COVID-19 Resources for Main Street Directors and Business Owners
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COVID-19 Resources for Main Street Directors and
Business Owners
This document will serve as a repository of resources for maneuvering through and beyond the
COVID-19 health crisis. Please read the following categories to learn more about small business
resources.
Category: CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act)
1. NTCIC: (National Trust Community Investment Corporation)
How the Federal Stimulus Can Support Small Businesses and Nonprofits
Great list of bullet points: https://ntcic.com/news-blog/federal-stimulus-small-business-
support/
2. Baton Rouge Area Chamber: Here’s What’s in the CARES Act for Small Businesses
• Paycheck Protection Program (SBA 7(a))we Asst —Business loans up to $10M will
be made directly by private, local banks and CDFIs, to enhance the speed of processing and
delivery. Interest rates are capped at 4%. The loans, if used on payroll and other defined
operating expenses in a defined time period, are forgivable.
• Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)—Loans made directly by the SBA of up to
$2M with F rates of 3.75%, which can be used on payroll and other defined operating expenses.
These loans are not forgivable, but if the EIDL loan is related to COVID-19 and was made on or
after Jan. 31, the business may apply for a forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loan with an
option to refinance that loan into a PPP loan up until June 30.
• Delay of payment of employer payroll taxes—Employers can defer their portion of
Social Security taxes over the next two years. Fifty percent could be deferred through the end of
2021, and the remaining could be deferred through the end of 2022.
• Modification of net operating losses—Net operating losses arising in a tax year
beginning in 2018, 2019, or 2020 can now be carried back five years, and the taxable income
limitation to allow an NOL to fully offset income has been removed. Businesses can take
advantage of this change to amend prior-year tax returns to get additional financial liquidity. The
Baton Rouge Area Chamber has more information.
Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) Fact Sheet from US Treasury.
Download the PPP Borrower Application Form.
3. LABI/Garret Graves Webinar:LABI President Stephen Waguespack will join Congressman Garret Graves Thursday, April 2,
2020 at 8:30 a.m. for a webcast discussion of how the CARES Act and other federal legislation
will provide relief to businesses amid the Coronavirus crisis.
The webcast will be moderated by Baton Rouge Business Report's executive editor, JR Ball.
Questions may be submitted during the live webinar using Zoom's Q&A.
Webinar Registration
4. Unemployment for the Self-Employed: Anyone who is qualified for at least $1 of State
Unemployment Insurance Benefits or the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
benefits will be eligible to receive the additional $600 benefit from the federal CARES
Act. This includes self-employed and 1099 workers, who are normally excluded from
receiving state benefits. Click here to access the Louisiana Workforce Commission
webpage.
Category: CARES Act for Non-Profits
Basically, the CARES Act provisions for non-profits are the same as the provisions for small
businesses. Nonprofits may qualify for:
1. Emergency Small Business Loans (Paycheck Protection Program) for up to $10
million.
• Loans are forgivable if the non-profit keeps staff on the payroll between March 1
and June 30.
• The forgiveness provision turns this into a general operating support grant.
• Loans can be used for:
o Meeting payroll and associated costs such as health insurance premiums
o Facilities costs
o Debt service
• Processed through local financial institutions
**If you need assistance to calculate your payroll loan - here is a link to WhizBang. Scroll down
the page to Paycheck Protection Loan Calculator Tool
https://whizbangtraining.com/coronavirus/#ppl-tool?utm_source=ONTRAPORT-email-
broadcast&utm_medium=ONTRAPORT-email-
broadcast&utm_term=WBT+Everyone&utm_content=%5BCoronavirus+%26+Retail%5D+Wee
kly+Update+4.03.2020&utm_campaign=04032020
2. Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for up to $2 million
• Interest rate of 2.75% for non-profits
• Loans can be used for:
o Payment of fixed debts
o Payroll
o Accounts payable
o Other bills that can’t be paid due to financial constraints of the organization
• Processed through Small Business Administration
**Note: Donors to nonprofits can get tax breaks for donations of up to $300 made to qualifying
charities during 2020.3. Greater New Orleans Foundation webinar: Nonprofit Essentials for Preparing for
the COVID-19 Pandemic: Federal, State, and Local Policy Response Related to
COVID-19
Category: Small Business Administration information
Go to www.SBA.gov/disaster - The CARES Act passed and was signed into law on March 27.
