5 ways businesses are saving money during the COVID-19 crisis
The unprecedented global impact of the coronavirus is massive and frightening. A large number of companies are having to deal with uncertainties and mounting losses. However, if there is one thing that we shouldn’t do during this time, it’s give up. Despite all the negative news coverage, there are in fact still positive stories about people coming together, helping each other and coming up with creative solutions to bridge this time of crisis. We have put together a list of several of these solutions to inspire and motivate you to make the most of this unfortunate situation.
1. Collaborations
It probably hasn’t gone unnoticed that several larger corporations and non-profits have started collaborating with businesses to help them through this time. For example, some locations of Dutch grocery chain Jumbo have started helping local growers by selecting various farms each weekend and selling their flowers and plants. Grocer Albert Heijn has started a campaign to promote shoppers to ‘buy vegetables and meat locally, and purchase the rest in [their] stores’. There are also several non-profit companies, new and existing, that have put their efforts towards connecting two parties who could use some extra help during this crisis. Dutch businesses like ‘Red je Boeketje’ and ‘Bloemen voor de Zorg’ have been buying flowers and plants from growers using donations and subsequently gift these to nursing homes and medical workers. Companies who are struggling financially might consider contacting businesses with initiatives like these for a potential mutually beneficial collaboration.
2. Drive-ins and farm-to-table solutions
To still be able to sell the valuable goods growers put time and effort into producing, initiatives like drive-ins can be very helpful. It’s fairly easy to set up a drive-thru station on your own lot, and with some good marketing and word-of-mouth advertising, your drive-in can be up and running before you know it. Similarly, fruit and vegetable producers have been creating meal packets, with recipes specifically curated for the products they grow. In this way, they can sell their produce directly to consumers and they can enjoy a delicious farm-to-table meal. Some businesses have even invited chefs to make pre-made meals and sauces from the leftover produce.
3. Webshops and delivery
If it’s not possible to bring your consumer to the goods, you could try it the other way around. There have been more and more webshops popping up online, where growers sell flowers, plants and other produced goods online to consumers. In this scenario, the regular delivery to garden centers and other shops is then replaced by delivering straight to your consumers. The added benefit of this is that you can make people happy directly and experience their gratitude. This does of course require a bit more effort, but the benefit can be substantial.
4. B2B goes B2C
The above solutions are all mostly centered around selling goods directly to consumers, instead of selling them through other businesses, otherwise put as B2B going B2C. An example here are how the wholesalers and other self-service warehouses are now opening their doors to the general public. Thinking outside the box and coming up with solutions to deliver your products directly to consumers, without putting them or yourself at risk, can be a good way to weather the storm.
5. Cost saving services and process optimization
One thing that almost all struggling businesses have an abundance of now, is time. Maybe your processes have been put on hold because you couldn’t ensure a safe distance between workers, or maybe you are now longer spending time packaging and delivering goods to resellers. Whatever the reason may be, the abundance of time may seem scary, but it can still be turned into a blessing. Times like these lend themselves well to process optimization and trying out new, cost saving services. You could, for example, review your technology and retire outdated methods, or you can take a closer look at your supply chain. One way to reduce your company costs is by getting a better hold onto your company’s packaging and load carriers. RTI’s can be a valuable investment and, when not managed properly, a high company cost.
The effectiveness of the above solutions is of course dependent on the situation and the company, but we hope that we can at least help inspire companies to persevere and make it through these trying times. If you would like to learn more about RTI management and registration for the flower industry, you can try TellApe for free for 14 days or contact us at www.tellape.eu for more information.
Geert Kuiper: [email protected] | +31 6 18 52 03 03
Niels Stalenberg: [email protected] | + 31 6 46 44 51 61
