How To Handle Your Small Shop During Coronavirus

This blog may include affiliate links.

Let’s face it, Coronavirus is here and here to stay for a bit. At the time of writing this we have had a few weeks in quarantine and will have a few more at least. It is an incredibly scary time as MANY are worried about the future of their income as well as catching the virus or spreading it to love ones. But if you’re a small business owner these fears are almost exaggerated as you’re not waiting on your employer to make the next move - you have to decide all the moves. So join me in hashing this all out together.

The Money

We’ve all heard stimulus checks are on the way but we can’t rely on just that. However, be sure you WILL get your check by insuring you filed 2018 or 2019 taxes, you do not have child support payments and your current address is on file with the government. Take it a step further by making sure your direct deposit numbers from the last time you filed taxes is up to date as well. But after that money comes it most likely will go fast as it’s basically one month’s salary at minimum wage?

Unemployment comes in. Previously if you are a sole proprietor you were never allowed to take advantage of unemployment however this is no longer the case. Unemployment restrictions, payouts, stipulations, and requirements have all taken a turn FOR the people. If you have ANY sort of loss from COVID-19 that can be proven it is worth applying. HOWEVER, the website is not currently ready to accept applications from sole proprietors and will supposedly be ready in the coming days. Furthermore, WIC, Foodstamps and supplemental aids have loosened the restrictions for their programs as well. If you need government help they are there to help.

Be wary of the SBA “grants” that are being advertised. They ARE low-interest loans that need to have the intention to be paid back no matter if they have the chance to be forgiven or not. Only VERY CERTAIN things can be considered “forgiven” or “not paid back” and even the nondetailed explanations are gray. Make this your absolute last choice for monetary aid unless you are paying off workers and ALWAYS be prepared for the potential to have to pay this off. There are however many companies, businesses and groups giving out funds online and it’s worth researching.

Staying In The Green

However, when it’s all said and done if you don’t keep your business running you may never be able to open again or take so many steps backward it won’t be worth starting over. Always try to stay in business and remain somewhat in the green.

The easiest way to stay in the green on your books is to cut all possible expenses. Consider canceling your social media scheduling service, pausing payments, doing more yourself instead of paying outside services etc. You can also try and source your products from different locations to cut the cost of goods down. You have the time to research it now and it could save you money in the future too!

Produce Relevant Products

Can you switch over to selling facemasks? Can you create hand sanitizer? Can you sew PPE gowns and such for medical and front line workers? The government is giving funds to businesses that can produce these items. If you can’t get it to a government situation consider making these to sell online but make ZERO claims of how medically good they are as this is against all platforms terms of service right now. You will have to say they are not lab tested and only help with additional safety measures.

If you don’t have the ability to make these items conder making things that relate to the people right now. Handmade letters to send to loved ones is trending right now and is a great idea. However, keep in mind they are saying 70% of the US population is spending more time at home right now. That means they are decorating their home, reorganizing and renovating. Products geared to this are selling like hotcakes - especially online. But also schools nationwide are home and Disney+ and online learning only goes so far, at home craft kits for both kids and adults are trending on Etsy and will be for weeks. You may not already have these products in your store, but consider the logistics of sending them out. There are restaurants all over selling “meal kits” to put together dinner at home and it’s supposedly keeping them busier than pre-COVID times.

Do The Dirty Work

Have you been considering rebranding? Now is the time to launch it. Have you wanted to grow on a new base like TikTok or Snapchat? Everyone is online right now. Were you going to start a blog to further drive traffic to your shop? You have a lot of time to write right now. Basically, if you were going to implement some big changes behind the scenes now is the time to do it!

This is also a great time to invest in business education. You have the time now to both take the course and implement the needed changes as well as give it time to update within Google bots to come out of this better on the other side. My Small Shop Success Digital Course launches today with specialty pricing and is a total revamp of your shop if you’re interested! There are also TONS of financial coaches, photographers, mindset coaches and more launching special courses to do right now at unbeatable prices.

With quarantine currently mandated for at least another 30 days from the president, it is the perfect time to put in the work and edit your shop listings. Work on your low traffic items, polish up your best sellers, take some new photos and edit your keywords and titles. By the time everything picks up again your SEO could be right on track!

Plan

Typically summer and holiday planning happens much later in the year, but since you have the time now, why not tackle it? Mockup your seasonal products and consider scheduling out your social media and newsletters to save you time when business picks back up later. You can even create your product listings and social media announcements to be later released so they’re ready to go when the time is right. Over the next month, you could implement a whole new product or service line or even schedule all of your marketing and advertising for the rest of the year. Use this time to your advantage!

Rest

Yes, this sounds counter-intuitive to this article, but you are given this time - use some of this to rest, reflect and breathe. We could all benefit from some self-care and meditation. Pick up a new hobby, find a new TV show (hello Tiger King) or just sit and be. This time WILL pass and historically there is a huge economic boom right after a recession and that is something to look forward to!