Coronavirus puts Oakland County small businesses in survival mode with future unknown

Barnette, executive director of the Milford Downtown Development Association, talks to merchants every day.

“Everybody is in a different stage in terms of survival mode, getting through the SBA (loan) process, not getting through the SBA process, talking with banks and just trying to triage, I guess,’’ Barnette said.

Like in other communities in Oakland County, there’s a sense in Milford that everyone is in this together.

Zoom meetings help business people maintain social distancing, stay in touch and offer suggestions to each other. Barnette said they are not talking about if they are able to reopen or when that will be.

“Instead it’s how we’re going to reopen and how that’s going to look and how it’s going to feel different. The behavior changes will be different with customers,’’ Barnette said. “We’re starting to talk about maybe more online sales, curbside pickup, that kind of stuff.’’

In small communities, there’s often loyalty to downtown businesses who over the years have contributed to high school funds, veteran groups and local charities over the years.

“They’re part of the community, they’re a neighborhood; it’s not a commercial strip center, it’s a neighborhood,’’ Barnette said. “It’s a great deal of loyalty. Like when I say two extremes, there’s tons of people who can’t wait for Main Street to open, that are going to flood through the doors. We’re basically expecting both, the loyal customers to come back, but also when they do, how to make everybody, including the employees, feel protected. We’re getting ideas of how to re-engage them. It’s been heart-wrenching.’’

The Milford City Council is looking ahead and has canceled all downtown events through July 4.

“They’re looking at events after that but they’re very supportive of new ideas like expanding outdoor dining without charging extra fees. Or working on expanding outdoor sales. Right now you can’t sell outdoors it’s against the zoning code. We’re looking at ways to creatively look at that like an ongoing outdoor market.’’

Rochester Downtown Development Executive Director Kristi Trevarrow said all of the downtown area’s retail storefronts are closed.

“Many were able to pivot to online sales,” Trevarrow said of business owners. “Some people are just doing gift cards."

Trevarrow said many businesses are still finding ways to engage with guests despite their storefronts being closed.

She said one of the most effective ways for businesses to reach customers during the shutdown has been online.

“We maintain a downtown merchants Facebook page that offers promotions,” she said. “The public has really responded to that."

The organization started the “Love Local Rochester” hashtag to help connect customers with local Rochester merchants. On the Downtown Rochester Facebook page, the organization offers promotions for customers like “Workout Wednesday,” “Flash Sale Friday” and “Merchant Monday.”

The promotions, such as “Flash Sale Friday,” offer links to deals available through downtown businesses.

In addition, a COVID-19 carryout and delivery guide for Rochester restaurants and a COVID-19 shopping guide are available at downtownrochestermi.com.

“Obviously we want to have all our businesses up and running,” Trevarrow said. “But the important thing right now is that everyone stays safe.”

Trevarrow recommends that consumers can help businesses by buying gift cards, shopping online with them or even just liking their Facebook page.

“Anything we can do to keep businesses in the forefront of people’s minds, it really makes a difference,” she said.

Oxford Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Glenn Pape said the organization has offered video tutorials to local businesses about how to transfer to online sales.

Thevillageofoxford.org offers financial resources for businesses, such as information on MEDC grants and loans.

In Clarkston, there’s been a sense of community spirit in trying to adapt to changes during the lockdown.

“Things are going about as well as they can right now. Everybody is trying to adjust as much as possible, we’ve been trying to help people with that,’’ said Shaun Hayes, executive director of the Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce. “We’ve had a couple businesses offer to do online seminars with us to help people adjust to Zoom or how to prepare right now.’’

He and his team have been asking businesses how they can help.

“One of the biggest pieces of feedback we heard was businesses wanting to offer their services to each other,’’ Hayes said. “We don’t know what to expect in the future, and everybody knows that everybody’s going to need help in some way or another.’’

Like everywhere else, businesses are anxious to get back to normal but no one knows when that will happen.

“I think a lot of businesses are going to be needing attention with what to do when they get back to normal because I think we’re a ways off from normal,’’ Hayes said. “You’re going to have to change how many people can come into your building and what kind of protection is needed for people coming in and out.’’

With the world changing every day, it’s been a whirlwind for businesses trying to try to survive while planning for the future. Certainly, a strong community spirit seems to be a common thread winding through Oakland County.