Thu, 24 Apr 2025 13:41:23 -0700WeeblyMon, 30 Nov 2020 15:30:00 GMThttp://rinconct.com/blog/how-small-businesses-are-boosting-sales-during-covid-19​We started 2020 with optimism and hope that this year's going to be better than the last-- but then, COVID-19 happened and brought sudden massive changes worldwide.
 
It has disrupted the way we interact, shop, work, and transact. Businesses of all sizes have been plunged into darkness, with some even having to shut completely Meanwhile, others managed to find dynamic solutions to shelter their businesses from the harsh impacts of the pandemic, including reimagining their products and services, marketing tactics, and delivery methods.
 
In this article, we put a spotlight on the most creative and innovative ways that small businesses have adopted to increase sales during the pandemic and prosper in the new business environment.
Businesses Migrate OnlineLockdowns and temporary business closures led to a sudden boost in online sales. In fact, the stocks of ecommerce companies such as eBay, Wayfair, and Shopify have risen in recent months.
 
If your business operations heavily rely on face-to-face customer interaction in a brick-and-mortar store, you might need to pivot by migrating online or solidifying your existing ecommerce presence.
 
This is what some small breweries in Ireland have done to reshape their service delivery and stay relevant amid the mandatory venue shutdowns. They have collaborated to establish an online shop of craft beers that are delivered to their customers' doorstep. By teaming up, they were able to cut down the cost of setting up the site and increase profits through non-contact sales.
Sell Education OnlineDue to travel and social restrictions, people have been forced to stay at home for extended periods of time. To fight boredom, many have resorted to online learning platforms.
 
Yoga and gym instructors are also pivoting online by offering fitness programs or courses. The brilliance of this strategy is that it provides a passive income stream because you can market existing content and profit from it. Alternatively, other fitness gurus offer live sessions that customers can subscribe to.
 
Tap Into Email MarketingThe majority of business owners have an email address and most check their inbox every day. This makes it a good communication channel to reach out to your potential or existing customers. Whether your approach is to provide topic-focused informative content or a sales pitch, email marketing is a strategy that you need to consider to boost your brand awareness.
 
A US-based photography company has ramped up its email marketing campaigns, with content ranging from discounts and free giveaways to sales announcements and online contests. As a means to improve targeting, they have segmented each type of content to get the maximum conversion for each sector in their audience.
Host Online WebinarsBecause large, in-person gatherings are on hold for the time being to prevent spreading the coronavirus, many have shifted to social media live streams and webinars.
 
You don’t need to be a keynote speaker or polished presenter to host such online events and drive profit. You can showcase your expertise through ticketed webinars and online workshops that can help your customers improve their skills or knowledge relevant to your industry.
 
An email marketing and sales platform company further expanded its catalog of webinars amid the pandemic to share more actionable insights and valuable tools for small businesses. Through this strategy, it has witnessed increased brand awareness and online sales.
Explore Video MarketingMany consumers are more visually inclined, which makes video an effective format to attract customer attention. According to a Hubspot report, 80% of marketers claim that videos have directly increased their sales. So while most of your customers are in lockdown mode, video marketing is definitely worth considering.
 
A digital transformation agency has mastered the use of video on its website and social media accounts to boost consumer trust and keep people longer on the site. By turning its site into an immersive video experience, the company was able to engage people and establish its brand as a leader in the industry. You can also adopt a similar strategy and use video content as a persuasive tool for consumers who are in the research phase, as many people prefer watching instead of reading about products and services.
 
You can check out Loom.com which has a great free plan to get you started.
Keep Pushing Sales Boundaries!These are tough times for many-- no doubt. Yet, we hope that sharing these successful ideas will bring some positivity and inspire you to get back to the drawing board to find new ways to keep the sales going during these trialling times.
 
Wondering how you can transform your business? Reach out to us for information on how we can help you with a new strategy or learn more about our solutions.]]>Thu, 26 Nov 2020 00:39:58 GMThttp://rinconct.com/blog/help-our-local-communities-on-2020-small-business-saturday​The National Spotlights Shines on Small Businesses
 
The Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 28, 2020, the national spotlight will turn on an often overlooked engine of our country’s economic growth: small businesses.
 
Small businesses, or those with less than 500 employees, now comprise 99% of all U.S. employer firms. Over 23 million strong, small businesses is a sector of our economy that continues to grow rapidly. According to the Small Business Association, small businesses have created over 8 million jobs since 1990 and now account for more than half (54%) of all U.S. sales.
 
