COVID-19 FLORAL BUSINESS CHECKLIST

OK, we all have been shocked with our lives changing over night due to COVID-19 and, if you are like me, we've cried a few days, have been angry, confused, and sad. Get those tears out, mourn yesterday, and now it is time to focus on our tomorrow!  With everyday flower business and wedding & event flower sales plummetting to zero, many may think that this is the end. But I'm here to urge you to think of this as the beginning. Remember before starting your company, remember the blood, sweat, and tears that you gave just to get your business started?? Remember that you started a company because you are an entrepreneur, not just an artist? Remember the joy that is gained from turning something from nothing? Those experiences and your tenacity is what is going to get your through these next weeks and months to come. 

I wanted to take this time to share with you a sort of checklist of what you can accomplish in your free time to help you and your flower business. I'm sure many of you have already started to create your to-do list and if you have, I would love for your to share what you have been working on in your downtime in the comments below. Below are my thoughts

1. Before you do anything, sit down and figure out which programs are available to you that you may be able to take advantage of to help your business. 
   
   
   • https://www.usa.gov/disaster-financial-help
   • https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus
   • https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources
   • Check your state's website
   • And don't forget to reach out to the banks/loan holder companies to see if there are any programs that can help temporarily reduce your bills.
     
     
2. Next, set up your work form home space. I watched Jodi Duncan's live video the other day and she mentioned how her home "office" used to be some milk crates zip-tied together with a piece of wood on top. If that is what you need to do, then that is totally okay, but you need a space where you can focus and stay organized.
   
   
3. Take advantage of all of the free content that is being offered - some by fellow designers and floral educators and some by other businesses. Here are a few that have been on my radar:
   
   
   • Mornings with Mayesh - I will be hosting lives as much as possible to get some of your questions answered and get some people from different parts of our industry in front of you. 
     
     • First one up is with our very own Patrick Dahlson - the CEO of Mayesh. We scheduled it for 7:30 am PST / 10: 30 am EST on Monday, March 30th.
       
       
   •  Curate
     • State of the Floral Industry panel discussion today at 9 am PST / 12 pm EST
     • Navigating COVID-19 Panel for Florists
     • 7 Ways to Help Your Local Florist shareable images
       
       
   • Instagram Lives with so many amazing designers
     • Mayesh will also be hosting live design demos periodically. One will be scheduled with Siren Floral Co for this Friday, 3/27 at 3pm PST / 6pm EST
       
       
   • Intrigue Teaches COVID-19 Florists Recovery Program
     
     
   • SAF's COVID-19 Updates & Resources
     
     
   • Fleursociety's education, webinars, and classes
     
     
   • Real Flower Business with Allison Ellis
     
     
   • Team Flower's free educational resources
     
     
   • Slow Flowers Social Media Images for the Coronavirus Era
     
     
   • Social Media Examiner (one of my favorite social media businesses)
     
     • Podcast: Marketing in a Time of Crisis
     • Showing Up In A Time of Uncertainty
     • Marketing in a Time of Uncertainty
       
       
4. Go through and update your contracts.
   
   
   • If you need a little help here, Paige Hulse will be a part of Curate's panel discussion today so be sure to tune in there. You can get more info about her services here. And she recently published a blog "Language You Can Add To Your Contract In Response to COVID-19" - check it out.
     
     
5. And then prioritize the other tasks that you always put off because you have never had the time, like:

• • Connect with your local media
  • Create a marketing plan 
  • Update your website
  • Start blogging
  • Plan/do social media
  • Create video content / Try LIVE video

• • Invest in CRM

Need help with items listed in #5? Well, I'll be following up this post with additional content that will guide you through each and every one.  I may not be great at explaining flower design, but I sure can help you with strengthening your marketing IQ!!

If you're in, let me know in the comments below and also let me know if there are other resources that I missed (there are so many people doing so many good things right now) or other topics that you would like us to cover that would be helpful to you and your business. I know that this isn't going to answer all of your questions but if Mayesh & I can help in a small way then we will. 

We are in this together and we are here to help!!