Although the economy has shifted toward recovery, the rising number of covid-19 cases has generated a gnawing sense of concern among small businesses, which have been forever altered by the pandemic. Adapting has become the name of the game.
Since I founded my business in 2013, it has been adopted by customers with vigor. Then came covid-19. During this challenging time, we adapted. We shifted our advertising and product assortment. We invested heavily in Facebook and Instagram tools. We built human connections by posting uplifting images and words.
As things slowly opened up, we noticed customers enjoying happy run-ins with friends and acquaintances, as our store became a hub. The last year has transformed my small business. We know our customers — their names, their families and friends, their preferences and their stories.
Please support local retailers and shop locally whenever possible. Now more than ever, we need support from our residents and customers to sustain what we have slowly worked to rebuild.
No matter how much has changed, one thing remains the same: Small businesses are the backbone of thriving communities.
Kym Pelcher
Fox Chapel
The writer is the owner of Splurge in Fox Chapel Plaza in O’Hara.