Having a business is awesome and running it can be a blast. However, there are challenging times that may destabilize your revenues and turn customers away. When you’re rebuilding a business, it may seem like you’re back to square one. Here are some tips to help put you on firm ground as you reopen your business.
Money management matters
Keep an eye on your business’s finances, especially cash flow and inventory. If you have a lot in stock, revisit how large and frequent your supply orders were before you closed down temporarily. There’s no guarantee that it’ll be the same as before but you’ll need a large inventory if you’re investing in promotions to rebuild your customer base.
Plan and make adjustments
Create a plan and strategize on how you’re going to resume operations. It’s easy to pick right off where you left but the market and demand may not be as strong as before. Here are some questions you may need to ask yourself:
- Are you capable of investing in marketing efforts?
- Do you need to downsize your staff?
- Do you have a backup plan in place for possible scenarios?
- Is your product or service still relative to the current market or situation?
Involve your employees
Your staff is there for your business so make sure to involve them throughout the process of reopening. They can help you find out what customers want and need. They can also help adjust processes and find out what works best for them and the business.
Keep them informed about new processes, products, or services. Update them about changes in the company in real-time. Take time to sit down with them to discuss their emotional health, the challenges they’re dealing with, and their thoughts on reopening the business.
Update your digital systems and processes
If it has been months or years since your business was up and running, consumer behavior and the selling process may have changed. It’s important to update workplace processes especially when it comes to digital systems.
Focus on technology that’s most relevant to your industry. Choose digital systems and tools that’ll help enhance your business Some of these include digital payment systems, online transactions, and remote work for employees.
Build your online presence
Almost every consumer is doing all their shopping and transactions online. Make sure that they can find you there. Invest in a working website, an active social media profile, and a convenient online communication platform to stay connected with your customers no matter where they’re.
You don’t even need to invest a huge amount of money in social media ads. Using a mobile phone, you can easily take good photos of your products and enhance them with photo editors. Using a free online video editor, you can create promotion videos, product videos, and other business videos to reach and captivate your audience.
Keep customers in the loop
Now that you’ve resumed operations and are hoping to get customers back, it’s important to keep customers informed and updated. For existing customers, give them time to ease back into regular shopping or availing of services.
If your business requires appointments, advise them to book a week or a few days in advance of your opening. Let them know about new processes and changes in prices, if applicable. Add some perks to attract customers to come to your business on opening day. This is your opportunity to show them what you’ve got and make them repeat and loyal customers.
Final thoughts
It is a big step for a business to reopen and begin interacting with customers again. Whether you’re a small local business or a big company with several branches, it requires patience and hard work to get back to where you left off. These tips aim to provide a bit of guidance to make the process easier, more organized, and more efficient. With enough preparation, you’re guaranteed to have a successful reopening.
