Local Businesses Dealing With Governor’s Order Extension
April 8, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.
Local Businesses Dealing With Governor’s Order Extension
By Jackie [email protected]
A change made to the order included retail businesses that provide necessities of life “may remain open but should limit the number of customers,” implement hours for elderly and other vulnerable populations “and comply with all mitigation measures to protect employees and the public.”
All other retail businesses are limited to call-in ordering with delivery or curbside pickup. Professional services should conduct business virtually or by telephone, according to a press release from the governor’s office. It went into effective at 11:59 p.m. Monday.
Anderson Florist and Greenhouse has its doors closed, but is focusing on deliveries, said florist Jennifer Hogenson. Anderson is trying to get its website together.
“I think it’ll change our business forever,” Hogenson said. She said the business started working on a website since “this whole thing started.”
“We will adapt,” she said, noting Anderson sells food, so the website will help the business expand and make them more essential.
Attorney Travis McConnell says his law firm has been working from home the last couple of weeks, with one person coming in three times a week for mail. He has completely closed it starting this week, noting the order didn’t substantially alter what his law firm has been doing.
He has been talking with clients over the phone, only meeting if absolutely necessary.
McConnell says he does a lot of personal injury cases, so his cases have been put on hold since civil cases are considered less essential.
However, he is seeing less clients come in. He says the issue for his law firm will be seen in six months to a year due to the gap in clients he’s getting now because he doesn’t charge a flat fee, but gets a percentage of the settlement.
Since insurance companies are open, McConnell said his law firm is still able to settle claims with them.
“Since the governor’s first order, our building has been closed to clients and visitors,” said attorney Jay Rigdon, of Rockhill Pinnick LLP, noting his law firm is meeting with clients remotely whenever possible.
Rigdon said his law firm “will just have to be more organized. Most of the time we can talk with folks by telephone and we certainly have video conferencing capabilities to meet with them when we need to meet face-to-face in some,” adding he’ll be available through telephone conference.
Rigdon did note a benefit of having increasing telephone calls and other electrical media makes it more likely people will meet with their attorneys.
“We want to protect our employees and get through this difficult time and we look forward to things getting back to normal,” he said. “Otherwise, I think we’re like other small businesses. We want to protect our employees and get through this difficult time and we look forward to things getting back to normal.”
Owner Cindy Dobbins said The Next Chapter Bookstore, isn’t getting a lot of business right now.
The bookstore is closed to people who want to browse. However, if people call and wonder if the bookstore has a certain item, Dobbins said the bookstore can deliver it curbside. She also has had some customers have special orders that she has had delivered to them.
She said customers can order a variety of coffee curbside and she’s had several gift baskets shipped out.
Brent Reinholt, owner of Reinholt’s Town Square Furniture, said they’ve been closed and couldn’t really talk about what was said in the governor’s order.
Reinholt’s is not currently doing any deliveries, but are getting a lot of calls from people who want to look at furniture.
In the short term, Reinholt said the coronavirus pandemic has hurt his business as the business has money going out and they have little money coming in.
In the long term, he hopes things will come back, noting purchases that people need to make will be delayed.
He did say if he learns of any changes they can make, they’ll see what they could do.
Tim Hamann, owner of Male Fashions, said he doesn’t have an online business set up right now, but he does have social media. He said he’s tried to use that and he’s gotten a little bit of response to that.
“If there’s a funeral or some sort of clothing emergency, I’ve scheduled time with those people individually, so that I come in and then they come in,” Hamann said.
Since the beginning of the stay-at-home order, he has also offered curbside pickup. If people know what they want, Hamann said he can show them pictures, and if the customer knows their size, he can bring it out to them.
He plans on doing what he can, contacting people through social media and individually and by phone if there’s a need.
Depending on how long things go, Hamann said he thinks his business could possibly come out stronger.
Hamann said some of the big box companies are closing or not reopening and that could be a plus for his business, noting he’s also lost prom and wedding business, so he doesn’t know how to get that back.
