SWEET BOSS

THREE YEARS LATER

Lessons fromthe Pandemic

BY CYDNI N. MITCHELL

Although it feels like yesterday, can you believe that the global pandemic that shook the world happened almost three years ago? The pandemic changed so much about how we live our daily lives and it has definitely changed the way a lot of us run our businesses. As we emerge into another year of unknown possibilities, I want to take a moment to reflect on four major lessons that we, as Sweet Bosses, should have learned from the pandemic.

1. BE FLEXIBLE. The businesses that did well during the pandemic were the ones that quickly adapted to change. When we were asked to socially distance, the food businesses who developed contactless delivery policies or took advantage of delivery apps were able to keep their businesses going with very little slowdown. Very few of us can actually tell the future; however, we can read the writing on the wall and take actions based on our best guesses.

Although none of us could have ever imagined that life would change so quickly because of a pandemic, there is no denying that food delivery apps were already gaining in popularity before 2020. As a Sweet Boss, it is your responsibility to remain open to new opportunities and to be willing to try new methods of reaching customers. Being flexible when it comes to new tools, resources, and policies will help your business continue to grow and survive during challenging times. 2. PLAN FOR THE UNEXPECTED. When you run a thriving business, it can be easy to lose sight of certain expenses. Splurging on a larger workspace or financing expensive equipment feels like a great idea when times are good and the money is flowing; however, the pandemic taught us to expect the unexpected.

I’m a huge advocate for investing in your business, but you must make sure that every move you make in business is strategic. Build a cushion of savings to help cover your basic monthly expenses for a certain length of time, like six to 18 months. Then, make specific purchases after you’ve built a level of comfort that you can afford to make the investment.

When times are good, make sure to focus on keeping your cash safe and building and retaining good credit. This will help you in the long run if times ever take a turn for the worse. 3.DON’T PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET. Over the years, many popular entrepreneurs have pushed the idea of having seven or more streams of income to grow wealth. The pandemic taught us that this may not be such a bad idea. If you focused on weddings or celebration cakes, your business was likely hit pretty hard during the pandemic. Those businesses who diversified their income by providing other services or menu items were able to expand their businesses during the pandemic in ways they may not have previously dreamed.

I recall seeing bakeries offer “sponsored lunch boxes” to support frontline workers during the height of the pandemic. I saw other bakeries offer and deliver treat boxes to party guests who attended virtual birthday parties. Although these ideas may not have extended much beyond the shelter-in-place period of the pandemic, being flexible and open to providing other services allowed many businesses to stay afloat and even thrive during the pandemic. Being open to multiple streams of income will only help round out your business and reduce the risk to your revenue in times of uncertainty. 4. TECHNOLOGY IS YOUR FRIEND. Who knew virtual tastings and parties were even an option? From e-signed contracts to online meetings, the world really opened up while we were locked inside. Although some of the ways that we interact with our customers will go back to the old normal now that the worst is behind us, it’s nice to know that there are tools out there that will help us stay connected and the business moving forward. Delivery apps, online store platforms, and text message marketing are not going away anytime soon. Keep an eye out for other resources that will continue to make your business run efficiently in the future.

We all just experienced a once-ina-generation event as a society and I know that most of us will be forever changed. As your business continues in these next few years, don’t forget these lessons and others that you learned during the pandemic. Stay flexible and ready for whatever life throws your way. As long as you prepare during the good times and keep an open mind in the tough times, you’ll be able to weather any storm! ACD

Cydni N. Mitchell

(a.k.a. Cyd) is a bakery consultant and the sweet business coach behind Sweet Fest®. Based in Atlanta, GA, Sweet Fest® is an online company that supports the business needs of the sweets community in the areas of professional development, marketing, branding, and web design. By trade, Cyd is an accountant and financial analyst with a master’s from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is the co-founder of the Sugar Coin Academy, an online business academy for business owners in the baking and sweets industry, and she is also the organizer of The Ultimate Sugar Show, Georgia’s largest annual baking and sweets expo in Atlanta.

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