With a large part of the workforce working from home for the past 6 months, employers are likely rethinking a few things!
First, let me start with a disclaimer.
I am not a MYSTIC, a CLAIRVOYANT, nor do I possess any other-worldly power of predicting the future…
With that being said, I AM an ardent observer and analyzer of people and processes. If you have been on the sidelines waiting this pandemic out, I would encourage you to take a good look at how things are currently operating. There are a couple key things that this pandemic has changed in the work environment as well as the retail environment.
Physical Environment:
Utility Savings:
How much money was saved by not having employees in the building? The lights were probably off, thermostats set to energy saving mode, computers taken home, and water was not used in the bathrooms or break rooms.
Office Supply Savings:
How much money was saved on paper and toner by not using the company printer, or on toilet paper and paper towels, coffee in the break room, and other office supplies like pens, post-it notes, etc…?
Space Requirements:
How many square feet does the company really need to do business? If they hire extra workers will they need a bigger space or will they downsize to reduce overhead costs?
Work Environment:
Work/Life Balance:
Some workers have really enjoyed working from home, while others have really struggled to balance it all as school and childcare supports have been changed or removed. Without the commuting time, many employees are actually putting in MORE time at work than they were before. With Covid restrictions, vacations have been canceled and workers are not taking as much time off.
Zoom Fatigue:
Keeping a remote workforce engaged and productive is top priority for managers. Companies have been using platforms like Zoom to have virtual meetings to keep everyone informed. This has led to back-to-back Zoom meetings and Zoom fatigue!
Retail Environment:
Online Presence a MUST:
One of the biggest challenges was for the small businesses who did not have an online presence before the lock-down. Without a clear way to communicate with their customers, they really struggled to find ways to keep revenue coming in.
Online Ordering:
The businesses that weathered the storm the best, were ones that already had a platform in place for ordering online. They were the first to come up with delivery options or curbside pick-up options for customers.
Shopping -vs- Ordering:
Customer behaviors seem to be changing as well! Gone are the days where customers went shopping for fun. Endcap displays created to catch their attention with impulse purchases are not performing as they once did. The customers who ARE venturing into the stores are more focused on minimizing their time in the store and are more likely to bypass these Point of Purchase displays altogether. Customers using online ordering are only buying what they need and then picking up the purchase thus avoiding the store isles entirely. This has retailers rethinking the best use of space for these new shopping habits.
What does this mean for you?
This means you may benefit by rethinking your overhead needs. Do you NEED an office with a dedicated on-site staff? Could you reduce your overhead costs by embracing this new remote work model?
Now, more than ever, you need to be focusing on your online presence! You need a Website that is e-commerce ready and a Social Media strategy to cut through all the noise, and reach your customers!
Remote workers have shown us that you don’t HAVE to be onsite everyday to be effective. Contract work is definitely on the rise! Maybe now is the time to consider some contract help for your Website, Social Media, Graphic Design, and Marketing needs. The best part about a contract is that it is right-sized for YOUR needs! Only need 4 hours of help a week? No Problem!
If you are now realizing that your wait-it-out method isn’t working anymore and want to make some changes, let’s chat!