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A change made to the order included retail businesses that provide necessities of life “may remain open but should limit the number of customers,” implement hours for elderly and other vulnerable populations “and comply with all mitigation measures to protect employees and the public.”
All other retail businesses are limited to call-in ordering with delivery or curbside pickup. Professional services should conduct business virtually or by telephone, according to a press release from the governor’s office. It went into effective at 11:59 p.m. Monday.
Anderson Florist and Greenhouse has its doors closed, but is focusing on deliveries, said florist Jennifer Hogenson. Anderson is trying to get its website together.
“I think it’ll change our business forever,” Hogenson said. She said the business started working on a website since “this whole thing started.”
“We will adapt,” she said, noting Anderson sells food, so the website will help the business expand and make them more essential.
Attorney Travis McConnell says his law firm has been working from home the last couple of weeks, with one person coming in three times a week for mail. He has completely closed it starting this week, noting the order didn’t substantially alter what his law firm has been doing.
He has been talking with clients over the phone, only meeting if absolutely necessary.
McConnell says he does a lot of personal injury cases, so his cases have been put on hold since civil cases are considered less essential.
However, he is seeing less clients come in. He says the issue for his law firm will be seen in six months to a year due to the gap in clients he’s getting now because he doesn’t charge a flat fee, but gets a percentage of the settlement.
Since insurance companies are open, McConnell said his law firm is still able to settle claims with them.
“Since the governor’s first order, our building has been closed to clients and visitors,” said attorney Jay Rigdon, of Rockhill Pinnick LLP, noting his law firm is meeting with clients remotely whenever possible.
Rigdon said his law firm “will just have to be more organized. Most of the time we can talk with folks by telephone and we certainly have video conferencing capabilities to meet with them when we need to meet face-to-face in some,” adding he’ll be available through telephone conference.
Rigdon did note a benefit of having increasing telephone calls and other electrical media makes it more likely people will meet with their attorneys.
“We want to protect our employees and get through this difficult time and we look forward to things getting back to normal,” he said. “Otherwise, I think we’re like other small businesses. We want to protect our employees and get through this difficult time and we look forward to things getting back to normal.”
Owner Cindy Dobbins said The Next Chapter Bookstore, isn’t getting a lot of business right now.
The bookstore is closed to people who want to browse. However, if people call and wonder if the bookstore has a certain item, Dobbins said the bookstore can deliver it curbside. She also has had some customers have special orders that she has had delivered to them.
She said customers can order a variety of coffee curbside and she’s had several gift baskets shipped out.
Brent Reinholt, owner of Reinholt’s Town Square Furniture, said they’ve been closed and couldn’t really talk about what was said in the governor’s order.
Reinholt’s is not currently doing any deliveries, but are getting a lot of calls from people who want to look at furniture.
In the short term, Reinholt said the coronavirus pandemic has hurt his business as the business has money going out and they have little money coming in.
In the long term, he hopes things will come back, noting purchases that people need to make will be delayed.
He did say if he learns of any changes they can make, they’ll see what they could do.
Tim Hamann, owner of Male Fashions, said he doesn’t have an online business set up right now, but he does have social media. He said he’s tried to use that and he’s gotten a little bit of response to that.
“If there’s a funeral or some sort of clothing emergency, I’ve scheduled time with those people individually, so that I come in and then they come in,” Hamann said.
Since the beginning of the stay-at-home order, he has also offered curbside pickup. If people know what they want, Hamann said he can show them pictures, and if the customer knows their size, he can bring it out to them.
He plans on doing what he can, contacting people through social media and individually and by phone if there’s a need.
Depending on how long things go, Hamann said he thinks his business could possibly come out stronger.
Hamann said some of the big box companies are closing or not reopening and that could be a plus for his business, noting he’s also lost prom and wedding business, so he doesn’t know how to get that back.
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