When 2020 began everyone had a bright outlook and a plan for the New Year. However, COVID-19 rendered those plans moot and left us all with uncertainty. Yet there is now light at the end of the tunnel, and we must look to the future. Life and business are largely built upon structure and we are currently in a time and place where those concepts need to be reorganized.

Many state governments are in various phases of reopening, but what does the new normal really look like? Potential dates to reopen have ranged from late-May all the way to the start of July or even later. The positive takeaway from this is that every company has the chance to be a trailblazer in their own industry; the only limit is their creativity when it comes to setting their strategies and goals. Those that have found success working remotely and have been fortunate enough to be able to continue business practices, may have a blueprint to promote quicker recovery.

Manufacturers have had to reorganize decade old business practices & standards and face a twofold problem stemming from trying to keep manufacturing plants in operation while maintaining office personnel. Many plants remained open during the pandemic, but even with strict safety standards they were vulnerable due to rapid production lines and the close proximity of workers. Meat packing plants saw this unfold as they were hit especially hard by the pandemic causing famous national chains like Wendy’s to limit burger sales. To prevent issues like this in the future, workers have had to social distance and new sanitation methods have taken place resulting in slowed production. For manufacturers of goods not deemed essential, reopening has meant a complete reorganization.

The other half of the equation is the reopening of office spaces. Office buildings were deemed non-essential during the pandemic leaving many to furlough employees and set-up others with remote work capabilities, which came with some challenges, but now are seeing a benefit. Working from home can stimulate creativity in employees while reducing overhead costs of renting office spaces. Office environments are often small with tight quarters that contribute to the risk of COVID-19. There are additional challenges with managing communal spaces like break rooms and navigating buildings that house multiple businesses. This has led to some employers to consider continuing a modified remote work format even when business begins to fully reopen.

As manufacturers reorganize their plants and maintain their corporate offices, they will perhaps need to consider new customers, new strategies, and new product streams. America will reopen and it is in the hands of each company to decide exactly what normalcy means. Chain Store Guide will assist you with identifying quality industry leads as it has over the last 85+ years.