Did you read that part one? I mean of course you did right? Why would you read part two before you read part one…

Anyway read part one if you havn’t yet.

Now that we have stream lined your business, and reduced its expenses during this difficult time of uncertainty what is the next step?

The next step is… Try to get through now.

That’s right, we need to get through right now. Now this article has a bit of a twist for it. You need to think in regards to your own business how to solve your problem.

Every business is different, they all have different focuses and do different things. I will have a few examples of basic businesses and what they can do to try to survive a bit longer.

Can you make your business “Essential” ?

Is there something you can add, or do differently to make your business more essential. So you are allowed to stay open, and generate some income? If legally allowed in your area you live in, you might be able to pivot or change an aspect of your business. Even if its just for now. To make some money.

If I ran a bakery or café what I would do…

If I ran a bakery for instance, where normally my customers came in, bought a scone and a muffin, and a tea. Sat around for an hour playing on their phone then they wandered on with their life. I would change my business, where I would for instance offer a weekly bread delivery. I have found bread and milk to run out before anything else, and despite not really wanting to risk my life going food shopping, I am forced to go because at some point you want some bread!

If a bakery offered to drop off a fresh loaf of bread at my house once a week, Sterile and safely handled of course, with no direct contact. I would gladly pay for it. Despite many advancements in the digital era, we still can’t get bread by mail. A possible opening for an internet start up? I doubt it.

I know this system actually works, because locally there is a milk delivery company that I have met through work. I contacted them about getting milk delivered to my house. As I didn’t want to go out, get COVID-19 and die, and I was informed that their route is infact FULL. They are at max capacity. They have never reached that level before. Honestly I would kill for some eclairs delivered to my house right now. To a bakery where their only other option might be going out of business Why not try it?

If I ran an advertising business.

Now I am going to assume that thankfully most creative businesses such as an advertising business can infact still run, without direct customer interaction, so they might have actually managed to stay open although they might be working from home.

But there are still bad times all around. Most businesses have cut their advertising budgets. Since nobody can actually come to the businesses anyway no doubt these types of businesses are going to suffer.

In fact I believe I actually advocated cutting expenses such as advertising in part one. Well now I am on the other side of the trade. Although your customers might not want you right now, They have never needed you more.

You are kind of like the parent picking their kid up walking down the street , after they were embarrassed in front of the whole school at high school prom. (No I am not talking from experience. )

Your customers need business more then ever, and you can bring it to them. But they don’t want to pay you.