The Newsstand May 2020

How Businesses Are Adapting to the Coronavirus Pandemic

Social distancing measures and shelter-in-place lockdowns have led to entire companies transforming their workforce. Demand for video conferencing software such as Google Hangouts and Zoom has skyrocketed as more and more people are working from home.

The Coronavirus pandemic has also led to a sharp increase in demand for home delivery. Dawn Kelly, a small-business owner from Queens, said that everything about her restaurant business has changed. "I'm not letting people in," she said in an interview with ABC News. "We’re serving people pretty much at the door."

"We keep the door locked, we go to the door and we give them their food from behind the door with gloves on," she added. "Same thing with our delivery app drivers, we’re not letting them in, they are showing us their phone through the window."

In the midst of all the chaos, leaders and CEOs struggle to support their employees. Millions of Americans were sent on furlough, adding more stress to an already difficult situation. Thankfully, businesses, large and small, are starting to adapt.

Grocery stores across the country are setting aside special hours for senior customers and the immune-compromised. Gyms and yoga studios have started to offer online classes, making sure their customers can still work out while self-isolating. Artisans are reinventing their business by selling products for in-home entertainment, and bakeries are live-streaming cooking classes. It seems as if the coronavirus is not only reshaping our relationships but the way our businesses are run, too.

Wedding Businesses Pivot Amid the Crisis

One of the industries hit hardest by the coronavirus crisis is the wedding industry. Vendors report that approximately 95% of spring weddings have been canceled during what was supposed to be the busiest season of the year. Naturally, this is cause for concern if engaged couples are your primary customers. There are wedding businesses that are adapting, though. Read our latest blog post to learn how four founders are changing their direction to make a strong recovery after this crisis is over. 

E-Commerce Sales Are Up 25%

As a result of nation-wide lockdowns, e-commerce sales in the US have gone up 25%. Online shoppers are particularly interested in fitness products (55% more online sales), laptops (40% more online sales), and, of course, toilet paper (231% more online sales). Other things that are up include games, craft supplies, entertainment (podcasts, videos, etc.), and delivery services.

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