Local Guides of the world unite!
Yesterday I was crying in front of my laptop, when I saw the heartbreaking video of the baker Mr. Bosselmann in Germany, he was sending out a video to the world, to talk about the situation of his bakery during Corona (Covid-19). #bosselmann #Bäcker
My fist idea was, that we have to support small businesses in our community to fight Covid-19.
I want to shout to you all: “Local Guides of the world unite!”
Starting tomorrow, I will look for small businesses in my village close to Munich, to write reviews, to call them to find out, if they are offering a special service during the crisis like a to-go counter perhaps, or a delivery service. I am talking about bakeries, grocery shops, restaurant, little food stores, that will soon need to close down, if they are not getting our help. In Europe we have lots of this little food shops, bakeries and restaurants that are now frightened to loose their business.
I will share my reviews via Facebook and Instagram and I really hope, that there are people out there that are willing to help.
Take a look around in your communities and see where you can help without endangering our self. Please stick to the rules, especially the concept of social distancing is important, if you need to go shopping.
We, the local guides are powerful. With the support of Google we have a chance to influence, to guide, to help and to support. Please let us stand together in times of the Covid-19 crisis. Let us be brave! Please support the small businesses in your community!
#supportsmallbusinesses #Munich #corona #covid19
We would like to support the German policy of monetary aid for small and medium-sized companies with creative ideas. Our motto is “Help yourself to help yourself!” Please find below our collection of ideas “helpful tips on how small businesses can survive the Covid-19 crisis”.
My husband and I considered how we can support Germany, Europe and the world. Since we are neither part of the systemically relevant professional groups, but are paid for our ideas, we would like to make them available free of charge to help.
Practical tips on how small businesses can survive the Covid-19 crisis
Dear bakers, butchers, grocery stores, beverage markets and restaurant owners.
Today we address you with an appeal!
Please do not wait for the customers to come to you in times of the crisis. With the exit restrictions now imposed and more and more infected people, customers no longer want to be outside if possible.
People try to avoid business and crowds.
As a result, people go to one single supermarket and try to buy all the products there. This applies to meat and sausage products, vegetables and fruits, drinks as well as bread rolls, bread and cakes.
Our most important idea for you, dear bakers, butchers, greengrocers, beverage retailers and restaurant owners, open a delivery service with your employees during the crisis.
How can you quickly introduce a delivery service?
Easiest and cheapest way of marketing
- Poster in the branch window “We also deliver to your home!”
- Place order forms on a small table or at the counter.
- Throw a leaflet in the vicinity of the branch in the physical mailbox of possible customers.
Handouts or order slips could look something like this Customer Name:Customer address:Payment option: either PayPal, or the customer comes over once a week and pays in advance Create a customer account for older people who do not have a Pay Pal account or do not have an EC card. A certain amount of cash is paid on the first delivery and then the goods are delivered until the amount has been paid. With the last delivery, the customer determines whether he wants to continue using the service and pays in advance for the desired delivery time. Delivery variant: e.g. Hang the bag on the doorknob, determine a specific storage locationCheckbox for frequency of delivery (daily or weekly)
Example for a simple order slip for a bakery
x Monday: 2 rolls, 1 bagel, 1 piece of cake
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
x Thursday: 2 rolls, 1 bagel, 1 piece of cake
Friday:
Saturday:
x Sunday: 2 rolls, 1 bagel, 1 piece of cake
The prices of the most popular or best-selling 10 or more products could then be printed on the back of the handout. If the delivery has an extra charge, please also note this down on the order slip.
Try to take the Covid-19 crisis a chance for your business
We very much hope that many entrepreneurs see the crisis as an opportunity. Because when the Covid-19 crisis is over, the delivery service can continue. Older people or people with disabilities as well as families will continue to order from the baker, butcher they trust. Customer loyalty can also be improved through courageous action during the crisis.
Beverage markets are now supposed to deliver their drinks. There are voices on the Internet that the return of empties is stagnating. This can be offset by a delivery service with simultaneous return of empties.
An important tip to start with: “Don’t overstrain yourself, start with 10 or 20 households and try out how it works. Don’t be afraid of setbacks. You should always check the delivery concept and adapt it to the situation. In a small village, different measures can take effect than in a shop in the city center.
If it is not possible to set up your own delivery service for certain reasons, as an entrepreneur you can also engage a professional delivery services such as Lieferando for help and support.
Even for small branches: introduction of cashless payments. In order to protect customers, entrepreneurs should consider whether cashless payments would be an option to offer customers even more protection in times of Covid-19. In many bakeries, butchers and vegetable shops in Europe, cash is still the only possible way of payment. Since we unfortunately know that viruses can survive on surfaces for some time, it would be a good thing to do without cash completely, also for reasons of epidemic protection. Cashless payment methods are e.g.
- PayPal
- Paydirekt
- Giropay
- Sofort-Dienst (formally called SOFORT Überweisung)
- Masterpass
- Amazon Pay
- Apple Pay
- GooglePay
- Barzahlen.de
or debit cards with contact-free payment function
An important tip for concerned citizens: Payback Pay is already available from REWE and Penny. You can therefore pay completely cashlessly with your mobile phone at the cash register and you do not have to touch change with your hand anymore.
Hygiene measures
It is important, especially in times of Covid-19, to visibly showing to the customer that all hygiene regulations and requirements that are now valid are being observed. This can be demonstrated very well by using disposable gloves or disinfecting the hands of employees or wearing a face mask, especially in the food sector. The more secure the customer feels in the branch, the more likely they are to buy from you again in the next few weeks.
Marketing is expensive Advertising and marketing campaigns cost a lot of money. Now is the best time for you as an entrepreneur to advertise yourself with the right service. Now make special offers that increase customer loyalty even after Covid-19. If you are there for your customers in bad times, you will always be remembered with your great service and very popular products. The premier class of marketing is called “story telling”. I can well imagine that customers will meet and say in front of your branch in two years. Do you still remember March 2020 when I was in quarantine at home and the baker XY always delivered my favorite rolls and the great apple strudel to my home. Since then I’ve been a regular customer and on Sundays I always treat myself to breakfast in bed. My baker always delivers the rolls and cake to my door. This scenario or something like that might happen and even expand your customer base.
Now I would like to end with a quote from Oscar Wilde"In the end everything will be fine. And if it is not good, it is not the end."