I’ve been talking with a lot of local businesses lately. I have spoken to all of our clients and many members of the Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce, which I am pleased to serve as an Ambassador. I’ve wanted to know how they are adapting their business and marketing strategies during the Covid-19 lockdown.

The common thread among all these conversations? “We are adapting. We are thinking outside the box. We WILL SURVIVE!”

Here is a sample of what some local businesses faced at the beginning of the lock down, what they’re doing to adapt to it and how they see themselves coming through when we turn this page, Covid-19.

OC Fitness Coach

One of the first businesses I spoke to after the lock down was ordered. Dan Tatro had lost 75% of his personal training clients in 72 hours. A former Army Ranger, Dan is a warrior. He immediately pivoted to provide in-home personal training to his client base and new clients whose gyms shut down but they still want to stay fit.

Still thinking outside the box, Dan is planning his exit strategy for the Covid-19 lock down. Dan’s 21 Day Fitness Challenge is a totally free complete fitness and nutrition program done virtually.

Knowing that we are all going stir crazy, Dan wants to support locals that want to stay active and fit. This program is for any age and any fitness level. You don’t even need any equipment! The OC Fitness Coach will design a custom workout routine around you and what you have.

Getting or staying fit or losing weight is all about having a solid support team behind you. Coaches and peers can encourage you to stay on track. Toward that, the OC Fitness Coaches will meet virtually with the members to review their goals and progress. And he’s putting together Facebook Groups of members of similar ages and fitness levels so they can support each other. Who knows, perhaps you’ll meet your next best friend post-Covid.

On the back end, we hope that those who join the Challenge will want to further their physical and nutritional progress after the lock down and flock to the OC Fitness Coach’s studio on Lake Mission Viejo.

Kwik Kopy Printing

The first thing that the owner of Kwik Kopy Printing, Dave Leckness, did when the “Shelter in Place” order was announced was to expand his marketing.

Dave reasoned that neighboring communities like Ladera Ranch and Rancho Santa Margarita would need envelopes, forms, cards, business cards, etc. Covid-19 or not. Overnight, Kwik Kopy’s Google Ads campaign was modified to focus on Ladera Ranch and RSM in addition to their pre-existing campaign focused exclusively on Mission Viejo.

Dave and Kwik Kopy Printing made it easy to get whatever printing is needed without ever leaving your home or office. Simply email artwork as a PDF file, they prepare the proofs which they email back. When the job is printed, Dave and his crew delivers them to your door.

Dave recognized that getting the first order from a customer is the toughest. He knew that if he could secure the business of local businesses in neighboring communities, he would have a customer for life.

As competitors pulled back from their marketing on Google, Dave’s cost per click dropped. Now he is acquiring new customers at a fraction of the cost than he would have paid just weeks ago.

Sterling Flooring and Tile

At first, you would think that the timing of the Covid-19 Lock Down could not have come at a worse time for Sterling Flooring and Tile. Alhough they have been established in Anaheim for decades, they are relative newbies in Mission Viejo.

Yet, March was their best month for sales since their recent opening. According to Dave Fay, their local general manager, having people at home so much has them looking closer at their surroundings. “Honey, our floors look like…”.

Although the showroom on Alicia and Fabricante is open, their staff has become mobile. They make house calls. Equipped with samples.

Easy Fleet GPS

Easy Fleet provides services to businesses that utilize a number of vehicles to perform. Keeping track of the vehicles, deliveries, pick-ups, etc. can be a daunting task. And, that means real money!

This local company contends with many large and multinational companies. Yet they provide more and better services at a lower cost.

Better price. Local service. How can you miss?

EasyFleet is offering Three Months of FREE services for new clients. (See: https://easyfleetgps.com/fleet-management-solution/

These guys are in a great market space. Their prospects/suspects need them. Now! And will continue.

If you manage multiple vehicles, this is an offer you should take advantage of, TODAY!

Schooley Mitchell

There is little doubt that many Orange County small businesses will need to minimize their overhead expenses now and after the lockdown. Schooley Mitchell offers cost reduction consulting that covers telecommunications, merchant services, waste disposal, and small package shipping.  

Evaluating these products and services in order to best balance your goals of minimum cost and maximum service can be a very time consuming and frustrating task. One of the best parts of their service is that if you do not implement our recommendations for savings, then they don’t charge you any fees. We are very confident that they will be able to help you, so we are willing to take the risk of spending our time to prepare the required in-depth analysis. Schooley Mitchell consultants are highly trained professionals in the field of cost reduction, and are sure they will deliver great value to you, both immediate and long-term.

So sure are they that they can help local businesses during this COVID-19 crisis, they are offering to defer their fee for 3 months to allow you to benefit in the near term from the savings they deliver, so that you can keep your business running lean and focus on revenue initiatives.

Share Your Success Strategies

Have you implemented some awesome strategies to help flatten the curve that the Covid-19 lockdown has presented your business? Do you know of other local businesses that are thinking outside of the box?

We would love to hear from you so we can share your innovation to help others in and around Orange County. Call or email Jim@949local.com with news and views that we can include in future releases.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, folks. It appears that Covid-19 is peaking and even starting a descent in many areas of California. We ARE going to get through this together. And we will emerge stronger than ever, together. In the meantime, stay well!