How to Make the Most of People Returning Back to In-Person Work
With the US reopening, many people are returning to cities and returning to in-person jobs. As a result, many office and corporate jobs only want their employees to return to in-person work if vaccinated, as the CEO of Morgan Stanley emphasized this past week.
As people return to their jobs, it’s integral to use the re-opening to your small business’s advantage and make up for lost foot traffic and in-person interaction due to COVID. Depending on what sector your small business is in, there will be various approaches to returning to in-person work. This article will examine several general strategies that can help ease the transition back into in-person work.
Food:
The way food has been handled post-COVID has changed drastically. Things are prepared to be served separately, safely, and in the most convenient and efficient way possible. People developed a certain level of convenience and comfort during COVID lockdowns, by being able to run to their fridge whenever needed. It’s imperative for small businesses to provide as much convenience as possible for people, especially on their 30-45 minute, at most, lunch break.
Quick bites: Consider grab-and-go as an option for your small business. Having a small section of grab-and-go food options provide customers with a no-wait food option, which can be very appealing.
Keeping things moving: Long wait times are a no-go for those with limited time and busy days. Make sure to stay as staffed as possible and weigh the costs and benefits of hiring another employee. The current labor shortage may make this a difficulty, but scheduling your employees properly around your busiest times can keep wait times low and keep people coming back to your small business.
Personal Care:
As many can relate to, after a long day of work, people love to relax and unwind. For some, this means treating themselves to a personal treatment. Whether this be a massage, manicure-pedicure, facial, or whatever services your small business offers, there are several tips to bringing in and retaining customers.
Being flexible: Having longer and more flexible hours can often mean having more customers. With a larger window of time, people have more options and will likely be more willing to use your services.
Offering incentives: Especially with services, people love the chance to be rewarded. With offers such as Buy One get One 50% off or punch cards when you go a certain amount of times, you can get the service for free once, you will keep customers engaged, enjoying your services, and coming back.
Retail:
With people returning to cities and getting back to work, foot traffic and people ready to window shop will be back in action. Here are some tips to get people in your store and support your small business, whether it be clothing, jewelry, accessories, or a combination of all. Here are some tips to invite customers in and keep them coming back:
Make it appealing: Making your window displays interesting and adding pieces of interest can draw people walking by in, whether on their way to or from work. They will want to stop in and check out your small business to see more than just the initial window display.
Oftentimes, people see a store they like but don’t remember the name or know when they can come back next. Having the store name clear and easy to see along with daily hours can be a major help for people trying to manage their time between working and being able to shop.
As a social impact initiative, Rem and Company also offers free consulting services and resources to small businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19. Our pro-bono consulting teams provide small businesses with the opportunity to identify and prioritize issues facing their business, propose innovative strategies, and facilitate execution. If you are a small business or nonprofit in need of assistance, learn more about how we can help.