# Advice for retailers as COVID restrictions ease this Independent Retailer Month Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-07-29 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: Expert Tips to Boost Your Business Post-Pandemic Meta Description: Simac Konkader, founder of ActionCOACH Slough, provides crucial advice for small businesses looking to thrive post-pandemic. Learn how to maximise your URL: https://financedigest.com/advice-for-retailers-as-covid-restrictions-ease-this-independent-retailer-monthhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/graphicstock-shopping-time-closeup-of-teenage-girl-legs-with-shopping-bags-at-shopping-sbi-305124504-1736838112310-compressed.jpg) _By **Simac Konkader,** founder and principle coach of ActionCOACH Slough._ In the wake of the 19th July, attention now falls on local businesses as they attempt to keep the momentum going with the further easing of restrictions. That’s why this year, Independent Retailer Month is more [important than ever](https://www.financedigest.com/changing-face-b2b-business-practices-understanding-timeless-behaviour-important-ever.html "The changing face of B2B business practices – why understanding timeless behaviour is more important than ever.") before. The campaign aims to [highlight the importance that local retailers](https://www.financedigest.com/german-retail-slump-highlights-covid-roadblocks-to-recovery.html "German retail slump highlights COVID roadblocks to recovery") play in the communities they serve and their contribution to the community’s overall economy. Slough’s [expert business](https://www.financedigest.com/6-expert-tips-to-turn-your-photography-passion-into-a-business-2.html "6 Expert Tips to Turn Your Photography Passion into a Business") coach, Simac Konkader, wants to support local retailers with restrictions easing. Simac wants to [provide vital guidance so that retailers](https://www.financedigest.com/route-genie-partners-withnorsk-global-to-provide-retailers-with-increased-international-carriage-choice.html "Route Genie Partners WithNorsk Global To Provide Retailers With Increased International Carriage Choice") will feel confident as life begins to look more like it did pre-pandemic. As restrictions ease, it’s crucial that people help their community to get [back up and running by buying](https://www.financedigest.com/mercedes-benz-to-buy-back-up-to-4-billion-euros-in-shares-by-2025.html "Mercedes-Benz to buy back up to 4 billion euros in shares by 2025") local where they can. “It’s been an extremely difficult time for everyone, especially those smaller [businesses that depend mainly on local](https://www.financedigest.com/local-government-business-support-getting-worse-report-shows-as-70-of-uk-firms-say-its-not-good-enough.html "Local government business support getting worse, report shows, as 70% of UK firms say it’s not good enough") support,” said Simac. “After the 19th July, it’s time for them to start [thinking about innovative ways to work with their customers and keep](https://www.financedigest.com/the-pull-of-the-past-1-in-5-keep-items-they-think-will-be-valuable-in-the-future.html "The pull of the past! 1 in 5 keep items they think will be valuable in the future") momentum going post-pandemic. Gone are the [days when we open our high-street shop and simply expect people](https://www.financedigest.com/over-a-third-of-uk-people-think-thomas-whitmore-from-independence-day-will-be-joined-by-donald-trump-in-disneys-hall-of-presidents.html "Over a third of UK people think Thomas Whitmore from Independence Day will be joined by Donald Trump in Disney’s Hall of Presidents") to come in, we have to work hard and cleverly at encouraging them to do so.” Here are Simac’s top tips for local retailers to maximise their potential during this period: 1. **Know your numbers.** Of course, it’s important to understand your profit margins for products and services, but it’s about understanding your numbers on an even deeper level. How much does it [cost to gain a lead for a potential customer and how many would you normally convert into a paying](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-strikes-protests-in-europe-over-cost-of-living-and-pay-2.html "Factbox-Strikes, protests in Europe over cost of living and pay") one? If [online has now become a key component of your business](https://www.financedigest.com/6-practical-tips-for-starting-an-online-business.html "6 Practical Tips for Starting an Online Business"), it’s crucial to know what effect this has on your bottom line. 2. **Keep in regular contact with your customers.** This is paramount. You should have continued to [engage with your customers](https://www.financedigest.com/tech-shaking-customer-engagement.html "How tech is shaking up customer engagement") throughout lockdown anyway, but post-pandemic is just as important as ever. Share your news, [promote any new products](https://www.financedigest.com/hybrid-theory-promotes-ines-martins-to-global-head-of-product-names-sean-badlishah-managing-director-of-apac-region.html "HYBRID THEORY PROMOTES INÊS MARTINS TO GLOBAL HEAD OF PRODUCT; NAMES SEAN BADLISHAH MANAGING DIRECTOR OF APAC REGION."), share pictures of your business and interact with your customers. Your [social media platforms are the easiest and most effective way of keeping the conversation going and keeping customers](https://www.financedigest.com/10-tips-to-help-with-your-social-media-customer-care.html "10 TIPS TO HELP WITH YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CUSTOMER CARE") in the loop is crucial for retaining them or enticing them back. 3. **Promote ‘shop local’.