WUHAN, CHINA - MARCH 30 2020: Masked staff pose for a photo in a shop of luxury goods in a high-end ... [+] shopping center in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province Monday, March 30, 2020, after nearly ten weeks of Covid-19 break.- PHOTOGRAPH BY Feature China / Barcroft Studios / Future Publishing (Photo credit should read Feature China/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)

Since the 2008/2009 recession, China has effectively become the tail that wags the dog of the global luxury market.

Thats because China was largely unaffected by the economic downturn that battered the market throughout the rest of the world. Not only that, Chinese consumers, with their growing economic power, expressed a heady appetite for luxury brands that signaled status in a culture where that really mattered.

Now after the beating luxury brands have taken due to the coronavirus pandemic, which Bain and Company predicts will strike off 20% to 35% of the personal luxury goods market in 2020 and McKinsey is on record for sales to shrink as much as 35% to 39%, all eyes are on the Chinese to restore luxury brands fortunes.

In analyzing prospects for the luxury markets recovery, Bains latest report takes a glass-half-full view of the industrys future. It predicts the industry will recover by end of 2022 or early 2023 to 2019 sales levels of 281 billion ($304 billion).

And to do that, China is the industrys only hope, says Claudia DAprizio, Bain partner and leader of its luxury goods practice.

The economy in China will be the one that will be least impacted by the long tail of this planetary crisis, DAprizio told me. For the luxury market, we think the recovery will be stronger and faster in China than in the U.S. and Europe.

Already Bain reports the best-performing brands are registering year-over-year sales increases in China for the first four months of 2020. While store traffic remains down, consumers who visit are reportedly more inclined to buy and their level of spending has increased.

Having grown dependent on the Chinese market for growth or more correctly addicted luxury brands are going to have to keep the pressure on to reach that ambitious 2022/2023 recovery schedule.

In 2019 Chinese consumers alone accounted for 90% of the growth in the personal luxury goods market or some 19 billion ($21 billion) in sales. They also generated 35% of global luxury spending.

By comparison, American consumers generated only 22% of the industrys sales and Europeans 17%, and their share of the market has declined from 27% and 30% respectively since 2000, while Chinas share has grown from 2%.

Further, Bain expects that Chinese consumers will make more than half of luxury goods purchases by 2025 when global sales are expected to reach 320-330 billion ($346-357 billion). That means they would have to gain some 15% more market share in only five years, a pretty aggressive expectation.

DAprizio admits predicting the future for luxury coming out of this crisis is particularly problematic since it impacted not just consumers financial wellbeing, but their health and emotions. Its probably going to have more than double the impact that the industry had from 2007 to 2009, she says.

What can get luxury brands off course in the post-coronavirus world, even if China rebounds as strongly as Bain expects? Plenty.

First, nobodys going anywhere, as the travel industry will be the very last to recover.

About 40% of overall [global] sales are made when people are traveling, so that is something that will be slow to recover, DAprizio shares, as she predicts repatrization of purchases in China will offset losses due to reduced travelling as the government is pushing for more local consumption.

On-the-go Chinese consumers have been big luxury shoppers. Luxury sales in mainland China made up only 11% of global sales in 2019, compared to Chinese consumers 35% total market share.

Second, luxury brands are counting on Chinese consumers to have not just the same appetite for their pricey goods, but also the same spending power. That is to be determined.

The Chinese economy contracted 6.8% in the first quarter 2020, with industrial production down 1.1% and imports/exports off 6.4%.

Since Chinas factories feed the rest of the worlds markets and the coronavirus shutdowns and resulting canceled orders didnt happen until the second quarter elsewhere, it may be a long shot to achieve the expected 1.3% year-over-year growth in the second quarter.

Complicating matters further is rising Chinese unemployment. CNN Business reports that as many as 80 million Chinese workers are out of a job, while the official figure from government sources are far lower.

Calling data from Beijing notoriously opaque, CNN quotes economists at Socit Gnrale reporting that nearly 10% of people in China are jobless.

Rising unemployment may hit luxury brand performance in China harder than in Western markets. A lot of the luxury market depends on the aspirational drives of middle-income Chinese consumers. But if they lose that income, the luxury market will lose those customers, Luxury Dailys Mickey Alam Kahn shares.

Consider also that the U.S. has four-times more truly wealthy consumers than China, 18.8 million millionaires compared with 4.4 million in China.

Third, what DAprizio calls the selling ceremony, which is so important to Chinese consumers, will be disrupted by social distancing measures required in the post-coronavirus world.

There is an element of cautiousness and fear linked to the possibility of contagion which will reduce store traffic. The sanitary control measures required are not the best setting for luxury shopping which has a huge emotional element, she says.

She also foresees fewer luxury store openings which will put more emphasis on e-commerce, as well as the need for greater marketing efforts.

Luxury brands will have to pull all the marketing levers and make investments in the most efficient way, which will likely result in a hit to brands profitability down the road.

Fourth, and perhaps most importantly, the coronavirus is going to heighten cultural sensitivities in the luxury market.