The package includes several provisions for small businesses, including the Paycheck Protection
Program (PPP), forgivable loans of up to $10 million, with interest rates no higher than 4%,
made directly by private local banks and CDFIs. The loans are forgivable if they are used on
payroll and other defined operating expenses in a defined time period. These provisions mean
that businesses that have had to furlough or lay people off can rehire those employees and use
the PPP to cover payroll.
The CARES Act also provides for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advances of $10,000,
which must be delivered to applicants within three days, and which can be rolled into PPP loans.
Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), available at rates of 3.75% for up to $2 million, were
made available prior to the CARES Act’s passage. EIDLs can also be used on payroll and other
defined operating expenses, but are not forgivable. It is important to note that while businesses
can apply for and receive both a PPP and EIDL, they cannot be used for the same purpose.
Link to SBA COVID-19 web page: https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-
business-guidance-loan-resources
Category: Louisiana Economic Development (LED)
1. Louisiana Loan Portfolio Guaranty Program (LPGP):
• Main Street businesses are encouraged to apply
• Must have fewer than 100 employees
• Loan amount up to $100,000
• Additional information:
https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/lpgp-
response-covid19_v3.pdf?sfvrsn=dc41a405_2
2. LED Launches Business Hotline: Louisiana Economic Development is launching a
telephone hotline service to answer questions from the business community as the
COVID-19 emergency continues. The LED staff will field business-related inquiries
from small businesses, major industries and other regional and local partners and
stakeholders. Our team will seek to provide information directly or provide referrals to
available resources elsewhere in state government. The current hotline number is
225.342.4321. A toll-free hotline number is coming soon. LED also maintains a resource
page for businesses to get information, clarity, and answers. This page is linked below.
If you closed because of the Governor’s Stay At Home order, but aren’t sure if your business
qualifies as essential, call the Louisiana Department of Economic Development to ask at (833)457-0531 or via email at LEDbiz@la.gov. There are many businesses allowed to remain open,
but must do so following safety protocols.
3. LED COVID-19 RESOURCE
PAGE
Category: Loan Programs
ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN PROGRAM
Small business owners in all U.S. states and territories are currently eligible to apply for a low-
interest loan due to Coronavirus (COVID-19). Click here to apply.
FaceBook Grants to small businesses - Facebook Small Business Grants Program | Boost with
Facebook
$100M in cash grants and ad credits
Find more information on the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans at: SBA.gov/Disaster.
The SBA will work directly with state Governors to provide targeted, low-interest loans to small
businesses and nonprofits that have been severely impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working
capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to
help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.
If you have laid off someone or cut back their hours or furloughed them for a while, please give
them information about unemployment insurance. Tell them to seek information and an
application from the Louisiana Workforce Commission. You can also talk to your accountant
and get some financial assistance in new tax credits that passed Congress.
Category: Additional Access to Money
1. JPMorgan pledged $50 million global philanthropic commitment to support
communities and people hit hardest by this public health crisis, including $2 million to
existing nonprofit partners and $8 million to assist small businesses. Learn more.
2. Kabbage launched an online hub to help boost sales for U.S small businesses impacted
by COVID-19, including a system through which businesses can sell gift cards to
consumers for use at a later date. Learn more.3. The James Beard Foundation is launching a fund that will be gathering support from
corporate, foundation, and individual donors to provide micro-grants to independent food
and beverage businesses in need. Learn more.
4. MainVest, a crowdfunding platform, announced its new Main Street Initiative: a $2,000,
zero-interest, 120 day loan for restaurants or other brick and mortars affected by the
shutdown. Learn more.
