Adding Outdoor Space to Your Business |
Posted: March 3, 2021 |
If the past year has taught us something about life and business, it's this: we must be willing to change. The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed how we do pretty much everything, especially how we conduct business. At first, it was tempting to think “this too shall pass”, but after more than a year of enduring mask requirements and capacity restrictions, it’s time to pivot. Instead of thinking of an outdoor space for your business as a temporary solution, think of it as an investment in your future. The goal should always be to make changes that will continue to benefit long after life gets back to normal. A great way to do this is to invest in your outdoor space. It doesn't matter whether you're a restaurant, retail store, or an office — maximizing your outdoor space can bring several benefits in the long term. Here's how to do it: No Room to Expand?If you can’t get permission to use the sidewalk space in front of your building during business hours or you don’t have access to an unoccupied piece of land, you can bring the outdoors inside with a roll-up security door. The restaurant and brewery industry has embraced this concept before the pandemic, and we’re seeing retail and office locations adopt it as well. Security must be at the top of your agenda when taking your business outdoors. We frequently hear this concern from business owners considering the transition to outside, but making the most of your outdoor space doesn't mean compromising security, as long as you plan for it. This style of entry can be custom-made to replace large sections of a wall with the ability to close securely and safely during inclement weather or non-business hours. Sidewalk SpacesIf you’re fortunate enough to have a town that embraces sidewalk areas for restaurants and retail, you can test out the popularity of your space before you invest in retractable awnings or pergola coverage. Start with large umbrellas to protect people or merchandise from the and the rain. If people are receptive to using your new outdoor space, then you can move forward and invest in permanent covers and outdoor heaters to keep people comfortable in all kinds of weather. Invest in quality fixtures and fittingsLike we said at the start of the article, your goal should be to create a space that lasts beyond the pandemic. This isn't about spending as little as possible to maximize profits while people are hesitant to mix indoors, but building sustainable business opportunities to help you thrive in the years that follow. For this reason, we recommend investing in the best fixtures and fittings you can afford — from the seating to security. Create something you'll be proud to showcase to your customers in five years. Make use of technologyIt's essential to think about your new space as a continuation of your indoor environment, not a separate entity. Technology can help you bridge the gap between the two. Think about your customer's experience, for example. Taking your business outdoors may create some hurdles here. For example, if you're creating an outdoor space for your restaurant, how can you ensure the customers in your outdoor space get the same level of attention as those indoors, closer to your staff? Electronic devices on each table can help overcome this hurdle, allowing each customer to place an order directly from their table. Get creative! Work with expert partnersThe last thing you need, especially amid a global pandemic, is more unanticipated downtime. This mistake could cost you a considerable amount of money, so it's crucial to invest in the right partners to help you transform. For example, hire security experts to help with the security. They can take care of keeping your business safe while leaving you to focus on running your business. We hope this blog post has inspired you to think about how you can make use of your outdoor space in the pandemic and beyond. Get in touch if you'd like to learn more about how we can help you make this happen.
|
||||||||||||||||||
|