There is a lot of tension around inequalities, especially among the lower-income tiers of the population, DAprizio shares. And its not just tension between the haves and the have-nots but also the tension between the East and West.

As Western luxury brands have focused on the Chinese consumers for growth, they have committed any number of mistakes reflecting gross cultural insensitivity, like the notorious Dolce & Gabanna campaign featuring a model eating pizza with chopsticks.

While DAprizio lauds the luxury industry as the melting pot of creativity everywhere, she also foresees the danger of strongly increasing local sensitivites, arising from the coronavirus pandemic, which originated in China and already is a point of sensitivity for the Chinese people.

Brands really need to pay attention to elements of the monocultural reality and try to be relevant with authenticity around local cultures and local sensitivities, she says.

It is important to note her emphasis on local cultures and sensitivities because both China and Hong Kong are important markets for luxury brands, yet they have cultural differences, challenging a one-size-fits-all-China approach to these markets.

Coronavirus is going to accelerate a trend that Bain defines as cultural relevance and local tribes.

There has been a social strengthening of localism and nationalism, she shares. In particular the younger Chinese consumers are developing a stronger demand for Chinese products, local brands and local enterprises. This will probably accelerate and be a threat for European brands.

To meet this shift, DAprizio calls on luxury brands to develop a global framework that is large enough to accommodate all these differences and all the differing cultural needs, she says, and continues, Luxury brands will need to make room for more collaborations with local designers, artists, and creatives to gain relevance around this trend toward strong localization.

In closing, DAprizio sees hope, and challenges, on the horizon not just in China but around the world coming from the next generational shift in the luxury market, from Baby Boomers and GenX consumers to Millennials and GenZ.

These are both the luxury consumers of today and tomorrow. They are a wave shaping and creating luxury brands evolution in terms of messaging and purpose, she concludes. I see these consumers as a very positive underlying driver for success, as long as brands stay in tune with the next generations.

As long as is an important qualifier in that statement and many brands have tripped up staying in tune with consumers aspirations and drives when generations shift.

More here:
Fate Of Luxury Depends On China, But Continued Success There Is Not Guaranteed - Forbes

BOULDER A cross-section of interviews with dozens of startup leaders by Boulder-based Rebel Consultants LLC broadly point to personal relationship-building and innovation in the face of crisis as key to success once the world is able to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rebel Consultants CEO Brian Baker recapped the series of interviews with 28 business leaders from early-stage startups to companies in the Fortune 500 during a Tuesday session of Boulder Startup Week.

Baker described the current climate as the largest economic shutdown in the history of mankind, and the federal governments spending to keep commerce afloat as the biggest governmental action in history.

But many of the respondents, including from both sides of the political spectrum, were angry with the federal response being either too financially weak from the view of liberals or too imposing on the free flow of commerce in the view of conservatives.

Theres a huge identity with tribe in the United States. Its not like this is new, but it is being strengthened by COVID-19 and there is a huge level of impatience with anyone whos on the other side, he said.

Yet the leaders in the survey all said businesses will not return to pre-COVID normals because personal behaviors will shift.

That new paradigm will force executives to re-examine every part of their company, from outside vendors to their employees. Baker believes that businesses need to begin preparing to show their clients their value, and employees should be ready to show why they offer more value compared with someone else who is currently among the countrys unemployed.

All roles and vendors will be reviewed for (return on investment), and thats something every worker should be prepared for, he said. In fact, I would go ahead and type up why youre important to the organization, and I would do that all the way to the executive level right now.

Baker said the landscape for calling workers back is a virtual unknown right now for the survey respondents, who arent sure if they would be legally liable if an employee were to contract COVID on the job.

Theyre looking to strike some kind of balance between legal and human capital, he said.

About a quarter of the survey respondents said they were in personal contact with their customers during the past few months, which he derided as a horrible figure. He argues that while marketing remains important, offering generic platitudes in a mass email is less effective than building personal relationships in a time of social distancing.

Stay safe is not something professionals want to see in an email signature, it seems a little trite at the moment, he said.

Baker also suggested companies dont look at dropping prices for their services as a way to increase sales volume, arguing that customers will be willing to pay full price down the road when incomes have stabilized.

All of the survey respondents said they were looking for new market opportunities in a post-COVID world as they try to model other major companies that struck it big in the aftermath of a major historical event.

Baker noted that Facebook and Pinterest launched in the years after 9/11 as people looked to find more communities, while tech startups Venmo, Airbnb and the whitepaper underpinning Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies debuted in the midst of the 2008 financial crisis.

So its not like we cant do well after a big crisis. In fact, we usually do pretty well. And after the 2008 crisis, we got a lot of stuff, he said.

2020 BizWest Media LLC

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Boulder Startup Week: what 28 startup leaders think will succeed in a post-COVID world - Boulder Daily Camera

GENEVA The head of the World Trade Organization said Thursday that he will leave his post a year early, a personal decision that sets the stage for a succession contest at the trade body amid lingering U.S.-China tensions and a coronavirus pandemic that has doused the global economy.

