Get in touch
555-555-5555
mymail@mailservice.com
Apr 13, 2020
Over the past month, we have experienced a lot of uncertainty surrounding the spread of the dangerous virus, COVID-19, throughout the general population. The increasingly strict restrictions and encouragement to practice social distancing or self-isolation has left many small and medium business owners in particular wondering what is next for them. Some have already had to close their doors, bringing home how serious this issue is for all of us.
If you have a garment decoration business - using either direct to garment printing (such as the Epson SC-F2160 or the Ricoh Ri 100) or print/cut technology (such as the Roland GS-24 or BN-20) - and you work from home, you have an advantage in that you can continue working when other businesses are forced to shut their doors. It’s time to think outside the box and come up with ideas that could see you still earning an income.
- Tap into a niche you haven't previously
As with most small businesses, you probably have a niche market that you market to or a niche product offering. If you've seen a downturn in sales and enquiries, your niche could be one of those suffering in the current climate. Why not consider tapping into a niche that's outside your usual? If you normally create sporting uniforms and merchandise but aren't getting any sales because most sports are cancelled, why not move into children's wear or giftware?
This change doesn't have to be permanent - once restrictions start to lift and life goes back to normal, you can return to your bread and butter niche. Or you might find a new market that you absolutely love. - Special events are just around the corner
Whilst much of the country is avoiding social gatherings, remember that the world doesn’t just stop turning - holidays and special events are still happening. We've just celebrated Easter and Mother's Day is coming up in a few weeks. On top of this, people are still celebrating birthdays and having new babies. We may not be able to celebrate these milestones with our friends and extended family, but we can still let them know that we're thinking about them by having a gift shipped direct to their door.
Think about products that you can offer to help brighten somebody’s day. From personalised t-shirts and hoodies to customised goodie bags and mugs, there are plenty of items that people will still use and appreciate. - Children need to be entertained
If you have kids, you’ll be well aware that they can become bored easily and that activities don't hold their attention for long. With many of us having to stay at home indefinitely - and over the school holidays no less - boredom is something that parents are definitely looking to combat. Is there a way that your business could answer this need? These may not be products that you usually offer, but they could definitely help to bring in some income.
Why not print an outline on a t-shirt - kids can use waterbased markers to colour them in again and again. Or customise some blocks with vinyl letter cut outs - if kids find learning enjoyable, they’ll return to the toy over and over again. - People need a good laugh
Have you ever heard the saying 'if you don't laugh, you'll cry'? For many people, this definitely rings true at the moment. Why not try to inject some humour into the situation by offering a line of Coronavirus themed products? From t-shirts emblazoned with slogans about surviving COVID-19 to mugs telling the world that social distancing is how you lived before all this, there are plenty of ways to make people laugh and relate.
Just be careful that you’re not being insensitive to the plight of others - remember that, for some of the population, this is quite a serious illness and that hundreds of people all over the world have already lost their lives to it.
With more of the country shutting down every day, there is no reason that you should have to close the doors to your garment decorating business too. Most people are choosing to shop online, as it prevents unnecessary contact with others, so your little online business is the perfect means to keep some money rolling in during these tough times. Keeping your business afloat, however, may require some thinking outside the box.
