By Brian Berk
Advice Column Tips and Findings From NAMM’s Webinar Series
No matter if your store is open or not, today is anything but business as usual. In an effort to provide all of the advice necessary for MI retailers to get through these difficult times, NAMM has hosted a series of webinars. Here, I provide some tips from several of the webinars, as well as a look at what some retailers and manufacturers have gone through during this pandemic. This is just a taste of what was presented in four of NAMM’s webinars. Make sure to visit namm.org to view the complete series of webinars and to see what may have been added since press time.
‘COVID-19 Small Business Update: Key Issues to Consider as You Re-Open for Business’
Bob Phibbs, “The Retail Doctor,” also dubbed this session “Reopening with Hope: What You Need to Plan for, Rethink and Buy to Reopen Your Doors.” He presented a five-step plan for retailers when reopening a store: 1. A PLAN FOR DOING YOUR OWN DUE DILIGENCE “In the last eight weeks, trust has been broken,” said Phibbs. “Trust for the government to take care of us, trust for our public health, trust for our politicians, trust of our banking system, trust of the stock market and even trust our own family can keep us safe has all been broken. Suddenly, we are looking around and saying, ‘Wow, this is very different.’ This cosmic shellshock we’ve all [had] is affecting everything. It especially affects retail, because we are the signs of a new world.” The solution to this problem is to do “everything in your power to regain that trust and make people feel safe and welcome again.” “Anything touchable needs to be regularly sanitized,” said Phibbs. “Heavily touched surfaces should be cleaned every 30 minutes or more. … Doing due diligence means you are going to need to wear a mask, even if you personally think it is unnecessary or your governor doesn’t require it. It is not about you. It is about your customers.” Phibbs pointed to a survey that said 86 percent of people would not go into a store where people were not wearing masks and gloves, with the latter part dependent on what they are selling. “What that means is, they are already afraid walking in and need to be reassured,” he said. As for types of masks, Phibbs noted retailers should not look scary or “surgical.” Finding someone who can create a mask with your store logo can really work well. Etsy is one place to find people who can sell these products, he suggested. Concerning customers wearing masks, Phibbs stated retailers must decide based upon state rules. However, he said a great way to get customers
MUSIC & SOUND RETAILER
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