Roberto Azevedo, a 62-year-old Brazilian, said he will step down Aug. 31 as WTO director-general, ending a seven-year tenure marked in recent years by intense pressure from President Donald Trump, who repeatedly accused the Geneva-based trade body of unfair treatment of the United States and launched a trade war with China in defiance of the WTO system.

This is a decision that I do not take lightly, Azevedo told a special meeting of WTO delegations. It is a personal decision - a family decision and I am convinced that this decision serves the best interests of this organization.

Read more:
Head of World Trade Organization to step down early - Minneapolis Star Tribune

This article was created by StackCommerce in partnership with Content Works, Postmedias commercial content division. While Postmedia may collect a commission on sales through the links on this page, we are not being paid by the brands mentioned.

What do the worlds most successful people have in common? They read. A lot. Most CEOs and executives read four to five books per month. Theyre not just doing it because they love murder mysteries or sci-fi adventures, theyre doing it because reading is a key ingredient to success. Reading has a multitude of personal and professional benefits that you may not have considered.

Want to learn more? Weve gone ahead and listed below some of the major benefits you can gain from reading, as well as some handy resources that can help you read more in less time.

Leaders must stay ahead of the curve and keep up with the most up-to-date and important information of the day. Knowing trends and developments in your industry will help you make educated decisions that can drive your company forward. Reading keeps you in the know and allows you to think more critically about decisions that need to be made.

When it comes to staying in the know on business trends in particular, many leaders are turning to Readitfor.me, a book summary service that condenses reads on productivity, management, and more relevant topics into quick, 12-minute summaries. Perfect for those who want to read more but might not have the time, Readitfor.me makes it easy to keep up with todays trending business ideas. Lifetime memberships are currently on sale for $99.99, or 88 per cent off its usual $840 price.

Reading encourages your imagination, thereby cultivating creativity. Authors keep us on our toes by introducing us to new worlds, offering challenging opinions, or proposing alternative world views. Creativity allows you to think outside the box to find solutions that may not seem obvious to others. Reading forces you to get comfortable living outside the box.

According to a University of California, Berkeley study, readers are excellent at analyzing information. Readers are well-practiced in deciphering and interpreting language, which makes them excellent at handling abstract information and analyzing situations. Those are incredibly handy skills in business.

The more you read, the more your vocabulary and grasp of language will improve, allowing you to speak more confidently. However, youll also gain a better understanding of sentence structure and rhythm, allowing you to write better. Reading teaches you how to write persuasively and concisely. Employers like employees who can both speak and write effectively.

When you read, you interact with an authors world through his or her perspective. Youre constantly comparing that perspective to your own, thereby gaining an appreciation for alternative viewpoints and opinions. This allows you to develop empathy and interpersonal skills.

Communication is a major cornerstone of leadership, and if your goal with reading is to become a better leader, Soundview Executive Book Summaries can also help. Working with leading book publishers and best-selling authors, Soundview is another book summary service that extracts the key takeaways from vital leadership concepts like management, motivation, HR, and entrepreneurship. You can get a 1-year subscription now for $49.99, or 49 per cent off the usual $99 price.

Reading is an escape. Life is full of stressors, from running a household to meeting a deadline, and reading offers you a lifeline. When you can just curl up with a cup of coffee and a good book, it can do wonders for your mental health.

Reading introduces you to new people and places constantly. When you frequently put yourself outside of your comfort zone by reading, you develop new perspectives and learn new things. The more you know, the more capable you are, and the more interesting you are to talk to.

If you want to take a more general approach to your reading goals, both 12min Micro Book Library and CatchUp Book Summaries can help. Both services sport bite-sized book summaries from a variety of genres and topics, and theyre both on sale now. You can get lifetime access to CatchUp for only $29 (90 per cent off the usual price) today or lifetime access to 12min for $39 (88 per cent off the normal price) as well.

Prices subject to change.

More here:
Seven reasons why you should be reading as much as the world's top business leaders - Financial Post

We, a collection of sociology Ph.D. students at the University of Chicago, would like to respond to professor Kimberly Hoangs recent op-ed published in The Chicago Maroon. Our aim is neither to polemicize against the author of the piece nor provoke further controversies. Instead, we merely want to offer an alternative set of value commitments. We see this recent post as an opportunity to restate our continuous commitment to scholarship, rigorous research, and community during these tumultuous times.

The problem we see with Hoangs tough love is not so much her advice per se. Of course, it is important to continue our research, publish, and think about potentially necessary adaptations of our projects. We also do not take issue with the advice that students should seriously consider non-academic jobs. Rather, we do not agree with her framing of our most important tasks as an academic community in the current situation. Hoangs piece subscribes to an ideological vision of the academy as a competitive market, in which atomistic individuals fight for dominance of their brand. In her uptake of the meritocratic ideal, she suggests that academia selects those who apply themselves most and are worthy by measure of their intellectual brilliance. If only we increase our personal commitment and output, we might be able to weather the crisis. Even if read more generously, this rhetoric provides little in support of the true intellectual community we seek.