In 2010, American Express launched an initiative called Small Business Saturday to encourage people across the country to support small, local businesses. Over the ensuing years, shoppers have embraced the celebration, and each year the initiative gains in popularity. In 2015, 95 million people shopped at local retailers or dined in neighborhood restaurants spending over $16 billion, a 14% increase over the previous year.
 
Anchored between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday now stands on its own as a holiday tradition. Here are just some of the reasons it has gained in popularity:

• Money stays local. For every $100 spent with a locally owned independent business, 68% stays in the community.  When $100 is spent at a national chain, only 43% stays local. [1]
• Conserves tax dollars. Spending locally instead of online ensures sales taxes go to your local municipality. A bigger tax revenue provides benefits to the entire community.
• Showcases locally made products and services. Locally owned businesses choose items, create menus, and offer services based on the resources, preferences, and needs of the community. Local small businesses often carry the one-of-a-kind or locally made products that make the distinctive holiday gifts.
• Local business owners give back. Studies show that local businesses donated to community causes at more than double the rate of chains.
• Adds to the vibrancy of your local community. Small businesses help shape a community’s identity, building unique character and charm.

 
This November 28, 2020, I hope that you will support our small, local businesses, who are not only the backbone of our economic growth, but also community members, and our friends. I will be joining American Express in shining a spotlight on our local small businesses. We hope you will do the same.
 


[1] Civic Economics – Andersonville Study of Retail Economics]]>Mon, 23 Nov 2020 15:00:00 GMThttp://rinconct.com/blog/questions-to-ask-as-your-small-business-recovers-from-covid-19As small business owners look to operations after COVID-19, there are some important business questions to ask. These questions will help you determine what adaptations you want to keep, whether your business model is working, and if there are additional changes you want to make to keep your company operational through future economic downturns.

It's not always fun to do this sort of examination, but the answers to these questions will help you to make the best possible decisions for the future.

1. What worked and what didn't work in my business model?

Almost all small business owners had to make changes to their business model. Whether it was hosting meetings with clients on Zoom, learning about encryption technology to allow employees access to sensitive information from home, offering restaurant food for take-out or managing dance classes online, most small businesses adapted in some way.

Ask yourself:
Did I have to adapt my business model? Did I alter my goods or services in any way? Did I change how my premises are used? Did these adaptations enhance my business in some way? Do these changes highlight gaps in my business model that should be addressed? Should I make some of these adaptations permanent?
Maybe you have a lot of clients who would prefer to have meetings online rather than face-to-face. Perhaps offering classes online is a way to reach out to students or clients who can't attend weekly sessions in person. There may be perfectly good reasons to continue with a revised business model.

2. Do I need to make changes to my supply chain?

You have some control over your supply chain, but not a lot. Disruptions happen and they can drastically affect your business.

Review how the various components in your supply chain reacted to the pandemic and whether they helped your business or hurt it.

Ask yourself:
Did the suppliers in my supply chain remain open and transparent with me? Did they reach out to me to discuss revising our agreement? Were they reasonable in their expectations and willing to work with me? Do I need to have alternate arrangements or back-up plans in case there are future supply chain disruptions?
Your supply chain has a huge impact on your business. Trusting your suppliers and knowing you can work with them will allow you to feel more secure in the future.

3. How has my staff adapted?

Your staff has faced a great deal of stress and uncertainty during COVID-19, due to professional and personal concerns. Team members may have had to transition to new ways of working—at home, on a new schedule, or with new policies and procedures in place.

Ask yourself:
Are there changes to how my staff works that I could continue to implement? Should I provide additional training for staff? Have I communicated openly with them? How adaptable was my team?

One benefit from having employees work from home more days a week is that such opportunities for remote working can boost employee morale while saving you money. Now that you've invested in the technology to allow staff to work from home, is it worth it to allow this scenario to continue, even a few days a week?

Final thoughts

In addition to looking at your business, take a look at your customers and clients. Were they supportive of your business during this time? Did they turn elsewhere? Did they respect the changes you made to your business or the policies you put in place?
​
Each of the above questions—about your business model, your supply chain, your staff and your customers—will help you make informed decisions about the best way to run your business as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.  

Get in touch with us to chat about your business.]]>