Follow These Tips to Reopen Your Business Post the Lockdown
Here’s How To Reopen Your Business Once The Lockdown is Lifted
The last couple of months have been quite tumultuous for our society as a whole. At the start of 2020, it was unimaginable that a virus outbreak would take the shape of a pandemic. People were forced indoors by stay-at-home orders and many businesses ultimately had to close their shutters, either temporarily or permanently.
Contingencies such as these are unpredictable and unavoidable but there are many risks that businesses are subjected to quite often. There may come a time when a customer or a vendor may file a lawsuit against your business because there has been negligence on your part. Such situations can drain out your financial resources, thereby completely shaking up your liquidity. However, public liability insurance, which can cover expensive legal fees that you have to incur in your defence, might help you with this. To know more about this type of insurance, click here.
Now that things are slowly careening back to what we say, “The new normal,” businesses are considering getting back to work. If you are also thinking of doing the same, then here are some useful tips to follow:
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Make necessary strategic changes
The business world is no longer the same after the pandemic. A lot has changed in so little time that businesses couldn’t really keep pace. You may have felt clueless then too but now, as the lockdown is lifted, you might have to look at how you used to do things and maybe change them. Buying behaviours of consumers have changed tremendously due to the pandemic and you will now have to base your business and marketing strategies based on the new trend. It will surely involve a lot of work. It will require you to shun your comfort zone. You might have to come up with new ways of reaching out to customers and closing deals. No matter what, changes are necessary.
Stick to social distancing
Let’s face the truth: social distancing is now the new normal. There’s no escape from it as long as something concrete to fight the virus comes out. If you are planning to restart your business, you need to look at the layout of your office space and the percentage of your workforce that will come to the office. If you are mostly relying on virtual workers, then it would be a good idea to space out seating areas in your office so that people can follow social distancing norms. Equip your office space with hand sanitiser and other products to keep it clean and safe for employees.
Cut down your costs
Many businesses had to close down permanently because their revenue stream was completely disrupted due to the lockdown. Consider yourself lucky if you are staying afloat and able to reopen your business. The pandemic certainly had major financial lessons for businesses to learn. It clearly taught that contingencies come without invitation and we need to be prepared at all times. To cope with your cash crunch, you need to think of some cost-cutting strategies. Start operating virtually (if your business model allows) to save on rent or get in touch with specialised outsourcing agencies to perform specific tasks and save on recruitment costs. Do all it takes to manage your expenses well and to maintain your liquidity during these tough times.
Keep your customers in the loop
Stay in regular touch with your customers because they are the ones who are ultimately keeping you in the game. The lockdown may have brought about a gap between you both but as you reopen, you need to pace up. You need to keep your existing customers up-to-date about your reopening days and reassure them that you will do your best to maintain the quality of your offerings. Give them the guarantee that you are following safety protocols properly to ensure their health and well-being. Consider running an email marketing campaign or social media campaign to reconnect with your customers and reach out to new ones.
Reopening your business after the lockdown may feel different after such a long time, and you will surely see that a lot has changed. You will now have to be even more patient as a business owner and more committed to your business venture. These tips should be able to help you cope with the after-effects of a challenging crisis like COVID-19.
References
On Deck, Author: Katie Tregurtha, How to Reopen Your Small Business Post-Coronavirus Lockdowns, Avl at: https://www.ondeck.com/resources/how-to-reopen-your-small-business-post-coronavirus-lockdowns
Read Write, Posted on August 4, 2020, Author: Jyoti Bharwani, 5 Tips to Consider When Planning to Reopen Your Business After COVID-19 Pandemic, Avl at: https://bit.ly/3gceYhjMuslim Ad Network, Posted on May 12, 2020, Author: Alwi Suleiman, 17 Tips for When You Reopen Business After the COVID-19 Lockdown, Avl at: https://www.muslimadnetwork.com/2020/05/12/reopening-your-business-after-covid19-lockdown/