5. Opportunity Fund, which specializes in money lending to small businesses owned by
women, immigrants and people of color, is collaborating with investors and nonprofits to
put together a coronavirus relief fund that will provide grants and low-interest rate loans.
Learn more.
6. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA): When you file your claim application, a
determination of monetary eligibility (did you earn enough wages during a specified
period of time) will be issued for a Regular (State) Unemployment claim. If you are not
eligible for a Regular Unemployment claim, we WILL make a determination for the
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. All you have to do is
continue to file for your weekly benefits currently. We will ask additional questions once
the program is fully implemented. This is expected the week of April 13, 2020.
• The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance will pay a minimum of $107 and a
maximum of $247 depending on wage verifications.
• The following are conditions that will be considered for Pandemic Unemployment
Assistance if you are not eligible for a Regular Unemployment Insurance claim.
• This emergency benefit provides up to 39 weeks of unemployment insurance
benefits to qualifying individuals who are otherwise able to work and available
for work within the meaning of applicable state UC law, except that they are
unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work due to one of
the COVID-19 related reasons. These includes those people not otherwise eligible
for regular unemployment, including the self-employed and those who have
exhausted their regular and extended benefits
• Eligibility Requirements:
o You have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms
of COVID-19 and are seeking a medical diagnosis;
o A member of your household has been diagnosed with COVID-19;
o You are providing care for a family member or a member of your
household who has been diagnosed with COVID-19;
o You have a child or other person in the household for which you have
primary caregiving responsibility who is unable to attend school or
another facility that is closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public
health emergency and such school or facility care is required for you to
work;
o You are unable to reach your place of employment because of a quarantine
imposed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency;
o You are unable to reach the place of employment because you have been
advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns
related to COVID-19;o You were scheduled to commence employment and do not have a job or
are unable to reach the job as a direct result of the COVID-19 public
health emergency;
o You have become the breadwinner or major support for a household
because the head of the household has died as a direct result of COVID-
19;
o You had to quit your job as a direct result of COVID-19; or
o Your place of employment is closed as a direct result of the COVID-19
public health emergency.
**Note: PUA is also generally not payable to individuals who have the ability to telework
with pay or who are receiving paid sick leave or other paid leave benefits. However, individuals
receiving paid sick leave or other paid leave benefits for less than their customary work week
may still be eligible for PUA.
7. The Go Fund Me Relief Initiative is intended to support our local businesses facing
financial loss. Make a difference today by donating or starting a fundraiser. Learn more.
1. Banks - check with your local banks, they can assist with interests waivers, etc.
2. SBA - lenders are taking applications but depending on the loan it can be a slow process. You
must have all your financial information in order and ready to go otherwise the application will
not be submitted. This will require some front in homework to get the required information
organized.
3. Alternative Lending Sources - these include American Express, On Deck, Facebook has set up
funds for small business support. These organizations only look at your cash flow, so you will
need to provide them with credit cards statements and bank statements, average monthly
deposits, etc. Sometimes these can be more expensive, but you can use them as a bridge loan
until your SBA loan is approved (4-8 weeks)
4. Line of credit - if you have one, use it. Pull down some cash to give you a buffer/safety net. In
the past banks have frozen or called in lines of credit, so use it. You worked hard to get it set up.
When Cash starts to get tight: (taken from Bob Negan and Rick Rose Webinar link is below in
Webinars Category)
Make a list of all your regular expenses (rent, utilities, payroll, etc.) break it out into an 8 week
period. what would go away if the business closed. What can you cut out or defer
* Rent - negotiate with your landlord (It is in their best interest to keep you)
* Utilities - they will not turn you off
* Taxes - pay those it will be more difficult to try to make up payments, etc.
* Payroll - (unfortunately) cut out all non-essential employees
* Vendors - you probably are not taking in new inventory, so call them, they will work with
you (again they need you too)
* Credit Cards - they will work with you
The main thing is to not stick your head in the sand and wait for it to blow over.
• Be proactive.