The problem with this view is that it ignores the many structural conditions that shape who will make it, as well as the unpredictability of success. It ignores that thriving communities of scholarship are more than marketplaces and require solidarity, mutual concern, and altruism. It also ignores, finally, the structurally precarious situation of graduate students and dresses it up as privilege. Working hard is no guarantee for success. So, we wonder, why not highlight the failures of the academic job market instead of exhorting those who cannot deal with it to exit?

In contrast, we want to emphasize a different vision. The current COVID-19 situation is already reinforcing existing inequalities. As universities come under economic pressure, they will make cuts where it is easiestthat is, with respect to those who are most vulnerable. Instead of a world where each individual just focuses on themselves and their research, we believe that communities should come together and fight to mitigate the fallout from the crisis together. We want to affirm that ours is an intellectual community that is oriented to joint progress through mutual aid and learning. Accordingly, we recommend that the next steps should be worked out together: We should understand how the current crisis and our response to it perpetuate inequality, and how we can combat it. What kind of new accessibility challenges does the virtual classroom pose? What additional difficulties result for people with mental and physical disabilities? How do we support and build cooperative social networks over distance? Then, we should think about how to collectively establish systems of support and care. For instance, graduate students of the sociology department have come up with lists of concrete suggestions of how faculty-student cooperation could look like. Graduate students have also mobilized a petition asking the University to continue wage payments to cooking and cleaning staff.

Many of us have come to this university to find and create a community in the academy. We want to build a community that helps all of us feel supported and that enables us all to succeed in our personal and professional lives. We want to build a community that understands the systemic injustices that cause certain groups of people to suffer no matter how hard they work. We want to help them succeed and overcome the structural sources of this inequality to come an inch closer to a world that can be meritocratic. This is why we do sociology. This is what we, as graduate students along with our faculty, can and should do right now.

Ultimately, Hoang would know any of this had she bothered to ask the students in her own department what they are going through. It is strange that an ethnographer by training does not engage with the subjects she is supposedly giving advice to. Aspiring ethnographers are taught how to listen. Is Hoang listening to us? We, for one, are willing to talk.

The authors are sociology Ph.D. students at the University. They have requested anonymity in light of the influence Hoang has as an instructor and administrator in their department.

Read more:
Professor Hoang, We Need Academic CommunityNot CompetitionAmid the Pandemic - The Chicago Maroon

There are things I miss about the office. I miss talking through problems face-to-face. Going on a coffee run with my coworkers. And the hum of the newsroom. (Although, the kiddos are providing some pretty interesting sound effects these days.)

But when and if you do finally go back to the office, don't expect it to look exactly how you left it.

Employers are working to implement all kinds of changes to protect their employees in this new age of social distancing.

There's likely going to be more space between desks, added partitions and sanitation stations, plus new rules on the use of common areas, meetings and where and how to keep your food.

Workspaces: Desks are going to have to be separated to allow for social distancing. Higher partitions and privacy panels will help create more protection between workers.

Friendly reminders of social distancing, like a six-foot rug or a taped-off area behind desks to show the appropriate distance to stand when asking a colleague a question, could become common.

How you move throughout the office will also change. Companies might add furniture like big bookshelves or indoor trees to help direct the flow of foot traffic and create barriers. Certain hallways or stairs could be designated as one-way to help prevent bottlenecks or workers getting too close.

Sanitization: There will be disinfectants and hand sanitizers scattered around the office, but you can also expect to see cleaning crews coming throughout the day.

Stickers detailing the last time of cleaning will help workers know that a meeting room is safe to enter.

Communal spaces: Many employers will opt to close spaces that encourage gathering, including kitchens. The risk is too high for germs to spread.

Automation: The less touching, the better. Think voice or foot-controlled technology to activate elevator buttons, or turn on lights or sensors with automatic sanitizing capabilities.

Protective wear: Companies are going to have stricter requirements for workwear, writes Alexander Alonso, chief knowledge officer for the Society for Human Resource Management, for CNN Business' Perspectives.

He added that more than half of essential businesses are currently allowing personal protective equipment (more commonly referred to as PPE) in their uniforms, including gloves and face masks.

By now, you might feel like you have a good grasp on this whole remote work thing.

You've found the most comfortable spot to work, figured out the best schedule and have finally found the best background for all your video calls.

But have you thought about your computer's security?

Experts say they have seen a surge in "phishing" attacks targeting people working from home.Clicking on a link in an email or message could lead to installing malware on your device, writes CNN's Rishi Iyengar.

The 2008 recession was nicknamed the "mancession." Today, it looks like women are bearing the brunt of the economic fallout.

Last week, we learned that the economy lost a staggering 20.5 million jobs in April and that the unemployment rate soared to 14.7%.

That's stunning.

But the situation is even more devastating for women. The unemployment rate for women increased to 15.5%, while the rate for men rose to 13%.

