Maintaining and even strengthening connections with one’s customer base is the name of the game here.
New business partnerships also are emerging as a way for businesses—big and small—to adapt and pivot their business models to what is becoming the new normal.
By Marian Salzman for Forbes
photo: A restaurant in Washington DC finds alternative ways to do business Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
© 2020 BLOOMBERG FINANCE LP
For Fortune 500 companies, this pandemic has meant Zoom calls with crisis teams, business continuity planning and supply chain management, earnings adjustments, and moving employees over to remote work (at least those lucky enough to remain employed). Many small businesses, meanwhile, have been forced to shutter—but there are others that are pivoting, and in ways larger organizations can only dream about.
“Our strength is our smile and our optimism, and we will continue with our heads held high and even more dedication, motivation, and energy,” said Nicolas Édouard, founder and manager of Kids-Trip in Vaud, Switzerland, which organizes camps, workshops, and nature outings for children.
While seasonal holiday camps and birthday parties have been cancelled, Kids-Trip has transitioned online to stay connected with families during this crisis. Édouard has had to pivot to YouTube to share weekly craft activities and has implemented daily Facebook Live quizzes to ease the impact of social distancing measures on his young customers.
Beauty salons are not built to withstand social distancing. While many of us at home are finding creative ways to trim family members’ hair and hide our grays, hairdressers are reaching out to their clients and others via social media, sharing advice in hopes of averting disaster. Too late, for some. (It’s been noted that we’re now in the personal care phase of panic buying, with hair dye and clippers replacing toilet paper and flour on our must-have lists.) Major marketers also are starting to take notice. Just this week, L’Oréal spokesperson Eva Longoria chimed in with root-cover advice via her Instagram.