• Call your list of regular expenses and work out a plan. Everyone is sympathetic to the
issues.• If your cash is tight, be strategic in what bills are paid. You cannot make everyone
happy, so do what is in the best interest of your business.
• Set aside a specific time each day to make phone calls. Do not get distracted by a bad
phone call in the middle of your day. You have to be task oriented and focused. Call
them back when you are ready and mentally prepared to talk. Do not let phone calls
interrupt your day.
• When it comes to vendors - do not be emotional and prioritize your vendors when it
comes time to start paying them create a list A,B,C vendors.
o A Vendors - these are your highest priority vendors - if you don't work with them
or don't get an agreement with them, your business will close. Remember 80% of
vendors are not A vendors - take a real hard look at your merchandise.
o B Vendors - You want to maintain a relationship with them and keep carrying
their goods, but if for some reason you can no longer carry their goods, the store
will not close
o C Vendors - Would be nice to keep but will not be earth shattering if you don't
Category: National Main Street Center
COVID-19 Resources web page includes Federal and National resources. Main Street tools,
funding programs, webinars, peer exchange, tip sheets:
Coronavirus (Covid-19) Response Resources
Sign up for National Main Street emails (The Point). You can choose your settings in order to
only receive 1 email a day, but there are ongoing discussion boards about every topic that has
anything to do with Main Street Communities. You can also post a question for help.
Sign up for the Main Street Mobile Network. This is a specifically tailored (FREE) app just for
your Main Street Community. Consider it a one stop shop for everything you may want to list,
post, give directions to, etc. https://distrx.com/
Category: Grants
GoFundMe Small Business Relief Fund
The Small Business Relief Fund will be issuing $500 matching grants to qualifying businesses
that raise at least $500 on GoFundMe.
1. National for Artists:
• NEA COVID-19 Resource page
• Artwork COVID-19 Resource Page
• Creative Collective COVID-19 Relief Funds
2. National: For Entertainers
• MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Funds
• Creative Capital COVID-19 Relief Fund
• Creative Collective COVID-19 Relief Funds
• Sweet Relief COVID-19 Fund
• State by State Resource Guide for Music Professionals
• Americans for the Arts COVID-19 Resource page• Artwork COVID-19 Resource Page
3. Statewide: For Hospitality Workers
• LA Restaurant Assoc.
• LA Workforce
4. Region 1: Entertainers
• New Orleans Business Alliance (NOLABA) Relief Fund
5. Region 4: Entertainers
• Lost My Gig Fund
6. Region 9: for pay stub workers/Hospitality Workers: SOUTHEAST LA
• Hospitality Cares Pandemic Response Fund
7. National Endowment for the Humanities grants for cultural institutions
https://www.neh.gov/COVID19_FAQs
NEH received $75 million in supplemental funding to assist cultural institutions and
humanists affected by the coronavirus as part of the $2.2 trillion CARES Act economic
stabilization plan appropriated by Congress and signed into law by President Donald J.
Trump.
Approximately 40 percent of the appropriation, or $30 million, will go directly to the 56
state and jurisdictional humanities councils, based on the standard population formula
used for their annual appropriation. The remaining 60 percent, or $45 million, will
support at-risk humanities positions and projects at museums, libraries and archives,
historic sites, colleges and universities, and other cultural nonprofits that have been
financially impacted by the coronavirus. All NEH supplemental funds must be obligated
to projects by September 30, 2021.
Foundations:
1. Baton Rouge Area Foundation - (as of April 1st they do not list a separate COVID-19
response grant) www.braf.org
2. Greater New Orleans Foundation - Disaster Response & Restoration Fund for non-profits
https://www.gnof.org/
3. Community Foundation of Acadiana (Lafayette) - Funds for non-profits, health provider
organizations, schools, churches, and governmental https://www.cfacadiana.org/
4. Central Louisiana Community Foundation (Alexandria) - Funds for non-profits, health
provider organizations, schools, churches, and governmental www.clcf.net
Category: Webinars and Additional Reading
1. From Surviving to Thriving: The Box Elder Economic Development Executives (Utah)
team has collaborated on two webinars titled "From Surviving to Thriving". These areavailable for viewing at the links below. Although they were produced based on our
local needs and resources, I think you will find that the content is applicable anywhere.
