Coronavirus is spreading rapidly throughout the UK affecting everyone. At Chameleon, we have created a survival plan for your business in order to function and stay in business during this difficult time. Please read and share our business survival tips below:
NOTE: Please remember we are all in this together!
With the announcement on the 20th March 2020 by the Chancellor Rishi Sunak setting out a package of temporary, timely and targeted measures to support public services, people and businesses through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19 it is vital that you understand what your business needs to keep staff employed and save the economy.
The COVID-19 support for businesses includes a package of measures to support businesses which includes:
You should take appropriate measures to safeguard your employees and reduce the spread of the coronavirus at your workplace.
Actions such as providing employees with hand washing facilities or alternatively hand sanitiser.
Working from home if possible, using software which includes the cloud and looking at systems like Microsoft Teams.
Teams can benefit your company in many ways. It allows you to communicate with both internal and external employees, team members and clients via messages and phone calls, all in one place – no matter where you are in the World.
Taking extra cleaning precautions should be a priority.
Internal or external cleaning staff will be responsible for regular cleaning of common areas frequented by employees. Dispose of gloves after cleaning and wash hand with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
In these tough times ahead we need more than ever to make your cash flow priority and reduce costs where possible.
If your sales have dropped or are dropping take actions quickly and do not bury your head in the sand.
Reduce the working days for your sales team from 5 days to 4 days or even 3 days or alternatively look at changing working hours from 9am – 5pm to 9am – 3pm.
It is vital to try and cover your office hours or find a way to deal with phone calls and emails even if the office is not open. VoIP phone systems will allow more flexibility and provide solutions to work from the office or at home as needed.
Chase any outstanding invoices, hold payment for any non-urgent payments and negotiate with your landlord the rent payments.
If you are spending on Google Adwords, get an Adwords specialist to carry out a health check and see if savings can be made!
CHAMELEON WILL PROVIDE A FREE AUDIT IN THESE TOUGH TIMES – CLICK HERE
Remember in these tough times people will be looking for services and options and businesses that can stay open will continue to grow.
Your customers matter! Make them aware of all change wherever possible, whether it be small or large.
Explain to them that it is business as usual, where possible and re-assure them that you are doing all possible to keep up with their requirements.
Put information on your website about the changes and help people understand more details.
Communication is the key objective at this moment in time.
Many other businesses / people will be able to compare your situation to theirs and offer you advice and support on the matter.
It is also vital that you communicate with your team members and make them aware of any hurdles that you face, as they may be able to other further support etc.
When business becomes tough, it is the marketing that needs to support the company stability and growth, as a result of coronavirus consumers will be facing financial difficulty and this will mean that they will have to be cautious in their expenditures.
Reassuring the consumer, holding thier hands in a “we’re going to get through this together” manner is a vital ingredient of successful marketing during a recession.
Value brands with low cost structures and low priced brands advertising about price will retain their market share.
Companies targeting the middle segment of the market will face the most difficulties and this is where marketers need to be thinking outside the box. Fasten your seat belts for a long and difficult 2020 with pressure on everything and tightened expenditures.
It is vital now more than ever to research the customer and instead of cutting the market research budget, you need to know more than ever how consumers are redefining value and responding to the coronavirus impacts.
Maintain marketing spending because this is not the time to cut advertising and it is well documented that brands that increase advertising during difficult times and recession, when the competitors are cutting back on marketing spend will increase their market share and this will drive a return on investment.
Marketers must re-forecast demand for each item in their product lines as consumers trade down to models that stress good value. Gimmicks are out; reliability, durability, safety and performance are in.
Now is the time that you need to look at your website. Take a look at the content, is it up to date?
Visit your website pages, check your contact page works – this sounds stupid but so many people are not aware of issues.
If you need to add to it, do you know how to? it might be something internal staff can work on.
Chameleon have been supporting our clients with changes, messages and information for staff and customers.
Get in touch if you need asssitance.
