The effects of the coronavirus pandemic, and the subsequent state of lockdown throughout most of the world, has had a cataclysmic effect on businesses. While commerce in general has gone down, certain sectors of the service industry have seen business grind to a total halt. Travel and tourism, an approximate $6 trillion dollar industry, has all but stopped. The drinking and dining world is at a standstill, with the majority of bars and restaurants are only allowed to operate on a delivery basis. That’s not to mention the health and wellness industry -- gyms, health spas and the like are now no-go areas in many countries.
Without some quick and inventive thinking on the part of business owners, they would stand to lose everything. But where there is necessity, there is motivation, innovation and invention. In Johannesburg, South Africa, a company that runs bicycle city tours has changed their game. Now they’re spinning their wheels into action and are delivering essential goods throughout the city. In Sydney, Australia, one gymnastics gym has built an entire online platform and app to bring their lessons online. Remarkably, their total membership figures have actually gone up!
This is a perfect example of service providers seeing that where there is chaos, there is opportunity. Particularly for the gym mentioned above. When the economy opens up again, and members start returning through the doors of the gym in person, the company will have doubled their revenue stream.
