It’s no secret that businesses of all sizes have taken a huge hit because of the coronavirus pandemic. It has been particularly damaging to smaller businesses that might not have the money to thrive immediately after lockdown is lifted. These post-lockdown tasks for businesses could very well make all the difference to your success and growth moving forward.
No matter if you have a physical shop or are mostly online, you need to be proactive with your decisions if you want to continue to operate. To guide you with this, here are 4 steps that you can take to help you to adapt to the ‘new’ normal.
Post-Lockdown Tasks for Businesses: Protect Your Employees & Customers
Whether you’re in a shop or you’re in an office you need to ensure that you’re protecting your employees (along with the customers). You can begin by carrying out a thorough COVID-19 risk assessment. In line with HSE guidelines, this will guarantee that the practices you’re following are as safe as possible.
As part of this, you may need to purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for your staff. Then rethink the layout, place 2m markings across your shop/office, place hand sanitiser throughout. Whatever you can do to eliminate risk.
Maintaining social distancing is also so important throughout this time. As people start to go back to work, it’s something that can’t be ignored.
Create a Contingency Plan
The coronavirus took everyone by surprise. Many small businesses simply weren’t prepared. Make sure that this lack of preparation isn’t repeated in the future – especially if a second wave hits. Do this by creating a contingency plan that maps out the steps that you can take in the future.
Within this contingency plan, you could set aside some of the money that the business has acquired throughout the coronavirus lockdown or reopening period (if this is possible), cut operational costs, etc.
Post-Lockdown Tasks for Businesses: Keep Customers Updated
Whether you’ve continued to operate online during the lockdown or you’ve had to close because of it, it’s essential that you keep your customers updated on any changes your business is facing. This frequent communication is vital if you want to drum up interest and keep customers interested throughout this time.
Although this is something that you likely did during the lockdown, it’s something that you should continue to do afterwards if you want to increase your revenue.
Continue to Focus on Online Methods
Even though many non-essential shops are reopening, it’s still a good idea to continue to focus on your online presence. Despite shops are opening, you may not have the same number of physical customers as you did before the lockdown.
This is due to the safety measures that have to be implemented throughout your store and the fact that many people are still nervous to venture out. Alongside regularly posting on social media (as mentioned above), you should continue to work on your customer service practices. Improving the functionality of your website and ensuring that items are finding their way to the customers as efficiently as possible is essential.
Final Thoughts
4 simple steps your small business might have to take after the lockdown has lifted. Of course, the steps that you take will depend on the type of business that you run and your budget.
Whatever steps you take, know that you’re proactively adjusting to what’s happening and making the best decisions for your business and employees.
