As North Carolina begins the gradual phased re-opening of the state due to the COVID-19 situation, many business owners are wondering what they need to do to prepare for the “new normal.”
There’s no prior roadmap to follow, nor is there anyone who can offer concrete advice as to how to successfully navigate re-opening their front doors and adequately protect themselves for whatever may lie ahead in the future.
At AlphaGraphics of Downtown Raleigh, we’ve remained open throughout this crisis, serving the signage needs of the local community. We’ve helped countless Raleigh business prepare their stores with signage that will help provide their clients and customers with a safe and enjoyable experience.
We want to share with you four things that we’ve noticed many Raleigh businesses are doing to adapt to the new normal of a post-COVID-19 society in North Carolina.
Sanitize, Sanitize, Sanitize
It may take a few weeks to a few months for the general public to feel safe enough to venture outside their homes. As your newly re-opened retail and restaurant business starts to see increased foot traffic, many customers will naturally be worried about sanitation and venturing out into a brick-and-mortar store.
Have your employees sanitize high-touch areas in your store. Pens, countertops, and even the credit card pin pad will need to be wiped down after each customer interaction. You can help alleviate the fears and concerns of some of your customers by putting up temporary exterior signs and indoor posters that inform them of exactly what your store is doing to help ensure their good health and safety. Need supplies like sanitizer? Visit our reopen supply store.
Client and Customer Communication
If you haven’t done so already, consider reaching out to your client or customer base to let them know that you’re open for business and can provide the same level of excellent service. Direct mail, social media posts, and an email blast will inform them of any new changes you’ve made due to the COVID-19 situation.
This will also serve to help reassure them that you’re looking out for their safety. You can inform them of the recent sanitary changes you’ve made, which will help further improve their trust in your brand. Of course, you can also send out marketing messages that will inform them of any special sales or deals you’re currently running.
Create a Remote Work Policy
Many Raleigh businesses are offering certain employees the opportunity to work from home long after they’ve re-opened to the public. This not only has cost savings associated with it but can also help prevent the spread of germs once flu season rolls around again.
Remote work is relatively new, and many businesses are unsure as to how to effectively manage employees and ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible. First, look at who can perform their jobs remotely. You’ll need to provide the tools they’ll need—such as laptops, office supplies, and web cameras.
What will happen if someone has a technical issue? Will your internal IT department handle it, or will you have to outsource it to a third-party company, such as Geek Squad?
By developing a remote work policy, you’ll be able to avoid some of the major pitfalls that many work-at-home workers face. This will allow the transition to go as smoothly as possible and allow your employees to quickly adjust to their new workspaces.
Consider Outsourcing Work
Perhaps you’ve had to lay off a few employees or cut back on expenses. Regardless of your situation, the work still needs to get done. By outsourcing certain aspects of your business, such as marketing or sales, you’ll still be able to attract new clients and customers.
At AlphaGraphics of Downtown Raleigh, we offer a wide range of marketing services that can help your business remain competitive and drive new leads and sales.
Direct mail, copywriting, and email marketing are just a few of the many professional services that you can rely on to help keep your marketing machine running. We’ve worked with countless local and national businesses in the Raleigh area and understand the market inside and out.
Marketing Help in Raleigh
We hope this blog post has given you some ideas on how you can effectively re-open your Raleigh business and prepare for the uncertain future ahead. If you need help driving new leads or sales, we can help. We’re currently working with several Raleigh businesses and organizations to help them regain sales and customers lost to the COVID-19 situation.
At AlphaGraphics of Downtown Raleigh, we’re much more than a print shop. We’re also marketing experts who you can count on to help you when it comes time to market your business. To learn more about how AlphaGraphics of Downtown Raleigh can help with your content graphic design and marketing needs, you may
email us,
request a quote or call us at
(919) 832-2828.