business owner, during this pandemic do you need to pivot your business to survive? For many bricks and mortar businesses there are often plenty of restrictions.
Here are signs that you need to pivot your business to survive
Cash flow is very tight
Rent and fixed costs for your business cannot be reduced, even though you have been negotiating to reduce these costs
Government relief programs have run out or don’t apply to your business
You are in the hospitality, travel or fitness industry and your business is continually being targeted for closure
You only have a bricks and mortar location or you are an events company catering to large groups
Ideas to pivot your business to survive
Expand your product line to include items that you can sell online
Get an e-commerce store up and running as quickly as possible
Establish a Facebook business page and sell your products in your facebook store
Look for other Facebook “buy and sell” marketplaces in your local area where you can advertise
Up your Social media game by thinking how you can use Instagram, Etsy, Twitter, Linkedin as well as facebook to find more clients
Create quick videos with your cell phone (they don’t have to be perfect!) to use on social media
Hold facebook ‘live’ events
Invite people to Zoom parties for your products
Case Study of The Travelling TeaRoom
Linda Barnett, the Founder of The Travelling TeaRoom quickly realized she need to pivot her business to survive. Offering a high tea experience in private homes, businesses, and at bespoke local events, she was faced with over 40 cancellations starting last March.
Although she has been able to offer her high teas in a very limited way, with ongoing heavier pandemic restrictions in her local trading area, she has had to turn to other products for survival.
This is what Linda Barnett changed:
Expanded her jewellery and accessories business which was a secondary part of her offering and shipping these items worldwide
Published a cookbook
Used Zoom parties to demonstrate her products
Collaborated with other vendors to have joint parties
Upped her Social Media presence on both Instagram and Facebook
Established a facebook store
To hear Linda’s full story of her business pivot, tune in to this podcast