Business during a pandemic

How can you build into your business when the doors are closed?  Here are a few things that you can do right now: 

• Promote your online business.  If you don't have one, you have the time to work on this (Weebly or Square).  Up date your shipping options to include curbside pickup, local delivery and regular shipping.  Shipping from your shop is easy.  Set up an account with Canada Post, you will need a scale, measuring tape, a printer, packaging and you are good to go.  
• You know all those ideas that you have thought about and always told yourself that when you have the time you will do X, Y & Z?  Now is that time.
• Use this time to do a deep clean, organize your shop, spruce up your displays, paint and do small renos.  Then you can host a grand re-opening!
• Get your books in order.  Reconcile the accounts - get everything organized.  Many banks, the government and Community Futures are looking to support small businesses, make sure you have everything in order so that it is easy to apply for whatever you may need.
• Continue to connect with your customers/clients, continue to build your email list.
• Educate yourself- listen to podcasts, download audiobooks with the Libby app.  Libby connects you to your local library and you can download ebooks or audiobooks and borrow them for three weeks.
• Set up your Canva account to create social media posts for throughout the year, then you can start scheduling them through Facebook and Instagram.  You can make flyers, brochures, business cards, invitations for your grand re-opening, fancy menus, coupons that you can offer through social media or the newspaper, there are templates for whatever you may need.
• Start a blog or YouTube channel, you can write several posts and then schedule throughout the year.  Your posts can teach useful ideas, different ways to style or use your products, answer the questions that you receive repeatedly.