Since COVID-19 broke out and people were required to stay at home isolating themselves, inevitably many activities have been hampered. People can no longer work as usual and travel, let alone gather as freely as before. This of course resulted in many businesses becoming quiet and even experiencing a drastic decline in turnover. This decline also occurred among micro entrepreneurs.
Qasir's data even recorded that the decline in F&B (food and beverage) business transactions since the government's social distancing recommendation reached 30%. Meanwhile, boutiques and clothing businesses experienced a decline in transactions of up to 20%. The decline was also experienced by other types of businesses such as salons and barbershops, shops selling hobby supplies, including beauty supply shops. Although there are also several types of businesses that have experienced an increase in transaction value of up to 10%, namely grocery stores and minimarkets. Other businesses that have experienced an increase are those operating in the field of electronics and digital products. The increase in transaction volume even touched 20%, especially at the beginning of the social distancing period.
If your business operates in the F&B sector such as a cafe, restaurant, or coworking space, it is very understandable if you are currently calculating while considering the possibility of running another business as a backup in this emergency period. If that's true, read this article until the end, because Qasir will provide several alternative businesses that could be an option, especially if your current business is forced to change course.
1. Expedition Services Franchise
For safety reasons, people certainly prefer to shop online rather than come directly to the store to avoid contact. Several stores that previously focused on offline sales have finally started serving online sales. For example, kiosk and boutique owners in the Tanah Abang area.
This certainly has a good impact on expedition service entrepreneurs. The Chairman of the Indonesian Logistics Association even noted that the increase in deliveries for foodstuffs and medical equipment reached a volume increase of more than 100%. So it's not wrong, if this business is number one as the most promising alternative during the pandemic.
2. Long Lasting Snacks
Isolating oneself gives rise to boredom, boredom produces idleness and hunger. That's natural. When you can't go anywhere, snacking becomes an easy entertainment to achieve. This situation could be a business opportunity for you, you know. Even though there are a lot of competitors, you can use several interesting sales strategies, such as promotions selling cheaper packages, or giving additional bonuses to those who buy a lot.
The snacks you like are usually homemade snacks. But if you can't cook, you can also sell bulk snacks that you pack yourself.
3. Frozen Food or Frozen Food
Apart from snacks or snacks, frozen food is also a favorite. In times of pandemic and isolation like this, many people choose to stock up on food for their families. That's why frozen food is popular. The cool thing is, frozen food can also be sold online with delivery using online motorcycle taxi services. Selling well!
Make no mistake, this strategy has been implemented by Es Teler 77. This restaurant, which serves iced drinks and various Indonesian specialties, is also starting to switch to marketing frozen food, ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat food. In fact, sales of frozen and ready-to-eat food have started on March 23 2020.
4. Traditional Herbal Medicine and Spices
There is no cure for the COVID-19 disease caused by the corona virus, but we can try to prevent its transmission by improving the immune system. That's why recently traditional spices such as turmeric, ginger, ginger, galangal, cinnamon, laos, and lemongrass leaves have become much sought after. Because since ancient times, our people have been accustomed to consuming spices and empon-empon to improve the immune system. So there's nothing wrong if you look at this opportunity to become a new business field.
If you sell it as a ready-to-drink drink, make sure you mix it correctly and put an expiration date.
5. Selling Homemade Masks
Since the beginning of April 2020, both WHO and the Indonesian government have made it mandatory to wear masks every time you leave the house, even if it is a cloth mask made by yourself.
Also read Mandatory masks in your shop from now on
This could certainly be a business opportunity too. What's more if you have sewing skills. Don't forget to study first the appropriate material and pattern requirements so that your homemade mask is effective in replacing the health mask produced by the manufacturer. You also need to remember to sell it at a reasonable price.
6. Hand Sanitizer and Disinfectant Liquid
Public awareness of hygiene has increased demand for hygienic products such as hand washing soap and hand sanitizers which contain alcohol. This includes disinfectant liquids and the materials used to make them, such as laundry bleach. This is also the reason why some of these products are rare in various supermarkets. Therefore, currently many business actors or producers of hand sanitizers, disinfectants and antiseptics have emerged and are flooded with orders. Do you want to be one of them?
Entrepreneurs, it is inevitable that when you have a business, you will definitely experience ups and downs. If it weren't for the pandemic, there would definitely be other factors that would test our determination and ingenuity in doing business. The most important thing is never give up, and always think of solutions. Prove that you are the strong entrepreneur this nation needs. Hopefully this pandemic will end soon and MSMEs can run their businesses again.