Here's what's going on: Women are overrepresented in jobs that can't be done remotely, like hospitality and retail, reports CNN's Anneken Tappe.

It's getting harder to find credit these days.

Banks are tightening their grip when it comes to extending credit. Credit card holders have seen their credit limits reduced or even discovered that cards have been closed involuntarily. And tapping your home's equity for a loan could also be off the table, as some banks have stopped accepting applications.

But consumers still have some options if they are struggling financially. Some lenders are offering coronavirus-specific personal loans and Congress has temporarily changed the rules for tapping a 401(k).

Keep in mind, there are risks involved when it comes to dipping into your retirement savings, so make sure you understand the long-term implications.

You might not be using your car every day to commute to and from work, but the car payments are still coming due.

If you are struggling to make your monthly payments, the first thing you need to do is speak up, according to CNN's Peter Valdes-Dapena. Don't wait until you miss a payment.

Many auto lenders are offering assistance to customers having a hard time making ends meet because of coronavirus shutdowns.

No one is wearing pants these days. Well, at least not new pants.

People did a lot of online shopping last month, as many retailers offered the type of discounts that are usually seen around Black Friday.

So what are people buying? Being comfy at home seems to be a top priority, as pajama sales soared 143%. Sales of pants declined 13%, according to Adobe Analytics.

Not surprisingly, online grocery store sales rose by 11% between March and April.

While many retailers are dropping prices to entice customers, not everything is being discounted. For instance, computer prices increased 3.1% last month.

Read the rest here:
Here's what the office could look like post pandemic - CNN

On May 7, 2020, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that restaurants, bars and personal care services --hair salons, barbershops, day spas, nail salons and tanning facilities-- would be permitted to reopen, beginning May 15, 2020. One of those business owners who is reopening is Kevin Malof, partial owner of Bishops Quarter bar and restaurant, pictured, in Loveland. Photo provided.

By Megan Alley Sun Reporter

On May 7, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that restaurants, bars and personal care services hair salons, barbershops, day spas, nail salons and tanning facilities would be permitted to reopen, beginning May 15.

The announcement is part of DeWines continuingResponsible RestartOhioplan to reopen businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The plan sets forth the following:

Starting May 1, all medically necessary procedures that do not require an overnight stay in a healthcare facility or do not require inpatient hospital admission and minimizes use of personal protective equipment could move ahead.

This includes regular doctor visits, well-care checks, well-baby visits, out-patient surgeries, imaging procedures and diagnostic tests.

Dental services and veterinary services may also move ahead if a safe environment can be established.

Starting May 4, manufacturing, distribution and construction businesses could reopen if these businesses can meet mandatory safety requirements for customers and employees.

Also beginning on May 4, general office environments could reopen if these businesses can meet mandatory safety requirements for customers and employees.

Starting May 12, consumer, retail and some services could reopen if these businesses can meet mandatory safety requirements for customers and employees.

According to the plan, the general safe business practices that all businesses must follow as they reopen are:

Requiring face coverings for all employees, and recommending them for clients and customers at all times.

Conducting daily health assessments or self-evaluations of employees to determine if they should work.

Maintaining hand washing and social distancing.

Cleaning and sanitizing workplaces throughout the day and at the close of business or between shifts.

Limiting capacity to meet social distancing guidelines

Clermont Chamber President Matt Van Sant provided a local response to the most recent announcement,.

The Clermont Chamber is pleased that Governor DeWine has re-opened Ohio on a limited basis for our workers andresidents, Van Sant wrote in an email. Four out of ten workers in Clermont County are from manufacturing, retail trade, and health care/social assistance. From restaurants to basic employment in our county, this move will strengthen our overall economy and make things better for our community. Our workers want to work.

DeWines plan, as it pertains to restaurants, bars and personal care services, says the following:

Restaurants and bars in the state will be permitted to reopen outdoor dining services on May 15 and dine-in services on May 21.

DeWines Restaurant Advisory Group drafted a list of guidelines and best practices for restaurant and bar owners to follow. The full list of mandatory and recommended best practices can be found atcoronavirus.ohio.gov.

Personal care services, such as hair salons, barbershops, day spas, nail salons and tanning facilities will be permitted to reopen on May 15.

DeWines Personal Services Advisory Group drafted a list of guidelines and best practices for personal care service providers to follow. The full list of mandatory and recommended best practices can be found atcoronaviurs.ohio.gov.

One of those businesses owners diving into the plan set forth by DeWine is Kevin Malof, who is a partial owner of Bishops Quarter bar and restaurant in Loveland.

Bishops Quarter is a three-level bar located just off the bike trail, and it opened in December 2018.

The bar and restaurant employs some 40 part-time and full-time staff members, made up of cooks, wait staff and administrators. Hiring was underway to staff-up for the busy summer season when state stay-at-home orders were enacted in mid-March, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

There was disappointment that we had to close, but primarily because of our employees; we were concerned about how they were going to pay the bills and sustain themselves during this crisis, in part because none of us knew how long it would be; four weeks, eight weeks, none of us knew for sure, Malof said.

