There is no doubt that covid 19 will change the way business will be conducted in the future. This health crisis produced also a social and individual trauma that will take a long time to heal.
Let's try to navigate few implications:
I. Keep your business financially alive - and the reopening day will find you prepared:
- Apply for all the resources available - SBA loans/grants, states financial aid. PPP can help you with a loan that can be converted to a grant equal to 2.5 times your monthly payroll - see attached updates I received form CPA
- Apply for unemployment even if you/your workers have been paid as self employed/contract worker/part time worker, etc If you don't qualify for regular unemployment compensation - you’ll still receive non taxable $600/week plus minimum unemployment for your state( around $150 /week or more). This will bring about $3000/month in income for the next 4 months.
- Talk to your landlord about giving you a 2-3 months break with lease. Do not take NO for an answer from him/her. They themselves also can apply for federal help too. Do not accept to pay the lease for these months later - probably you won't be able to do it - recovery will be longer and slower than we hope. The landlords are themselves in a tough spot- if a SPA closes permanently it will take a long time until they find another tenant and the rent will be lower.
- Take a look at your business insurance and fill a claim even though they will deny it now, it's possible that soon Congress/government will force these hugely profitable insurance companies to pay some compensation to small businesses.
- Cut/minimize/put on hold all unnecessary expenses for this time - subscriptions, ads, etc
II. Prepare/adapt your business NOW for the day you’ll reopen it:
- Keep your connection to your clients - Facebook/website updates, an email, a text message or even a phone call to clients showing sympathy and solidarity can mean a lot to some.
- Use this time to make the upgrades/renovations that will help you in the future - many times you won't spend a lot of money but rather your work/time. It will also stay busy and feel a little better about the future. Make sure your exhaust ventilation work properly in order to maintain a negative air pressure during salt therapy sessions
- Add essential equipment available to your customers : face masks, gloves, safety glasses, hand sanitizers, infrared thermometers, socks/shoe covers
III. Design a client etiquette/operation protocol that will meet both clients safety and business viability:
- For larger salt rooms - no community sessions while Covid19 is still a pandemic. Encourage clients to come and offer deep discounted prices for large groups/families.
There is no other way to maintain a 6 ft distance. For small salt rooms offer only private salt room sessions.
- If financially feasible - now is the time to convert larger salt rooms in smallers salt rooms to increase the number of clients that can be accommodated at once. Converting a bigger salt room in 2 smaller salt rooms can actually double the nr of clients allowed at the same time
- Extend the time between sessions to allow exiting clients to not encounter entering clients
- Require that incoming clients to not come earlier that the appointment time, use an infrared no touch thermometer to check temperature.
- If you have 2 or more salt rooms use alternate time for schedule sessions.
- If you have 2 restrooms - convert them in unisex in order to have enough time to sanitize one at the time
- Make sure that all disposables - shoe covers, etc - are deposited in a tight closed container
- Use shoe cover dispensers
- Apply a thorough cleaning after each session.
- Stop using online scheduling for a while in order to explain every client at the booking time all the safety rules you instituted for their safety and ask them to comply
- Make sure every client knows the safety rules, have them on your website/facebook, email them prior to first visit, ask them to retain a booklet for their future visits.
- Adapt the waiver to include new conditions/risks created by COVID19 and have every client sign it at first visit.
- Make sure every client knows the benefits salt therapy can provide in strengthening the immune system and during recovery after respiratory illness.
- Maintain a positive, relaxing environment in addition to safety - a relaxing time at the salt room will make your business more successful with a lot of returning customers.