From Surviving to Thriving Part 1 From Surviving to Thriving Part 2
2. Downtown Happy Hour Facebook Live, Every Thursday at 4pm CDT (Free)
Facebook Live with guys who love downtown: Jeff Siegler (Revitalize, or Die), Joe
Borgstrom (Place + Main Advisors), Ben Muldrow (Arnett Muldrow)
https://www.facebook.com/events/3819541671420136/?event_time_id=38195416814201
35
3. Locable’s CEO Brian Ostrovsky: Emergency Ecommerce How-to Webinar: Need to
offer online sales or know a local business that needs help? Learn how to use PayPal to add
e-commerce for free, how to add it to your website and promote products. See simple
examples of how to promote other businesses with our free tools. This is a down-and-dirty
how-to focused on quickly adding a solution and reducing the exchange of cash given the
current climate. https://zoom.us/rec/play/tZ0sceGopz43GdydtwSDAvJ-
W428evis0iFP_ftbmB3jUnNSOlWnbrtAY7O05n8YjecPOBrZJTG9TH_A?continueMod
e=true&_x_zm_rtaid=nLBBHCDBRkSnhual30nBYw.1585169197885.4f679fa2bf26d6d
5c611e840d5fa5e6d&_x_zm_rhtaid=362
4. Locable’s CEO Brian Ostrovsky: Community Status Directory: Assuming you're
interested in our free Community Status Directory - please view details, sign up here. You
can also find the short webinar Managing Your Community Directory here which
includes information on how businesses can adjust their status to show how they're
operating during this crisis.
5. WhizBang CEO Bob Negan and Rich Rose: In this interview, Bob talks to Rich Rose,
a managing partner at Rainstar Capital. Rich is an expert in all things money and retail.
Rich shares a detailed strategy to manage cash in times of great disruption and
discusses what is happening with capital markets and the SBA. https://anchor.fm/robert-
negen/episodes/Special-Episode-Bob-Interviews-Retail-Money-Expert--Rich-Rose-
ebm98m/a-a1npicl?utm_source=ONTRAPORT-email-
broadcast&utm_medium=ONTRAPORT-email-
broadcast&utm_term=WBT+Everyone&utm_content=%5BCoronavirus+%26+Retail%5
D+Weekly+Update+3.20.2020&utm_campaign=03202020
6. WhizBang CEO Bob Negen: Each Tuesday at 12:00 PM Central Time for a Facebook
LIVE event on the WhizBang! Retail Training page. During the 60-minute,
"Coronavirus & Retail: Community Forum" we'll talk about everything retail store owners
and managers like you can be doing right now to deal with the uncertainty surrounding the
coronavirus. Each forum has been filled with positive, proactive retailers all working
together to share support, ideas, and inspiration. (ONe of these events was about setting up
a Facebook Live in order to start creating “selling” videos. Mentioned below in Ideas
Category)
7. Roger Brooks - Destination Downtown Association: Tourism and the
Coronavirus www.DestinationDevelopment.org
8. Ilana Preuss Founder & CEO ReCast City: Every community has something to learn
and something to teach. Here are some lessons you can steal TODAY to start making great
places. www.recastcity.com/blog9. Small Business Triage in 3 Steps:https://recastcity.us10.list-
manage.com/track/click?u=ec8dd1944ab211205a9142c45&id=9dcd518528&e=1bc6d9c
605
10. Localism Newsletter: Saving Small Business: Supersize the Local Role
https://www.thenewlocalism.com/newsletter/saving-small-business-supersize-the-local-
role/
11. Rethinking Disaster Relief for Small Businesses:
https://mailchi.mp/662f79384682/rethinking-disaster-relief-for-small-
businesses?e=36d8f07144
12. Strong Towns Newsletter:
The Real Reason Your City Has No Money, where we explore the surprising truths behind
our communities' failing budgets. (Hint: it has to do with the ground beneath your feet.)
