It would have been hard to fathom just a couple of months ago how drastically COVID-19 would change the lives of millions of people. In the time since the first few cases were reported, 42 states have issued statewide shelter-in-place orders.
We recognize this can be a scary and uncertain time for people across the country. On top of the health risks, there are historic levels of job losses. Everyone is finding ways to cope with the situation and maintain some level of normalcy until the crisis abates.
Countless franchisees within Winmark’s network of resale brands are doing their best to help their customers deal with the current situation and get access to the products they need to keep their families clothed, active and entertained.
Getting Creative with Delivery
With quarantines and social distancing protocols in place in the majority of states, business owners are finding ways to keep their customers supplied with the items they need.
The owners of the Once Upon A Child® in Fairbanks, Alaska have added a new level of convenience to their customers’ shopping experiences, getting creative while keeping customers safe with their version of curbside delivery. They have taken orders from customers online, shopped for their items and then delivered them on a snowmobile.
In Longview, Texas, the owners of the Once Upon A Child have taken a unique approach to delivery as well. The franchisees have developed themed spring clothing ‘boxes’ on sale at different price points. At $20, $40 or $60, customers can sign up for whichever package they prefer and list out the items they need, sizes, colors, themes and the gender through the resale store’s Facebook page. The owners then send them a video on Facebook to give their customer a chance to adjust their orders. Customers also provide payment information, choose their preferred delivery method which could be porch drop-off (if the customer lives within a certain distance) or shipping directly to their home.
Demonstrating Resiliency through a Difficult Time
We’re proud to see the many examples of franchisees within the Winmark network of brands doing what they can to ensure their customers get the products they need.
Although the crisis with COVID-19 has created a lot of uncertainty, life still goes on in our communities; babies are being born, children continue to grow, we still want in style fashion, we still want to be fit and play sports, and musicians still want more gear. Our network of resale brands fit those needs, and we will be there for our community now and when this crisis is over.
During times of economic uncertainty, customers increasingly turn to resale businesses to get high-quality products at a fraction of the retail cost. We’re proud that our franchisees across the U.S. and Canada are able to play a role in giving people the chance to maintain some sense of regularity.
As a network of resale franchise brands, we are optimistic about the future. We recognize today is a challenging time for many, but there will come a time when social distancing and stay-at-home orders are lifted. Consumer confidence will return and businesses will grow once more.
If you’re interested in learning about franchise ownership opportunities with Winmark, get started here.
