How I pivoted my business during COVID-19
When COVID-19 forced businesses to close, these five small business owners found creative ways to stay up and running.
Taking to tech: Trivia Mafia
Bar trivia was one of the niche small business industries hit hard by COVID-19. Trivia company Trivia Mafia found a way to keep the questions and much-needed entertainment coming: they moved in-person games to virtual video platforms. Read more on how owner Chuck Terhark grew his business through these major changes.
Leaning on community: Les Sól
In an age when many of us default to ordering items online from big-box stores, small boutique retailers rely on foot traffic and visibility to compete. The challenges that COVID-19 presented didn’t stop sisters Megan and Mikaela from opening their lifestyle boutique Les Sól. Here’s how the sisters were able to build their brand during a time when shopping in-person wasn’t an option.
Staying true to yourself: Urban Undercover
Retailers in airports rely on in-person shopping in-between flights, making 2020 an extremely tough year for business owners like Sairey Gernes, founder and owner of Urban Undercover. The travel clothing store’s main location is in the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport, which meant Sairey had to change from brick-and-mortar to e-commerce. Read more on how she stayed true Urban Undercover’s brand while making the switch.
Working through and working out: ALTR Fit
After being closed down for months, gyms and fitness studios were able to open during COVID-19, but with strict sanitary guidelines and social distancing protocols. Those roadblocks didn’t stop Vinny Amendola from bringing HIIT workouts to his clients at ALTR Fit, a fitness studio. Here’s how Vinny and his team made the switch to online classes — and built a more active community while doing it.
Staying the course: Wenonah Canoe
With decades of canoe-building under their belt, the team at Wenonah Canoe has been navigating the waters of small business ownership for a long time. But COVID-19 was not something vice president Bill Kueper had prepared for, nor did they expect it to cause outdoor recreation equipment demand to increase drastically. Hear Bill’s story on how his team will keep operations steady after demand returns to normal.
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