Help Local Businesses survives the COVID-19

Source : https://neilpatel.com/blog/local-search/

This past week, Indonesia’s people are encouraged to stay at home, and it resulted in so many of Indonesia’s restaurant to be closed to the public, with the exception of takeout and delivery. It was a necessary step to flatten the COVID-19 curve — but also a heartbreaking one. This closure has already had a drastic economic effect: Thousands of workers were suddenly laid off, and businesses will forgo revenue for the near future. There’s a chance that many places that we know and love, from local favorites to high-end restaurants, may not reopen.

Small businesses are important to the economic and social fabric of our society, and we all play a part in their survival.

In many places, restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, and other types of businesses are being ordered to close or shift, where possible, to takeout and delivery only. Foot traffic is falling everywhere. Small, independent, local, and family-owned businesses are posting social media appeals to encourage people to keep supporting them. Some have already closed their doors. It could be temporary; but in some cases, they might turn out to be permanent.

For small business owners suddenly deprived of customers, such support from patrons can spell the difference between surviving the pandemic and closing their doors forever.

These are the kinds of times that cripple your favourite locally owned independent small businesses and force us out of our spaces in the city. Please support the independents during these times by shopping online, buying gift cards, or supporting through delivery services.

To get through this challenging and uncertain time, it’s important that we all come together as a community — from corporations to organizations and

There are ways that we could do to secure the futures of our local small businesses and help them shine in these dark times. So how can you help? Below, some of the best ways.

Photo by Ashkan Forouzani on Unsplash

#1 Buy a Gift Card

We’ll get through this, and once the lockdowns have been lifted, you’ll be back to your usual routine, visiting your favorite coffee shop, taking a hot yoga class, or buying aromatherapy at the maker space. Help your usual haunts make it through the lockdown by paying for products and services in advance. Check their social media to see if they offer gift cards or class packs.

There will come a time in which small businesses will be open again, so why not purchase a gift card now, that you can use later? This is a fantastic way to make sure that your favorite restaurant or store is getting some income right now when the business needs it the most.

When you purchase a gift card, it’s a win-win: the restaurants get the money immediately, and when this is all over, you already have a planned night with your friends. Business owners say they appreciate the gesture both as a sign of customer loyalty and for the immediate infusion of cash that gift cards provide. We encourage you to buy gift cards to five of your favorite stores for future use. You could use gift certificates for later use or for gifts.

#2 Order Out

This is probably the easiest way to support your favorite restaurants — a number of which are offering these services for the first time ever and so many good deals and promotions around. For example, Salty Sam and Eatlah now serve frozen food, which means you still could get a decent salted eggs from your home. There are a lot of good restaurants that are now accepting orders for the care packages.

Many restaurants are taking precautions by shutting down for dine-in, but getting a carry-out order or calling for delivery is still a great option if it exists where you live. You don’t have to cook, and the restaurant is still making some money. So check to see if that’s a possibility at your favorite eatery.

Order food from restaurants that still offer pick-up and delivery services. Shop for other merchandise, like t-shirts, grab and go coffee bean and tumblers, too.

Photo by Campaign Creators on Unsplash

#3 Shop local — but online

We all still need to eat and shower (yes, even if you’re working from home). While many grocery stores and pharmacies are still open, consider avoiding the crowds and restocking from an online independent business.

Shop online, and shop online some more! We’re all pretty used to shopping online (11.11 & 12.12 is basically a holiday at this point), so one way you can support a local business is shopping from your computer or cellphone.

Not all boutiques or retail stores may have the option to offer online shopping, but if they do, it’s a great way to support small business and practice social distancing.

#4 Take a virtual fitness class

Check in with the local gym — do they offer any online support? Will your personal trainer give consultant appointments over a video call? Is your pilates studio streaming its classes?

Gyms around the community are also closing to contain the coronavirus. Yet while facilities may have temporarily closed their doors, many fitness clubs are streaming workouts online that people can join from home or do outside on their own.

#5 Contribute to — or start — a fund campaign

Consider donating to an online fundraiser or starting one on behalf of a business whose sales have been wiped out. Not everyone is able to do this, but if your income won’t be affected by the coronavirus pandemic, consider a donation to a local business that could need it, any sort of assistance could mean the world to someone who isn’t sure how they are going to pay their bills next month.

#6 Make the switch to sustainable

With the widely shared reports of toilet paper shortages and empty shelves, there’s no better time than now to update some of your consumption habits. Replace disposable products with their reusable counterparts.

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

#7 Be your own barista

Your local café is closed and maybe your free-flowing office coffee source has gone dry, but you don’t need to resort to instant coffee. Try checking Scuro Lavino to up your coffee game.

#8 Practice self-care

It’s hard to avoid the news or bosses over every new case. And isolation may be very challenging for some. Stay in tune with your mental health and access resources available to you. It’s also a good time to treat yourself. Treat yourself and make yourself glowing when you could go out.

#9 Share your favorite stores in your social networks

Did your favorite small business close? Are they paying their employees anyway? Help them stay afloat by paying forward their goodwill. Tell your followers about ways in which you can support them, like buying gift cards for future purchases. Some influencers like Anak Jajan and Eat and Treats have been doing this and it’s no harm for you to start doing it also.

What Are Your Ideas?

This is a small sample of all the different actions that could be taken to help small businesses. And, of course, there are plenty of challenges being faced by businesses that don’t technically meet the “fewer than 500 employees” threshold of being “small.” Yet they’re also not exactly “big,” operate on razor-thin margins, and can’t offer more than a couple of weeks paid leave to employees. They may need help, too.

So let’s hear it. What are your suggestions?

We’re here for you. As COVID-19 reshapes our economy, our news and insights will help you to thrive the day. Let’s take care of each other.