Managing your business during Covid -19

Managing your Business during Covid-19

The COVID-19 crisis is presenting immediate and severe financial challenges for businesses. Since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, the Irish Government has responded with a range of policies and support for businesses. While some businesses will have only been slightly affected by the pandemic, for others the new economic reality will be the toughest times they may face. Some businesses have faced full closures, while others are attempting remote working. Whether you have concerns over IT solutions or have worries around the new economic landscape we will have to navigate, be sure that there are many others in the same boat and collectively we will get through this. We’ve put together some tips that may help

Seek and Advice and Support

Business Support Call Centre has been set up to offer support and advice to businesses during the pandemic. Call: +353 1631 2002 Email: [email protected]
The Department of Business Enterprise and Innovation have a free “Supports or businesses impacted by COVID-19” booklet , which can be downloaded from the website: www.dbei.gov.ie
Your Local Enterprise Office and Chamber groups are offering great advice and supports in these unprecedented times.
Grow remote and employflex offer advice on remote working www.growremote.ie
Local networking groups offer a listening ear and you are sure to find others experiencing similar situations to you.

Look after your Health

It’s important to take some time to look after yourself, your family and employees. These are such uncertain and worrying times for both business owners and employees. Be sure to look after your health and check in on your employees, a simple email or call will go a long way. We are all in this together and it’s important to stay positive and boost morale during these unprecedented times. Remember this will pass.

What can you do now?

These are challenging times for many businesses across many different industries. It’s important to be resilient, to remember people will buy again and business will go on. While working from home, stay in touch with customers or clients to see how they are coping. Understand the challenges they may be facing and offer them some free advice or help to solve any problems they may be facing. Take this time to build relationships, go the extra mile during these challenging times. Your customers will remember this when times get better.

As things slowly grind to a halt, this time can be beneficial. Examine into your business, identify the strength and weaknesses of your business. Plan to address or improve any areas of weakness in your business, even set yourself some SMART goals.

Consider the different landscape we are facing; do you need to adjust your business plan to navigate this? Be prepared for when we start to move back to normal economic times. Do you need to adapt your premises to provide for social distancing? Will you require PPE? Will your employees require training?

Start planning for the future so you can hit the ground running when the situation improves.

Adapt your Business

Many businesses will have to adapt to a new way of operating through the COVID-19 pandemic. Depending on what industry your business may be in, it may be adapting your marketing strategies, adapting to online selling or refining your sales pitch and processes. Companies and people are still buying but they are more selective in what they are buying and from who, so now is the time to strengthen that sales pitch and now more than ever be enthusiastic about your products or services.

Update your Customers

While things are constantly changing with your business, it’s vital that you that you engage with your customers on all your platforms. Be sure to keep them informed of your plans, how you will be providing your products or services during these difficult times. Communication is key!

Learn from the Covid-19 Crisis

This isn’t the first global crisis and unfortunately it won’t be the last. Preparing now for another potential crisis will be much more effective response. Take note of anything you have learnt from the COVID-19 crisis and use it to your advantage in the future.

As daunting and uncertain these times are, its important to stay positive as much as you can. We are all in this together and it won’t last forever, business will go on!

If you are concerned about recruiting in these uncertain times or looking for advice about recruiting in the future, we would love to hear from you.