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10 Creative Ways Businesses are

Serving Customers during Crisis
April 3, 2020
Blog > 10 Creative Ways Businesses are Serving Customers during Crisis

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10 Creative Ways Businesses are Serving Customers du... https://extension.unh.edu/blog/10-creative-ways-busine...

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Many communities with small businesses across the country and our state are
dealing with new challenges due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Small
businesses take great pride in their communities and provide essential and
valuable services. Recognizing this difficult time, we are also witnessing some very
creative and innovative solutions, with small businesses essentially adapting
overnight across New Hampshire. Here are 10 ways some communities and
businesses are adapting:

1. Developing or Enhancing an Online Strategy – Many businesses have

adapted by offering eGift Cards, increasing their social media presence,
working with other businesses to do a virtual craft fair, and FaceTiming their
customers for a personal shopping/curbside pickup experience. Some
companies, like Lightspeed, are offering free services to small businesses to
allow them to transition to selling online.
2. Joining a Database of Open Businesses: Many communities and chambers
of commerce are supporting their local businesses by keeping updated lists of
open businesses and services. The NH Business Review is also maintaining a
statewide list of restaurants found here.
3. Reaching out to Customers – Using social media or existing customer
listservs, businesses are reaching out to their loyal customers to update them
on their status and ways they can be supported. For more information, check
out Small Biz Guide from Teatotaller.
4. Utilizing Delivery Services – Nowadays, there is an abundance of delivery
services that businesses can use to get items from a store or restaurant to
customers. Everything from groceries, antiques, to local farm goods can make
their way from the store shelves to the doorstep without contact.

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5. Pivoting Types of Items Sold – Businesses are filling gaps in the emergency
response by developing or adapting products or services, such as converting
equipment to produce PPE, providing meals and supplies for first line
responders. Distilleries have shifted from making spirits to sanitizer, designers
are making face masks, and local farm collectives switched to offer not just
fresh produce and locally made food but to prepared foods and home delivery.

6. Shifting from In-person to Online Classrooms — Fitness studios,

children’s art classes and other classes can be taught virtually providing much
needed exercise, entertainment and stimulation for people of all ages. There
are many software programs businesses can use to still reach customers and
students.
7. Creating Meal Kits – To move their perishable items, some restaurants are
selling their raw ingredients as meal kits that people can make while self-
isolating at home. For example, making a pizza from the dough, sauce and
cheese at your local pizza joint can be a fun activity for small children, while
also supporting a local business. For the more adult audience, bars are selling
drink mixes without the alcohol.
8. Participating in a Love Chain – Some communities and groups of
businesses are working together to encourage customers to share gift cards to
local businesses with friends and then pass it on. Doing this can help pay it
forward for your local economy.
9. Placing Signs Outside Business - Some restaurants are keeping it simple
and posting signs outside announcing they are open for take-out. Other
businesses have signs outside to call a certain number and they will deliver to
your car.
10. Running Contests – Several organizations and chambers of commerce are
sponsoring contests encouraging people to get takeout, delivery, or do
curbside pickup from local businesses. Customers can take photos showing
they’ve made a purchase and can be entered to win a gift card to a local
business.

During these difficult times, adapting to the circumstances and being creative can
be so impactful for communities and local economies. For more information and
resources for businesses and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, please
click here.

Related pages:
Community & Economic Development
Growing Economy
Vibrant Communities
Community Leaders
Nature Economy
Community & Business Resources for COVID-19
COVID-19

Author(s)

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10 Creative Ways Businesses are Serving Customers du... https://extension.unh.edu/blog/10-creative-ways-busine...

Stephen
Meno, AICP
Former Community & Economic Development Field Specialist

Shannon
Rogers
Nature-Based Economic Development State Specialist
Durham Campus
603-862-5171
shannon.rogers@unh.edu

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