Confessions of a Recovering Engineer, where our founder—my friend Chuck Marohn—
makes a startling confession about how he once viewed the world, back when he was
responsible for building it.
The Cost of Auto Orientation, which reveals the surprising reason why that block of old
and blighted buildings in your neighborhood might actually be more valuable to your city
than the brand new construction down the block.
13. Hello Alice COVID-19 Business Resource Center | A one-stop shop for funding
resources, real-time policy info, digital resources for connecting with customers and
more.
Category: Ideas from Main Street communities and businesses
• 75% of Millennials research online before buying. Having an online presence is more
important now than ever before
• Use Amazon Marketplace - allow small business to be third party vendors
• 70% of retail sales are made after 5:00 pm reconsider your store hours. Take a poll of
your customers what hours work best for them?
• Leave a light on in your display windows. You can still be selling even with the store
closed.
•
Category: Selling Videos
Use Facebook and e-commerce to sell during closed hours. Use every outlet you have access
to. Create a website and photograph your merchandise with the price tags. Send out the store
phone number (currently rerouted to your cell phone) and sell over the phone. Set up a payment
system on your website (PayPal is doing this and Locable has a Webinar on how to set this up
listed above in Webinar Category). You can deliver goods to customers.
If your business is suffering, then you are considered an essential employee.
Start creating videos in order to do live selling QVC style. You can take direct orders via
Facebook comments or you can have people call the store/your cell phone to purchase
products. A great recommendation is to set up this Facebook Live selling on a weekly/ bi-
weekly or daily basis. Advertise the event on the store's Facebook page. Maybe you have a
video of two people discussing the new Spring trends in fashion and then show some clothes that
are for sale in the store that support that conversation. Have a fashion show! Keep an eye on thecomments section and answer questions as they come in. Also make sure you have plenty of
stock for whatever you are trying to sell.
Two Ways To Use LIVE Video: (From Whiz Bang Retail Training)
A great way to connect with your customers, even if your doors are closed, is through LIVE
video – on Facebook, on Instagram, or other live streaming platforms. Here are two different
ways to use live video – social selling and community engagement.
It’s important to use BOTH during these difficult times… and beyond.
Community Engagement
The first way to use live streaming video is simply to make videos that are fun, interesting,
entertaining, useful, or educational for your customers. These live videos are DEPOSITS in the
emotional bank account. Ideas include…
• Tips – like a bike repair tip of the week, tip on dog grooming, tips on how to use your
sewing machine, tips of how to grow orchids, etc.
• Demos – like a knitting stitch of the day, a daily cooking demo, how to play a new game,
three ways to wear a jean jacket, etc.
• Unboxing – Even if they can’t come into the store, it doesn’t mean they don’t want to see
your newest merchandise.
• Parties – Grab a cocktail mocktail, or cup of coffee and pull up a chair and just CHAT
with your customers. They are bored and scared and lonely, too. You could do a brunch
party, a dinner party, a cocktail party, a game party, a sewing bee, a hiking party…
whatever works for your customers.
• Use “Oh, by the way” selling – the primary purpose of these events should NOT be to
make sales, but you can soft offer the products you’re highlighting. “Oh, by the way, if
you need any of the orchid food or potting soil I used in today's video, just let me know
and we can ship it to you.”
Social Selling
The second way to use live streaming video is direct social selling. These videos can be still
super fun for your customers but are a WITHDRAWAL on your emotional bank account. Some
ideas for social selling include…
• Watch QVC or the Home Shopping Network to see how this is done by the pros!
• Offer one item at a time and explain the benefits, features of each product and do a demo
if you can.
• Don’t rush through each product – it may seem unnaturally long to talk about each item
for 2+ minutes but you have to give your listeners enough time to absorb your info, make
a decision, and take the action to commit to buying.
• To buy, you could have your customers just comment “I’ll take the blue one” on social
media, send you a text, buy online, or you could use a social selling specific platform like
“Comment Sold.”
