Foto einer Zeitung mit Corona-Lockdown Überschrift "Weil: Corona-Maßnahmen bisher ohne jede Wirkung"

New lockdown: what to do?

10/29/2020

Immediate measures for companies and retailers.

A new shutdown has been decided. What needs to be done now, especially differently and better than last time? As a small, medium-sized or large company, and as a retailer. Here is an overview of immediate measures in brief and keywords.

1. Communicate. Build community.

Talk to everyone.

A) Clients
B) Employees
C) Partners

By all means.

In person, via team tools, phone, WhatsApp, or email. It's good if they can see your face: If you have a video or team connection set up, use it—it's the new “in person”! (Not just “conference call.”)
Digital: via messages to many, blogs, newsletters.
Social media: short posts on all channels: LinkedIn, Xing, Facebook, Instagram.

What: Tell people what you are doing, how you are doing, and what you are planning to do. Be reliable and build trust.

2. Structure, instruments: everything in use.

Upgrade everything you can.

Website
Shop
Social
Personal

Be available. Be bookable. No more cardboard signs in windows. Everything must be staffed at all times, even outside opening hours. Normal is not normal. >>> Here's an overview.

If you have some catching up to do: Now is the time. Or never.

3. Expand, adapt, and offer products and services.

This should have happened in the meantime for many/most/all of you. If not yet, then now.

What do my clients need right now? >>> Urgent need!
What do they need next week? >>> Short-term need!
What do they need for Christmas? >>> Medium-term need!

Derive the important offers for now and immediately and: offer them.

4. Ensure delivery. Payment.

How do I get the goods there quickly? To the client, to the warehouse. This varies from person to person: digital, intangible = simple, or physical = heavy and important.

Do the “normal” channels work?
What other channels can I establish? With partners, specialists? Local/complementary providers?

What can and must I set up myself? For example, deliver directly to the client's home? Alone or in collaboration with partners?And: Ensure payment for the goods, products, or services. There are many established and effective measures available: choose the simplest and most secure option.

5. Ensure hygiene and health.

Employee safety means operational safety! Do everything. In the home office and on site.

What we do at DRIVE.

Most of my colleagues are still working from home, or have returned to doing so. A few are in the agency.

Everyone is available: 100% by phone, email, and team tools. There is a lot of communication, both with clients and among ourselves. Nothing has changed in that regard.
Everyone has team tools: MS Teams and Jira. They also have the necessary tools and hardware and software. All processes are completely digitized and digitally supported. This includes creation, development, and strategy.
Fully equipped, some equipment duplicated: a) @home, b) @agency. For example, two +X monitors at each work location, docking stations, laptops. We are gradually replacing and expanding this equipment.
Data protection also exists @home: a) via technology, b) secure connections, c) legal foundations and agreements. This is now “normal.”

This means that everything will continue as usual. We are currently preparing to move in the future. In the new premises, working from home will be an integral part of the work processes, both flexibly as required and in plans for who will be where and when. It will be important to continue to build and maintain a sense of community. Creative processes must also be well managed. Self-organization and time management are important: for processes and results, of course, but also for everyone's health. And for providing support, guidance, and training for younger employees.

6. Generate sales.

Especially for those who can no longer operate a brick-and-mortar business, i.e., on site.

The most important thing is to secure your business. Create offers!

Offer subscriptions
Offer vouchers and coupons
Special offers, promotions, and discounts
Additional services
Set up clubs
NEW products...

and much more. Create perspective. Trust. Security. Sorry, but prices need to be discussed, especially now.

Your clients aren't gone. They're just somewhere else!

Namely, on their screens: small, medium, and large. They still need something: love, products, services, security, friendship, closeness, trust, tenderness, and more products. Also, and especially, from you. The best way to find out what that is is to talk to them directly. Then make suggestions. The important thing now is not to freeze in shock. Take action now. Get going! Keep going.

And then: switch gears!

Even if it's difficult. Get out of disaster mode and into a different, positive mode. This is the new situation. Accept it. We have to find solutions for it. Create new offerings, reinvent ourselves completely. And that gives us new topics to talk about. With:

Information: data, facts, background, benefits
Service: solutions, help, support for specific problems, requirements, wishes, tasks
Entertainment that does you good. Old Hollywood rule: entertainment works particularly well in a crisis. Not just for escapism. But because entertainment builds you up and does you good, soothes the soul and gives you strength.