In this two-part blog series, we discuss the dreaded ‘C’ word – COVID-19.
- We talk to Mzontsundu Ntuli about his progressive conversation platform and how they have coped during the global lockdown
- We ask Mandlakazi Mbete about the impact the pandemic has had on her restaurant and employees
- Eunice Cross breaks down the legal jargon on COVID-19
In South Africa, the lockdown regulations are easing up, and the country is starting to create a new ‘normal’.
Great! Right? Maybe not…
The rate of infection is through the roof. Museums, restaurants, churches and casinos are currently open. And everywhere we go there’s a business that is temporarily closed down because an employee has tested positive. It’s a scary time indeed.
Hence the question: to open or not to open?
We speak to two businesses that have delayed opening their doors despite the obvious financial implications. To those businesses that have decided to open, we find out how the law protects employers and employees.
The Grooming Social
Q: Tell us a bit about The Grooming Social
A: The Grooming Social has been around for three years. We are a progressive conversation platform, having conversations about the challenges and issues that impact the target market that we appeal to.
Discussions on important topics are being held in small pockets, which is not enough to influence any behavior change. So we thought, why not create a platform that attracts more people, attracts a round-table discussion or a speaker-led conversation for some of these topics?
We found it fitting to build a platform that can address those different challenges, including any achievements that we want to celebrate.
Q: How many events did you host before lockdown?
A: Our calendar is planned to have one pillar event per quarter. The events are planned a year in advance, with partners and sponsors.
In between that, we host what we call breakaway experiences that are suited to a particular theme. These experiences are mostly a reaction to events happening around us. So a total of eight events a year.
Q: How has the lockdown affected you and your employees?
A: We don’t have full time employees. Leading up to an event, we use a few assistants to assist us with brand building. We also use the services of our stakeholders as and when we require them. So the people who would have benefited from the events have been impacted.
As business owners, our income and brand sentiment has been negatively affected. We would normally engage with our audience at least four times a year. It will be difficult for us to get that back.
Q: Moving forward?
A: Lockdown has been a revealing time and an opportunity to clean house.
We’ve had an opportunity to sit back and think about the current state of our business. So the lockdown realization for us has been that as a conversation platform, with the current technology and tools we have available, we can have a conversation anywhere without people having to walk into any space.
So the current focus for us is to invest in digital tools that will allow us to do this.
What next?
COVID-19 has changed the way we do business. We have to adapt to a new normal.
In the midst of all this, your audience persona could have changed. To re-assess who your buyers are, read our blog on creating an audience persona and use the free template.
In the second part of the blog, Mandlakazi Mbete talks to us about the challenges she’s facing in her restaurant and Eunice Cross breaks down the law.
If you want to share your story with us or let us know what you’re thinking, please leave a comment below.
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