You’re probably bored of COVID-19-related content. All the How-To lists, the creative ideas, the urges to use this time wisely.
We get it. This period of time sucks.
But reflecting on just how much it sucks hasn’t made us feel any better. So instead, we decided to take action — by coming up with some ideas (ugh) for how you can take action.
A digital marketplace
Before we jump in, let’s give you a little refresher on how custom online stores function.
Everything today happens online. Period.
Whether it’s wishing your college friend Happy Birthday, ordering take-out, or selling your product — knowing how to use the web is the first step to ensuring efficient results.
That’s where your customers’ online stores come in.
By taking your process digital, you’re letting your customers into a part of the process they’re usually excluded from.
They get to have a hand in the designs, and get them just right in real-time. They get to customize the store layout to fit their needs. And they get to have something physical, something digital, to show their consumers.
How this fits the “˜now’
It’s no secret that the global uncertainty has affected business.
Big or small, normal operations have been put, largely, on pause. That’s a fact.
Another fact? We’re not interested in standing idly by, watching as small businesses are hit the hardest.
We are, however, interested in inspiring action.
Regardless of whether a business has any experience selling branded apparel or merch, we impress upon you — and all of the small businesses you know — that now is the time to start.
Not just because we’re biased to the industry — but because we believe at our core that decorated apparel brings people together.
The business angle
If you’re a local restaurant, retail store, or service provider, odds are you’re wishing you had alternate revenue streams right about now.
Sure, your community is helping you by buying gift cards and advanced bookings, but that doesn’t cover everything you’re losing.
Obviously, the more products you can sell while abiding by your state’s rules for distancing/isolation, the more profitable this time will be.
But decorated apparel and promo products sold through online stores won’t just diversify your offerings — it’ll do so much more.
Spread your brand in your community
As decorated apparel suppliers, this is the message you need to be giving small businesses.
It’s not just about creating t-shirts with company logos — it’s about increasing brand awareness while giving communities a chance to show their love.
A brick oven pizza restaurant. A dance costume store. A neighborhood salon.
These are the local businesses that are hurting — and if they hear about the opportunity they have to create an online presence where their customers, where their communities, can buy in and show their support, don’t you think they’d take action?
All it takes is a few branded t-shirts, designed and released from the comfort of their own home.
With your help, they’ll be diversifying their revenue while spreading brand awareness. All while getting a good look at how much their business means to their community.
The more you can do
It might just be reaching out to small businesses in your community and letting them know this is an option. Giving them the information they need, answering their questions, and showcasing how it might look.
Or maybe you want to go further. Maybe you want to give back more.
Offering discounts and new client packages is a great way to start.
Take We Talk Shirty, for example. The decorated apparel supplier based in Blakely, Pennsylvania extended an offer to local businesses — all affected by the shut-down this week.
The offer? Creating custom online stores for businesses, free of charge, allowing them to sell their own branded merchandise.
“It’s a 30-day store and our goal is to sell 50 t-shirts for them. The profit is really profitable for the businesses signing up for this. And it’s open to anyone who owns a business,” We Talk Shirty owner Ron Augelli explained.
Take action
The truth is, if you have the capabilities and the man-power, you should be doing what you can to help. From our niche area of expertise, creating online stores for local businesses is a great option.
InkSoft has the features needed to create virtual stores beautifully, quickly, and painlessly — but the point of this blog isn’t to sell you on our platform.
The point is to sell you on the idea — on the need for taking action.
But, if you are interested in learning more about InkSoft Stores, including our Designer and Fundraising features, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Anything our team can do to help yours function through this tricky time, we’d be glad to do. Because, like you, we’re still working. And we’re here to help.
You can reach us at 800-410-3048.
Stay safe,
The InkSoft Team
