How to Help Small Business Owners During this Pandemic

How our business has been affected and how you can help small business owners during this pandemic.

I hope this blog post finds you all safe and healthy. It’s been a crazy week, hasn’t it! The Coronavirus pandemic, a possible recession, small businesses going under… I’ve heard them all mentioned on the news in the last few days.

I don’t write many time-specific articles but since I’ve already been asked several times how this Coronavirus health emergency is affecting our business I thought I would take this chance to let you know. And also let you know how you can help us and other small businesses like us.

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How the Coronavirus Health Emergency Affected Us This Week

Just looking at this week, things aren’t very encouraging.

• Pageviews on the blog are down 28% from this same week last year.
• $0 sales on Etsy since Monday
• No sales in our Cleburne shop since Monday
• $0 sales on Shopify since Wednesday
• Amazon Handmade is down 48% from the week before
• Our Waco shop doesn’t put our info online so I won’t know until we go “fluff it” next Friday.

BUT, this is usually a slow time of year for us anyway AND I think people had their minds on the news this week.

So, I’m not panicking and I’m still hopeful for the 4th quarter of the year. (When we do the majority of our business.)

{{{See a complete list of what’s in my toolbox and supply cabinet.}}}

Supply Chain Disruption

From what I’ve heard a major disruption in business will be with the supply chain.

We have several things going for us:

• We make most of our items ourselves.
• Many of our items are repurposed.
• We try to buy as much made in the USA as possible.
• The few supplies we buy wholesale from China have already been received. (We try to order before they close for Chinese New Year.)
• Our original junkin’ t-shirts are printed locally.
• These super-soft t-shirts are made in Mexico.
• The 3rd party printer we use is in North Carolina. I’m not sure where they get their t-shirts or how much inventory they have.
• We sell online for those who don’t want to go out in public.

IF we run short of something we’re going with our motto of making something out of nothing… rethinking and repurposing what we can get our hands on.

Will We Make Changes?

SO… as long as our internet is working, we’ll be working. And even if it goes out, we’ll be making Christmas ornaments to get ready for the holiday season!

We’re discussing other changes we’ll be making. No final decisions have been made yet. I’ll probably be sharing those with my email list later. Consider signing up for my business tip email list (below) if you’re also a small business and want to know what we’ll be doing to get through this rough time.

We’ll be going live on our Facebook page twice a week for those who want to craft with us, see what we’ve been thrifting, or just to talk. (That could become more often if there is a desire.)

How to Help Small Business Owners

I’m not panicking but I know that there are small businesses that will be hit much harder than us. We can all use your help. And like I tell you every week… there are ways you can help without spending any money.

• Click on links in our emails and on our social media posts. Most bloggers and influencers live on ad revenue from blog pageviews and commission from affiliate links. If you’re going to buy something online anyway, use a link from a blogger’s email.
• Like, share, and comment on small business owners’ social media posts. That helps more people see those posts and can potentially bring more sales to the small business.
• Shop small businesses online and locally. I know it might cost a few dollars more to buy locally. But that money will help feed someone in your own community.
• Start your Christmas list now and buy from small handmade businesses.
• Buy gift cards to restaurants and coffee shops.
• Shop online or phone in your order.
• Order take out.
• Tip a little more.
• Be kind. I’ve also heard some horror stories about rude shoppers at Costco this week. Be kind to the people around you — employees and other shoppers.
• Don’t panic. It’s never as bad as the media makes it look. We’ll pull through this. Let’s support each other.

What Helps Me Keep My Focus

Many of y’all already know that I’m a Christian. In my Bible reading time this week, I read this,

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is shield and buckler.” ~Psalm 90:1-4

God doesn’t promise to REMOVE the problems of this world but He will get us THROUGH them. Contact me if you’d like to know more of the Bible verses that I read when I start to worry about business.

More Small Handmade Business Tips

If you’re a small business owner and liked reading this article, check out these:

• 99 Things to Make and Sell for Profit
• How to Set Up a Home Photo Studio for Etsy or eBay
• 50 Small Business Ideas
• Small Business Insurance Info

Thanks for Reading “How to Help Small Business Owners”

Thanks for reading. Just by reading this article, you have helped THIS small business owner!

‘Til the next project,

 Ann @ Duct Tape and Denim

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