have sales. We need to be prepared that the hard times are nowhere near over yet. The methods for determining essential services was inconsistent and unfair. Grocery stores were packed with no distancing while dining rooms sat vacant. We have lost key seasonal opportunities that carry us through the lean times – spring break, Easter, Mother’s Day, and Memorial Day. Without travel, I expect summer sales to be dismal. There are no festivals, concerts, or sporting events, etc. to help drive traffic. It is going to be a long hot summer, and with the threat of a fall return of Covid-19, a long cold winter. We need help, lots of help. HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO REOPEN AND REBUILD YOUR BUSINESS POST–COVID-19? We are looking at all options, with the number-one priority being keeping our employees and guests safe. We are putting new practices in place for social distancing and safety for all. We want people to feel good coming to work and coming to dine. I think once everyone starts to feel safe, we will get back to some kind of new normal. We realize our business is not going to rebound the minute we open the doors, and we must be prepared to make rapid adjustments, whether it be our menu, hours of operation, employee flexibility, etc. We have a new training piece that is being implemented so our employees know how to handle this new way of life post–Covid-19.
ASPEN RICKS Aspen Ricks has a history of community involvement in and around the Kansas City area where she operates four Children’s Lighthouse locations. In the past she has put together gift baskets for families in need and hosted food drives at her schools to collect canned and other non-perishable food items for families in need. Ricks says she’s always felt called to give back to her community – especially now. HOW HAS COVID-19 AFFECTED YOUR BUSINESS? At Children’s Lighthouse, we’ve been deemed an essential business as we provide care for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged children. Like many small businesses, the pandemic has caused a decrease in sales for our school and we had to reduce hours for our employees. Our curriculum and care, however, have stayed the same. While we have reduced class sizes to help practice social distancing, we are doing everything in our power to keep our students on a normal schedule. In times of uncertainty, it’s important to provide children with a sense of stability and support. WHAT ARE YOU DOING RIGHT NOW TO GET THROUGH THIS? We believe that we have a responsibility to provide our communit y with educational, safe, and dependable childcare. So at our four schools in the Kansas City area we are keeping our foot on the gas and refuse to slow down until this pandemic is over. Like many, we’ve had to tighten the budget and cut back in certain areas. Where we’ve kept our focus, though, is on grassroots marketing efforts. We want to ensure that families in Johnson County know we’re
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FRANCHISEUpdate
ISSUE 2, 2020
