Today is Small Business Saturday…which for small business owners like us, provides an opportunity to reflect. And wow, what a year it has been. One thing they sure don’t teach you in school is how to run a business during a pandemic.
Believe it or not, it’s been over eight months since the world started shutting down due to COVID-19…and then a second punch came in the form of a 5.7 Magnitude Earthquake that did quite a number on our shop’s historic building.
As the two of us ushered our prized fabric booklets and our clients’ orders out to safety between aftershocks, we knew we were about to enter a phase of business we had never yet had to navigate.
But you were with us every step of the way. You, our clients and the community, never wavered in your support of Tailor Cooperative and other local businesses.
In March, we released a video statement letting our clients know what to expect from our shop. We then implemented a full month closure, which dropped sales to zero for weeks.
And during our closure, you were patient, you were resilient, and you were kind.
You even helped us to spread a bit of good will.
Together, we were able to donate 2,936 disposable masks to local restaurants and small businesses during a time when masks were tough to come by. As part of this, many of you purchased our cloth and canvas face masks, which we offered at-cost.
Because of you, we stayed busy, we kept our staff paid in full, and we kept the trains running as close to “on time” as possible.
This spirit of community is what Small Business Saturday is all about.
Thankfully, each month afterward got a little better. And while sales are well below what we anticipated for the year, we were able to hold our heads high, work safely during the pandemic, implement rigorous safety standards, and stay mindful of why we got into this business in the first place.
So on this Small Business Saturday, we’re particularly grateful. We are grateful to our clients, our partners, and most of all…our team. This year required team work, an extended hand, and a lot of positivity to endure.
This year has taught us that it’s important to stay resilient and creative when times are tough. To never compromise on what makes you who you are. For many, that still means what it has always meant: waking up every morning with purpose, maintaining a routine of personal care and a confident outlook, and putting on a damn fine suit.
Thank you for your support on this Small Business Saturday. We’re grateful to be your clothier.
Thank you,
Chase & Adam
Founders, Tailor Cooperative
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