SMALL business owners suddenly deprived of customers physically visiting their stores may shift online to cater to their needs.
Rey Calooy, president of Filipino-Cebuano Business Club Inc., said since consumers are now discouraged from going out of their homes to contain the viral pandemic, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) must turn on the online feature of their business so consumers could still access their products and have them delivered at their doorsteps.
Calooy pointed out that there are industries crucial to government’s efforts of containing the outbreak at this time of community quarantine.
“Business that are classified as vital industries these days like food and pharmaceuticals are able to stay afloat,” he said.
Restrictions on the mobility of the public as part of the government’s emergency measures have opened up opportunities for online selling that offers fast and safe delivery because of reduced contact with other people.
“Selling online would really be effective because there is currently a surge in demand for deliveries,” he said.
He said traditional businesses should have an online arm by now to survive.
“If you only have brick and mortar, it will be difficult,” he said.
Calooy said business owners should offer beyond the mile solutions like house-to-house delivery and virtual transactions.
He said MSMEs are facing tough times, considering the lack of economic stimulus because of low consumer spending and fear of going out due to the novel coronavirus.
Meanwhile, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez guarantees the unhampered movement of all cargoes and transit of personnel of business establishments allowed to operate during the quarantine period.
“We can expect order and normalization in the movement of cargo this week,” Lopez said in a statement.
“While there were initial difficulties during the first two or three days of implementation, improvements have been reported since Friday of last week. The situations have eased up at checkpoints, and we have been hearing more positive feedback on the movement of cargoes,” he added. (JOB)