Leadership at Bishops Quarter quickly pivoted its operations to try to make ends meet.

They took advantage of the Small Business Administrations Paycheck Protection Program designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll, and they began offering carryout food, and eventually, beverage service.

We had an excellent, absolutely amazing response, Malof shared. Not that were making the money that we were making as a full-service, full-time restaurant, but the support that we had initially from the local community was great.

Now, Malof and his team are getting ready to reopen under the mandatory and recommended best practices set forth under DeWines plan, a step that Malof says has brought him some relief.

We were actually seeing movement in terms of some direction, and of course, the devil is in the details, he said, adding, What we do know, and weve been blessed in this entire period, we have had carryout, we have maintained a strict regiment of cleanliness and sanitary conditions, things we always have done as a restaurant, because restaurants are unique; its handling food and there is a substantial safety component, so we really havent changed that, except that we have been open this entire period, as a carryout, and have been able to do that in a manner of maintaining self practices that have not allowed any contamination or anyone becoming contagious.

He went on to say, In some ways, were not changing what were doing, even when we allow customers to come in, but the introduction to customers adds a secondary layer, because its incumbent upon them to help protect themselves, each other and our staff [customers] may become complacent, whereas employees know that the moment they feel ill, they would notify us.

Bishops Quarter will continue to offer carryout, and theyll start offering outdoor seating service this weekend, and dine-in indoor service beginning next weekend.

Plans for how to move forward after that are contingent on customer demand, weather and staffing availability.

While Malof and his staff will be taking the precautions to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at Bishops Quarter, they are not requiring customers to wear face coverings, which the Centers for Disease Control recommends to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

We would hope that our customers self-police each other, and themselves, and not put other people or the staff at risk, if it comes down to that, Malof said. If we believe, as things change, as that [wearing face masks] is a practice that is required or necessary to ensure safety, then well evaluate and consider that as well.

Malof said that hes had one employee who has expressed concern of safety about returning to work and interacting with large numbers of the public.

For his employees with those concerns, Malof said hes offered to move them to more behind-the-scenes positions, or offered them the flexibility of staying home, while ensuring that their positions will be held for them until they choose to return to work.

When asked about the significant path he and his employees are charting as they move ahead in the early stages to reopen Ohio businesses amid a deadly pandemic, Malof responded, We believe that we can offer an opportunity for people to come in, start experiencing restaurant business again, and yet, we realize that our success, and the success of this experiment is directly incumbent upon our customers taking the issue as seriously as everyone else is. . . . People need to be smart about this, and not put everyone else at risk.

See more here:
Local reaction to DeWines go-ahead to reopen restaurants, bars and personal care services - The Clermont Sun

Monday marked the beginning of candidate filing week in Washington state and the start of an election season that races toward an Aug. 4 primary before culminating in the Nov. 3 general election.

For candidates, this time of year is typically filled with door-knocking, in-person town halls and on-the-road campaign events.

So what happens when statewide bans on gatherings and stay home orders meant to prevent the spread of a deadly new coronavirus upset the natural order of campaigning?

The Post-Record recently talked to two Democratic candidates who declared early campaigns this year Washougal School Board member Donna Sinclair, who is running for a state legislature seat in the 18th District, and Vancouver professor Carolyn Long, who hopes to represent Washingtons 3rd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives about what its like to campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Out of the gate strong and then it all stopped

When Sinclair announced her bid for state legislature in mid-January, the World Health Organization (WHO) had already alerted world leaders to be on the lookout for cases of a novel coronavirus, but the threat posed by COVID-19 was still, in most peoples minds as well as in the words of WHO reports, a developing situation.

Inside the Sinclair campaign, talks of house parties, meet-and-greets and events at public libraries still dominated discussions in late January and early February.

We got out of the gate strong, Sinclair says. I was still working a lot, so I couldnt go to many meetings, but we were doing a lot of planning and, on the weekends, doing fundraisers.

Late February brought a successful house party fundraiser Sinclairs way, and by early March she was drawing crowds at public meet-and-greet events in Salmon Creek and at the Camas Public Library.

And then it all stopped, Sinclair says. I was teaching four classes three at Western Oregon and one at (Washington State University Vancouver) and it was midterms at WSU and finals week at Western, Sinclair recalls. On March 13, we were having a midterm at WSU.

The university had already made a decision to hold online classes after the midterms concluded. One student came to the midterm wearing a mask.

The midterm, on March 13, was my last day in class, Sinclair says.

Since then, she has left her house fewer than half a dozen times and then only for essential trips to pick up groceries or get mail from her campaigns post office box.

After more details about the coronavirus dangers emerged in mid-March and people started to consider staying home to help lower the curve, Sinclair immediately shifted gears on her campaign strategy.

A lot of people have invested money in my campaign, so I couldnt just say, Theres a pandemic. I cant campaign anymore,' she says. And I didnt want to (stop campaigning.)

Instead, Sinclair looked to the strategies she was learning about in her role as a history professor.

