SARASOTA – With the new stay-at-home order, only essential businesses will keep working. But, what about those who aren’t in that category?
Florida unemployment claims surge to 227,000, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
“If you’re engaging in essential activity, ok. If your not, then you’re going to be protecting yourself, your family, and your fellow Floridians better if you stay close to home,” Governor Ron Desantis said.
“We’re marketing, we’re not essential,” Grapevine Communications President and owner, Allison Imre, said.
Imre says as a non-essential small business, she is trying to keep her company afloat.
Her solution? She’s taking the advice she’s giving to her clients:
“Pivot, don’t panic,” Imre said. “Try to find opportunities to demonstrate compassion and leadership and to be a part of what will be our new normal.”
The key is to stay relevant.
“People still need to hear from you, they’re still in need of services,” Imre said.
They’re a full-service marketing and public relations firm with Sarasota roots and a national reach.
Vice President of Business Development, Gabriele Harris, says another tip to small businesses is to over-communicate.
“We’re reaching out to each other through text message if we’re not seeing a response come thought by email,” Harris said. “Because it is different and people are going to adapt in different ways.”
In Grapevine Communications, not one employee has been laid off.
Imre says the revenue is not there, but they need to work is still present. All 17 locations are still working.
“We’re 17 and strong still,” Imre said. “We began about two weeks making certain that we had full remote capabilities.”
This includes access to a virtual server, moving everything to cloud-based, and ensuring everyone has equipment and security protocols.
“I mean there’s a lot of trial and error, to see how things work best,” Harris said. “And then, of course, breaking old habits. That’s the biggest issue, I think for everyone.”
While marketing is not classified as an essential service, Several of their clients are.
“We’re trying to be a resource as much as possible to our clients locally, regionally and nationally,” Imre said. “So they’re able to serve their clients and keep the economy pumping as much as possible, and preventing as many more layoffs as we possibly can.”
“It’s interesting times, but thank God, for today’s technology, we’re able to adapt and overcome,” Harris said.
“We’re going to keep chugging along,” Imre said. “What I keep telling people, is yea, we’re limping, but we’re not crippled.”
The 30-day stay-at-home order goes into effect at midnight on Thursday.