In the UK we are now in Lockdown 3, not substantially different to life in the previous Tier 4, and before that Tier 3. Which means we know what to expect, including that it will be colder than Lockdown 2 and much colder than the gently warming lockdown 1.
This means we all WFH where we can, school is unlikely, and shopping habits we would have thought revolutionary are now the new normal. In short these are:
1) Mission based shopping – you can only go out to buy what you need, from a small list of shops that are allowed to remain open. Each trip needs to be planned, most shops only allow one person in at a time – no family shopping – so its best to have a list and stick to it. The supermarkets help by reducing the number of special offers and news reports ask people not to buy more than they usually do. The experience is such that you only go into a physical shop if you cannot avoid it.
2) Shopping for pleasure, for what you want and what you fancy – that goes online. In effect, the UK government have mandated the use of Amazon plus a handful of online fashion retailers for impulse shopping. This is a reversal of a previous model which suggested we would do the need shopping online because its quick and easy and do the browsing in physical space.
In 2021 look out for the next steps in this, where online platforms combine entertainment and retail, as the likes of Alibaba do in China.
What does this mean for your business? Everything. And I know many of you are not in retail. That is not the issue here.
What is happening is a continuation of the changes already accelerated in 2020 – changes in our habits. That means changes in the way your customers think and act – whatever business you are in.
I was fortunate to attend a presentation by Keith Abraham CPAE, and Australian sales speaker and author, who summed this up neatly: “In 2021 you have to be at least as good online as you are in person.”
For some online only businesses they have to get at least as good in the physical space as they are online.
You have witnessed these trends already with your bank: I imagine you use an online app to manage your bank account.
You will also order your supermarket shopping online (despite the huge amount of plastic bags wasted in our recent order – I will get onto this trend in the coming weeks).
You might buy your next car online and have it delivered.
Oh, and your next training/learning experience will almost certainly be online. Whether it’s your compulsory Continued Professional Development for compliance purposes, or you just wondering how you can get better, or enhance a skill.
Your finance training can be done with my online programme https://app.mastermind.com/masterminds/8443
I now also offer my coaching for directors’ programme – which is delivered online too. Email me for details.
Your business will also need to be available online.
Here’s your challenge: if you think your business cannot be delivered online, email me. Be prepared to have your thinking challenged.
Remember, it’s not the technology that is the driver – it is how people use it.
Buzzword of the Week – Guarantee
Definition – A formal assurance (typically in writing) that certain conditions will be fulfilled, especially that a product will be repaired or replaced if not of a specified quality. An undertaking to answer for the payment or performance of another person’s debt or obligation in the event of a default by the person primarily responsible for it.
Alternate View – A work of fiction. An invention of the marketing department, without them consulting anyone else in the company. A word uttered to impress, but with little behind it. Which is not to say that something guaranteed will not happen – it might. But just attaching this word to something does not mean it WILL happen. In short: do not believe this word if you see it. Proof? Search “Equitable Life Assurance”.