The first thing I did was attend three or four Zoom trainings, including one on digital campaigning through Emilys List, Sinclair says. We immediately started building our social media and digital presence.

When she hosted her first Zoom event in late March, everyone was really depressed and we talked about (COVID-19), Sinclair says. I thought, Maybe this is not the time for this.'

As she spoke to more constituents of the 18th District, Sinclair realized people were hungry for more information. So she started conducting interviews with health care experts and business leaders and put that information, as well as a list of resources, out to the public.

The situation has really caused me to evaluate how Im approaching the campaign, Sinclair says. Public health is a key issue, so Im thinking a lot about that and doing as much research as I possibly can.

She is talking to people, mostly online, about their needs during the crisis.

Im talking to a lot of people who are older and need safety, pure and simple. Theyre not so much concerned about whats going to happen next; theyre concerned about not being exposed to this virus, she says.

Sinclair also talks to a lot of local business owners, who she says are just trying to hang on.

She is looking forward to campaigning more often this summer, after her classes at WSU-V and Western Oregon have wrapped up.

Until its safe to meet in small groups again, Sinclair will keep campaigning in a way that doesnt jeopardize her own health of the health of those around her: by posting her signs around the 18th District, calling people, sharing online resources and hosting digital events.

Its an ongoing process of evaluating the evidence and seeing whats safe and whats not, she says. Ill always err on the side of caution.

Meeting people where theyre at: online, at home

Anyone familiar with Carolyn Longs 2018 bid for Congress knows this candidate thrives in an in-person environment.

In fact, if this were a normal election year, one in which COVID-19 did not exist, Long would likely be hosting town halls and meet-and-greet events a few times a week.

The last time Long challenged incumbent U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, she talked about the importance of being in front of voters and of showing up to in-person events. In the build-up to the 2018 general election, Long could be found talking to politically active young people at Camas High, holding town halls at the Camas Public Library and meeting with supporters at places like 54?40 Brewing Company in Washougal.

The bread and butter of my campaign is really being in the community as much as possible, Long says, holding town halls and connecting with people on a personal level.

Since announcing her second bid as a Democratic candidate for the 3rd Congressional District in July 2019, the Washington State University Vancouver (WSU-V) professor has hosted over 50 town halls.

Recently, however, those town halls have had to go virtual.

Long held her fourth Facebook Live Town Hall last week and regularly hosts more personal, Coffee with Carolyn events online to reach out to supporters and voters.

Although the venue has shifted from a library or someones living room to a computer screen, Long says she is still trying to let people know she hears their concerns.

People are anxious. They have a desire for leadership in Southwest Washington, she says.

At the same time, Long says, she also sees people wanting to come together as a community during the COVID-19 crisis, independent of political beliefs.

People want to have a sense of community right now, Long says. At this moment that were in, were just trying to think about how we can give back to the community. The calls (Im making) to people right now are about how theyre doing. Politics is secondary.

When she meets with smaller groups online during her Coffee with Carolyn events, which tend to have 10 to 30 participants, Long hears mostly personal stories of how people are coping right now.

We talk about how theyre doing, how their family is doing, Long says.

Shes heard stories of neighbors helping neighbors, distillery owners producing hand sanitizer to give to frontline workers and people reconnecting with loved ones for the first time in months.

Thats rewarding, she says of hearing the personal stories of communities coming together for a common cause. And its something you dont necessarily get in a (non-COVID-19 environment).

Other stories arent as rosy, especially those involving small business owners.

Many have not been able to access the resources that Congress told them would be available to them, Long says. Some of these small businesses operate on very slim margins. (If they dont have funds coming in) for just a couple weeks, it can mean theyre never coming back.

Having grown up working for her parents produce stand on the Oregon Coast, Long says she understands the frustration and fear these small business owners are feeling.

At a recent Facebook Live town hall event, Long addressed the subject of the federal Paycheck Protection Program.

Im really sad to say that its not the first time Ive heard from a small business owner about the problems that theyve encountered with the small business loans, Long said. Business owners are actually keeping people on payroll in anticipation of a loan coming through and it hasnt and then theyre really putting themselves in jeopardy in terms of their financial stability.

Whats made the situation worse, she added, is the fact that large corporations seem to be getting funds meant to keep small businesses afloat during the COVID-19 shutdowns.

Long says her Facebook Live town halls tend to bring out more policy related questions.

Were hearing questions about health care and about preserving Social Security and Medicare at every town hall, Long says. And Ive never had more interest in my broadband-for-all proposal they never knew that so many people didnt have access to (broadband).

Although Long has transitioned easily to a more digital world, campaigning in the time of COVID-19 does have one definite drawback for a candidate who seems to thrive in face-to-face situations.

The most rewarding thing about campaigning for office is having the chance to meet people where theyre at and listen to whats on their mind, Long says. You cant beat having that human connection, that one-on-one I do miss that connection.

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Campaigning in a time of COVID - Camas Washougal Post Record

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The customer is always right is an outdated way of thinking about the people you serve. Its better to treat each business opportunity as a dynamic relationship with your customers. Shaking your head yes to every request or complaint is too simplistic a solution.

