PIVOT! how businesses you love are adapting to survive —and thrive! — covid19
I believe there has never been a crazier time to be a small business owner than right now
As I write this, I’m processing all of the craziness of the past 8+ weeks I’ve been pivoting to run my small business from my home. As a movement specialist, prior to Covid19 I worked with clients in person, one-on-one, and relied on hands-on approaches.
As you may suspect, I had to PIVOT (I will forever and always hear and say this as a Friends reference) to:
Put my services online
Innovate new ways to serve my clients while their lives were disrupted, too
Find new systems, cultivate new talents, update all of my online platforms, scheduling systems, legal agreements, etc to reflect the changes due to covid
Research ways to protect the health of my clients and self when we can return to work
Take care of my self on personal, physical, mental and emotional levels (because living through a pandemic is super stressful).
Communicate with my clients through the ever-changing landscape.
Do all these new things at home, with new co-workers (Brian, Copper, and Cinnamon), and get used to filming, editing, lighting, etc in my new bedroom recording studio (hence the photos above).
I think that is just a slice of all the PIVOTs I’ve taken as a small business owner in the last eight weeks.
I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted just reading it!
As a small business owner for seven years, I am constantly inspired by the resilience of other small businesses through this pandemic.
I plan to continue to highlight small businesses I love & am inspired by over the next several Wednesdays. I hope that you support them however you can, whenever you can.
Support can look like:
Following their social media accounts
Subscribing to their email lists
Referring friends/family to their businesses
Liking, commenting, sharing, saving, and other free interactions via their social media channels
Utilizing their products or services when possible.
Thank you in advance for your support!
Transparency notice: I do not receive a kickback or product/service from highlighting these local businesses. In fact, they are all businesses I have personally patronized or utilized. I’m sharing because I am grateful to have a platform to highlight good people. Please share with others!
The Rescue Kit Co
If you have ever had the pleasure of meeting Risa (one of the brilliant sisters behind The Rescue Kit Co), you probably had a fashion emergency and she probably rescued you! I witnessed Risa rescue three different women in ONE DAY: stains on dresses, wardrobe (near) malfunctions, and removing makeup from white clothes. Her background as a stylist, along with her ability to MacGyver random things to fix mishaps, is a serious skill.
When I saw on social media that she released a Bride Rescue Kit, I immediately put it on my list for all of the soon-to-be-brides I know (I am keeping my fingers crossed for an I’m-trying-to-adult-but-still-figuring-my-ish-out Kit). In the meantime, I am enjoying a special kit curated for event speakers. A deodorant removing sponge, a silicon straw, tissues, a sewing kit, and countless other thoughtful items in a convenient drawstring bag = genius! I especially love the details and instructions for each item. I used my kit at a recent event and sure enough it rescued me from my own coffee-mergency.
If you can’t tell, I am obsessed with The Rescue Kit Co and am looking forward to helping others save themselves time and stress.
Here’s how you can support The Rescue Kit Co in this time:
Subscribe to their email list for helpful blog posts and advice on how to rescue your fashion emergencies!
Follow Risa and the Rescue Kit Co on instagram.
It’s Elizabeth Marie Photography
Elizabeth is a branding photography queen! I’ve had the pleasure of working with her several times in various arenas:
personal branding (the pretty pics I post of myself are her magic)
content photos for products
live-action event photography (yoga and conferences alike)
What I love most about how Elizabeth is PIVOTing in COVID is that she immediately started providing tips and tricks for small businesses to utilize to take photos at home.
She even offered a complimentary service for many small businesses where they shipped product to her, and she photographed the products for them.
How amazing is she!!
Here’s how you can support her business:
follow her on instagram
refer friends to her services
pay it forward with kindness.
Lady Changemakers
I adore the description of Lady Changemakers that founder Jess created: The Yelp for Women!
Moving forward, I am dedicated to supporting small businesses in any way I can. Jess provides a (free) service that connects YOU with women-owned and women-supporting businesses.
Genius!
When I created my listing for Lady Changemakers, I was impressed with the detailed intake and the professionalism of the site. I am thrilled to have an easy way to search for my next nail tech, naturopathic physician, or dog sitter!
I know her!!!!
How you can support Lady Changemakers:
use their directory to find and support women-owned businesses
invite your entrepreneur friends to create a listing in the directory (I used the free basic option, and plan to upgrade when I have the marketing budget).
Powerhouse Women
You may know I’m obsessed with Powerhouse Women, and its founder Lindsey Schwartz. In three short years, Lindsey has taken a “wouldn’t it be cool if…” and created sold-out, value-packed experiences! In fact, this blog exists because it was a “wouldn’t it be cool if…” idea I had while participating in a training Lindsey hosted in December 2019.
PS—Yes, it is cool if.
During the covid19 pandemic, Lindsey has taken her active, passionate community completely online. This is a huge feat, you guys.
Every Tuesday and Thursday evening she gets hundreds of women together for connection calls via Zoom. She brings in inspirational and educational guests, and constantly helps women get out of their own way and into action on their big goals (I am a testament to that in the book I’m writing, the course I launched, this blog, and a few other things I have hiding up my sleeve).
Click the button below to find links to my speech at Powerhouse Women 2019, and when I got to be a podcast guest on the Powerhouse Women Podcast!!
How you can support Powerhouse Women:
follow along on instagram
subscribe to the podcast
attend a free connection call!
J. Fritz Rumpf
I simply adore this man. I like to joke that my relationship with Fritz is my longest-running successful relationship with a man.
He is my hairdresser, and he is so much more than that: a session with Fritz is like a cleansing of my soul. His empathy and compassion are extraordinary. We literally laugh, cry, joke, get serious, and come up with crazy ideas every time I get to see him.
I miss him so much!!
One of the beautiful things out of our 8 or 9 year friendship is seeing his artistic ability transfer from gorgeous heads of hair, to breathtaking photos.
I miss this view the most while away from my office.
When I contacted Fritz to purchase a print, he handled the entire process from start to finish with professionalism and support.
From selecting the size, finish, printing, mounting, and even hand delivery to my office! He made the process so easy for me — the only hard part was selecting the photo from all of the breathtaking options!
Here’s a preview:
How you can support Fritz:
share his photos on Instagram
recommend his work with your friends
leave your compliments, comments, and encouragement here or on Instagram (it is always so appreciated by any small business owner!
I hope you enjoy these features as much as I do.
I know my readers have big hearts, tons of kindness, and a lot of love to give. One of the most stressful aspects of social distancing is being disconnected from our communities, comforts, and routines. As a small business owner, I appreciate and thank you for taking the time to read this.
One huge way you can support me is by sharing my blog, my instagram, and my story with others.
I welcome any comments, questions, constructive feedback, and any opportunity to connect.
Thank you for allowing me to do what I LOVE.
Talk to you soon!! Xo