COVID-19 Forces Innovation and Ingenuity in Small Businesses

Leroy Almendarez

While many are in the unemployment line, COVID-19 has also forced others to innovate, particularly for small businesses, including barbershops and salons where proprietors have branched out into selling other products.  The sale of face masks, for example, has seen an increase in demand for use as a fashion statement, aside from their practical use in preventing the transmission of the virus.

Dr. Leroy Almendarez, Executive Director, BELTRAIDE

“A lot of resilience has been created by some of these very enterprises that are now meeting demands, changing from their core competence and diversifying to meet the needs, using their own supply chains created by COVID.”

Carla Barnett

Dr. Carla Barnett, Minister of State, Ministry of Labor

“Or adding to their repertoire of goods for things that people are now demanding because you have people going to the barbershop less, but when they go they would be able to purchase things that they would not normally do.”

Dorian Pakeman, Director, Government Press Office

“At some barbershops, maybe they get a barrel from States and sell some tennis in their or some shirts or some hats or whatever…”

Dr. Leroy Almendarez

“Exactly, a number of people have been doing that.  Masks are now being sewn and they must match your clothing.  Now you can get a mask to match.”