Thats why Customer Experience (CX) training is so important. Understanding the needs and desires of customers is what makes or breaks a business, yet so many companies overlook this important fact. Providing a service is important, but recognizing how a customer experiences your service is equally relevant.

So, if youre looking to grow your business to its fullest potential, youll want to understand the principles of CX inside and out.

As the Harvard Business Review phrases it, customer experience is the internal and subjective response customers have to any direct or indirect contact with a company. Direct contact occurs in a retail showroom or any location in which physical presence is required. For many businesses, indirect contact is even more relevant. Examples of indirect contact include the effects of your marketing campaigns or your companys social media representation.

Youve got a great service or product to offer. As the creator, however, its impossible to know what all of your customers experience. Everyone has a different notion of what the customer experience entails.

Knowing why someone buys your product is the first step in developing this relationship. Their motivation helps you decide how to communicate with them. How theyre going to use your product is also relevant. What if they purchased it for someone else, yet they want that person to be able to talk directly to you? How often are they using your service? Where are they buying it from?

There are communication strategies for each of these examples. Being fluent in the totality of CX makes you a stronger business at every step along the customer journey.

Conducting business today means that youre spending more and more time communicating digitally, which demands its own communication style. The last thing you want is frustrated customers that are unable to turn to you to solve problems.

You want to be able to build a strong customer corridor, in which they trust you at every step along the way. Honesty at the point of sale is just as important as being there if your product breaks down. Keeping a customer for life is the ultimate goal of every business. That begins with building a corridor they want to travel through with you.

Every business has different markers for success. The bottom line is often the only thing business leaders measure. That is only one metric in an ocean of data. A successful CX program means youll be learning from your customers and iterating when necessary to provide optimal customer service.

Feedback takes time to implement, but you want it from day one, from your customers as well as your employees. A successful CX means that your representatives are along for the journey as well. Effective dialogues between all aspects of a business with its customers create the conditions for a successful company.

Want to sharpen your CX knowledge? Online Training & Certification: Customer Experience 101 provides you with the basics of CX so that you can put these practical skills to immediate use. By learning how to empathize with what your customers experience and provide them with the service they deserve, the likelihood that youll retain them increases exponentially.

The course is taught by Jaakko Mnnist, founder of the mammoth entrepreneurial digital community in Finland, Yrittj.io. He is also the author of the book The Journey How to Create the Happiest Customers in the World. The course features 11 lessons and three and a half hours of content, with access to additional resources, such as quizzes, templates, ebooks, and one-on-one coaching services.

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Grow your business by following this overlooked principle - Financial Post

Ironically, what may be the biggest obstacle between Warren and a chance to change how the economy works is her history of doing just that. Several of the people who have Bidens ear are former Obama aides who felt like Warren was pursuing her own agenda during her days setting up the CFPB, or during the days when she was using her Senate perch for moves like torpedoing a pick for an undersecretary of the Treasury because of his Wall Street background. Some key people around Biden are on edge about the thought of having to constantly be looking over at the vice presidents office, wondering what shes working on.

Warren has spoken privately about feeling chastened by the 2020 primaries. She put it all out there. She knows she lost. She knows Biden won, someone close to Warren told me. She knows were in a time of crisis, and her priority moving forward is helping make him successful.

Read: The story Elizabeth Warren isnt telling

When I asked Warren about the ex-Obama aides misgivings, she gave me a long answer that started with: Im a team player. I want to get things done. She ticked through her work setting up the CFPB as a success for Americans overall and for the Obama administrationand said that as a senator, she was doing her constitutional duty in a separate branch of government. I know that can sometimes be a bumpy relationship, she said. That is my job. She ended by repeating: I am a team player because I want to get things done.

Warren couldnt go to her brothers funeral after he died in April. She couldnt do much beyond cry by herself, 1,600 miles away in Boston, holding the phone that shed been calling Don on every day, twice a day, to check in. To lose someone when you have to wonder what were their last days like? Were they afraid? Were they cold? Were they lonely? That is a kind of grief that is new to all of us. My brothers wont get over this. They just wont. None of us will.

About 36 hours after Don died, Representative Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts told me, Warren was on a Zoom call with her, Khanna, and Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico, strategizing about the Essential Workers Bill of Rights. Her brother didnt come up directly, though Pressley, whos also been working with her on racial-data collection, said he was clearly on her mind.

She knows that her loss, that she deeply feels, is sad and tragicbut that there are millions of families that are grappling with that same loss, Pressley said. Even when she deeply feels something, shes projecting that out.

Its a crass but real thought that has come up among some Democratic operatives in the past two weeks: Imagine Warren debating Mike Pence. The vice-presidential debate is currently scheduled for October 7, at which point its possible that 200,000 or more Americans will have died of COVID-19. She would be in the position to look at the vice president, who was put in charge of the coronavirus response, and talk to him about families like hers that will never be whole again.

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It Really Could Be Warren - The Atlantic