** You can promote the importance of shopping local and supporting the local high street. Incorporate it into your messaging, place banners in your store windows and shout about it on [social media](https://www.financedigest.com/yoono-discuss-the-importance-of-social-media-checks.html "Yoono discuss The Importance of Social Media Checks") and your website. Now’s the time to create a community of abundance and there’s no better way to highlight just how [important that really](https://www.financedigest.com/what-is-guest-post-placement-why-it-is-really-important.html "What is Guest Post Placement? Why it is really important?") is. [Don’t forget](https://www.financedigest.com/digital-transformation-dont-forget-to-incorporate-migration-to-ipv6.html "Digital transformation? Don’t forget to incorporate migration to IPv6"), by shopping local, people become part of the much-needed injection towards the local economy. 4. **Start a referral group.** Clubbing together with other local businesses will give you a lot more clout: you can offer each other guidance and support, as well as sharing any ideas for best practice. Having the chance to interact with like-minded [business owners](https://www.financedigest.com/small-business-owners-are-highly-optimistic-about-2017.html "Small Business Owners Are Highly Optimistic About 2017 ") promotes a healthy environment, which is imperative for receiving a boost of inspiration for the following months. Simac will also be helping retailers through his new MMC10CLUB – a new programme guaranteed to make 10 [business owners multi-millionaires within 10 years](https://www.financedigest.com/nfts-live-streams-sustainable-businesses-and-social-shopping-what-to-prioritise-in-commerce-this-year.html "NFTs, live streams, sustainable businesses and social shopping – what to prioritise in commerce this year"). Simac will be selecting 10 entrepreneurs to take part in the exciting new programmme. To apply, simply complete the initial application form on the ActionCOACH Slough website. You will receive a call within five [working days](https://www.financedigest.com/productivity-and-the-four-day-working-week-in-financial-services.html "Productivity and the four-day working week in financial services") to discuss your application. “My [personal guarantee is to make 10 people multi-millionaires within 10 years](https://www.financedigest.com/elon-musk-named-times-2021-person-of-the-year.html "Elon Musk named Time’s 2021 ‘Person of the Year’"). You [need to be a business](https://www.financedigest.com/what-is-premises-liability-coverage-and-why-does-your-business-need-it.html "What is Premises Liability Coverage … and Why Does Your Business Need It?") owner who has made a solid start or already created jobs for five or more people. You will also need to be open to learning new [ways](https://www.financedigest.com/3-impactful-ways-that-leaders-can-contribute-to-the-independent-development-of-their-employees.html "3 Impactful Ways that Leaders Can Contribute to the Independent Development of Their Employees") of thinking and committed to doing what it takes to become an even more successful business owner and leader,” explained Simac. “I will refund any business owners double the difference between the amount they invested and how much their gross [profit margins increased](https://www.financedigest.com/4-tips-for-landlords-to-increase-rental-property-profits.html "4 Tips for Landlords to Increase Rental Property Profits") if the programme does not work out for them. So, either way, they will come out better for taking part.” Determined to support local retailers, Simac offers a wide range of programmes to help [business owners progress to the next](https://www.financedigest.com/workforce-management-the-next-cloud-resource-for-businesses.html "Workforce management; the next cloud resource for businesses?") level. From behavioural assessments to [business plans complete with cash flows, key business drivers and metrics](https://www.financedigest.com/5-fx-metrics-your-business-should-be-tracking.html "5 FX METRICS YOUR BUSINESS SHOULD BE TRACKING"). As Slough’s [expert business](https://www.financedigest.com/6-expert-tips-to-turn-your-photography-passion-into-a-business.html "6 Expert Tips to Turn Your Photography Passion into a Business") coach, Simac is passionate about supporting businesses – whatever their size – “even more so after the pandemic.” To find out more about the MM10CLUB and to apply please visit [https://slough.actioncoach.co.uk/programmes/mm10club/](https://slough.actioncoach.co.uk/programmes/mm10club/) ![Simac Konkader, founder and principle coach of ActionCOACH Slough](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/picture3-450x450-1736838112287-compressed.jpg) Simac Konkader, founder and principle coach of ActionCOACH Slough --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---