Preparing for Recovery from the Covid-19 Pandemic - Part 1

 

Cafes and restaurants, function venues and clubs are either closing completely or doing takeaway pick up service or delivery. 

Those that are staying open are trying to re-invent themselves to deliver a product to their loyal customers but trying not to damage their brand or reputation that they have worked so hard to maintain. 

Those that have closed are registering for assistance from the Government, negotiating with landlords, guiding staff they want to keep in getting them the best financial assistance and trying to work out how to pay the utilities. 

No other time in our history has the hospitality industry had this big of a challenge for its survival. 

Will everything bounce back to how it was? I hope not.

This is a time to re assess your business model. 

Is it time to diversify with a mixture of what you will be doing now and for the next 6 months, like online and onsite ordering, cooked and cold takeaway choices, retail products that present well and at the right price point, your own home/business delivery service (don't pay 30% to outside delivery companies) and what you were doing, pre Covid-19 restrictions however now with better trained and informed staff who want to be part of your new business model? This is the time to get rid of the 'same same' and the dead wood, if you get my drift.

These and many options will be open to you. 

Here are few more tips:

·      Online sales, use Shopify or Foodstorm

·      Re negotiate terms with your suppliers, staff and the landlord.

·      Time to do that deep clean of your venue that you've been meaning to do. 

·      Re-decorate and reorganise 

We are being bombarded with how we should be using our time for during these uncertain times. 

Below are some great articles with important content to keep you busy by Ken Burgin at Silver Chef Build Skills and Stay Busy and 23 Ways to Stay in touch with Restaurant and Cafe Customers

Please take time to just think, exercise, listen to your favourite Podcasts or discover new ones, read those books you've been meaning to read, re-connect with old work mates who are in the same situation (not in person). 

Don’t forget to check in on your loved ones and that includes your staff, you will need them when this is over.

Thanks for reading, Bill