This year will be a whole different and out of the ordinary year for so many businesses and most especially for those in the fashion industry. The lockdown has transformed some offline business to online business and is still transforming some even as you read this and you don’t need me to tell you that business will not be the same again and most especially for textile retail stores.
Can small business brand stand the test of time?
It is however important to note here that consumers are not hundred percent [100%] loyal to business owners. For the past two decades now buyers not the end users has held the power in the fashion industry, but that was the era where buyers are assign to find products/textile suitable for their end users but now we are in the digital era; the future is now. Textile Businesses that are creative and innovative will survive, but those that still dwell in the past will not. Now, the world seems to be a global village, Digital technologies new business models has made it easy for commercial development.
Evolving is a characteristic of life thus also a characteristic all business owners must possess. The kind of feeling you build around your brand matters a lot and that is what makes your clients devoted to your business. One fact we cannot over-emphasize is that Social media is a prominent tool for brands, but not only for brands, also a prominent tool for consumer intelligence. Exploring Artificial Intelligence [AI] and facts enables us to create and sustain the provision of products consumers are demanding for.
However, you cannot run away from the new normal, except you decide to put an end to your business and even at that you still are trapped inside all of these as you must transact two or more business deals to be alive. You must face it; business has changed. The lives of consumers have been changed, and they are now going back to work being apprehensive of the kind of environment we live now. Nevertheless everyone in the industry have to move on and acclimatize to the new normal and build your own strategy to success, create new skill, and make printing profitable again.
Does COVID-19 propose new prospects?
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A big YES to the question above. Presently the Nigerian market and economy are going online, it still needs to be well mastered by Nigerians but I believe we are getting there. Amongst other prospects, it is creating a digitalized world. Businesses that has not gone online need to adapt to the new normal and by so doing create multi- sales channels in this time of digitalization. Another prospect brought up by the pandemic is leading Nigerian youths and Nigerian at large to recognize vast opportunities that abound on the internet. Also people now see the need to attend webinar in place of seminar.
Creativity and the ability to acclimatize is key to success and if you want to succeed you can’t be left behind. There is a high need to distribute knowledge, information, understand your consumers, and meet their need to succeed. Within days of lockdown, the Zoom civilization actually has emerged to facilitate communication, Microsoft Teams connect huge organizations across the globe, and we realize that we don’t have to be in the same room to do business against the traditional way as we have always done.
I encourage textile printers to overlook the current crisis and seek new opportunities, reinvent strategies and plan how to attack what might be looking like challenges and familiarize yourself to the new normal.
The new normal has come to stay, as a textile printer, are you ready to take your business to the next level?
