Thoughts On Re-Opening Your Business By Grace Nasralla

Grace Nasralla is the owner of e-presence Consultants Inc, founder of OSBN® and HUDDLESPACE by OSBN®.  Grace holds a Bachelor degree in Communication Arts with an emphasis on Radio, TV and Film, and an Honours Diploma in Business Administration and Accounting.  She has been a Microsoft Certified Trainer since 2009 and is a member of the Microsoft Partners Network.

1. How can businesses smooth the transition of reopening their business in the coming weeks or months?

My approach is going to be increasing work hours slowly.  I realize that businesses are going to prioritize their spending, so sales may not pickup very quickly; but it will be a good time for me to focus on marketing and getting the word out that we are open and back in business.

2. What are the differences between business operations pre and post-COVID and what is your advice to small businesses adapting to the new normal?

I think due to the instability of the situation, businesses and people, in general, will definitely be more conscious about their spending.  They will be more aware of the cleanliness of the place they go into, they will be more conscious to use hand sanitizers when they see it and they will be more distant even in their approach because they are aware of the social distancing aspect of our days. Businesses will have to put procedures in place to ensure compliance with the COVID-19 situation. Definitely, things have changed and we can see that when we go to major stores like SuperStore and Costco and us in turn, whether it be as consumers or as businesses have to realize that our compliance to these changes is key to our success in transitioning back into the business.