• Consider selling one type of merchandise at a time. For example, if you have a women’s
boutique, you could do a ‘Lounge Wear’ show, a ‘Handbag’ show, an ‘Out on the Town’show. It will be more compelling for the customers who are likely to buy and allow the
casual viewer to opt out of the categories they aren’t interested in.
Tips for Both Kinds of Live Video
Keep these ideas in mind while you are planning out your live streaming videos, no matter
whether they are purely engagement or direct selling.
• Be consistent. A consistent format, consistent time, consistent look will help your
customers know when to tune in to watch you and what they can expect to see on your
show.
• Schedule in advance. On Facebook, you can schedule your live videos and automatically
announce the scheduled time to your followers.
• Name your shows. If you give your different show types (direct selling vs. community
engagement) different names so your customers will know what to expect.
• Your two types of shows could tie in together but still have separate names. For example,
a kitchenware store could have “Shopping with Kitchen Corner” where they sell a
specific set of products and then “Cooking with Kitchen Corner” where they demo and
cook with the same items they featured in the shopping show.
• Send an EMAIL. Yes, I know it’s all on social media, but send an email announcing all
your shows to your entire email list. Don’t assume that everyone who might be interested
in watching your show is already following you on social media. Send an email afterward
with a link to the recording.
• Don’t stress out about having the most amazing equipment or highest production
values… it’s more important that you just DO it. Your cell phone or tablet with some
decent natural light is good enough. Don’t let perfection get in the way of progress.
• Don’t worry about how you look, sound, or act on camera. Your customers like YOU and
don’t want anything more than the authentic YOU on the show. Just be yourself. YOU
ARE ENOUGH.
• Have fun using LIVE video to connect with and sell to your customers during this
stressful time – they need it and you probably do too!
Category: Other Initiatives
1. GoFundMe is launching the Small Business Relief Initiative to support our friends and
neighbors at local businesses facing financial loss from the COVID-19 pandemic. Are
you a small business owner? Search for your business and claim your fundraiser. Start a
fundraiser if you can’t find an existing GoFundMe for your business. Small businesses
may also apply for a matching grant from the Small Business Relief Fund. Learn more
2. Free TV Advertising for Restaurants. Cox Media in Louisiana announced today it will
offer free TV advertising for restaurant owners. Interested restaurant owners can call 1-
855-755-2691 or email MarketingInsights@CoxMedia.com
3. Restaurant Employee Relief Fund. Guy Fieri and the National Restaurant Association
have launched a relief fund to give $500 checks to restaurant workers affected by
Coronavirus. Here's how it works: Restaurant workers can apply for a grant paid
for by the NRAEF fund starting Thursday, April 2, and will receive a one-time $500
check within three weeks to use toward housing, medical bills, student loans, groceries,
and other expenses. The NRAEF stipulated that these grants would be administered on a
"first-come, first-served basis." Apply, Donate or Visit HereCategory: Encouragement & Gratitude :)
• Find the silver lining - use this downtime to:
o Clean out the clutter/the toxic (whatever it is that drags you down - you have been
putting off tackling)
o Reorganize your store
o Refresh you store’s interior (paint walls, display cases, furniture)
o Update your store windows
o Build a better business
▪ Clean up your bookkeeping
▪ Review your marketing plans
▪ Create employee handbook
▪ SET UP YOUR SOCIAL PRESENCE!!!
▪ Clean out you storeroom/warehouse
• Use your team members/employees/family
o Ask, Discuss, Decide
o Ask:
▪ How to raise more cash
▪ How to reduce expenses
▪ How to keep up morale
▪ How to come back stronger post pandemic
• Don’t let your emotions color your reactions to an issue
o Work the problem
o If you are freaking out, you aren’t doing anyone any good
o Do all the unpleasant stuff in the morning (fire that unpleasant employee, call
your suppliers, talk to your bank about your loan terms, call your landlord about a
waiver on the rent, etc…) then the rest of your day will be betterYou can also read
