Disruptions don't always have to come in the form of a surprise. Annual events - as in on this day every year X happens - can be either a draw for customers or a headache you hate dealing with. But what better way to handle a disruption than knowing when it will come and how long it will last?
Like what?
Marathons, parades, and street fairs. What comes with them aside from happy spectators? Roads are closed, bridges closed, buses are re-routed. Everyone is inconvenienced. But small businesses get more than inconvenienced.
My favorite marathon - the NYC Marathon - was held yesterday. It brings millions of dollars to the city from both runners and spectators. That should be a boon for businesses and it is...but not necessarily if you are on the parade route and not a bar/brunch spot (they always do well).
I remember running the Boston Marathon in 2018. Days before I carb loaded at an Indian restaurant along the route in Natick. As I approached that spot on race day, I could smell the food and thought, "Jesus, they can't be open. No one can cross the street to get to them until tonight." About 6 months later I was having the same pre-marathon carb-loading lunch before I took off for the Marine Corps Marathon. I mentioned that I had been there for the same reason before running Boston and how I smelled their food. The owner said they had no idea how the race worked since they had only been open 2 months prior and they didn't just not make money that day, they lost money and wasted food -- they were anticipating their normal Monday lunch buffet crowd. He said, "Next year we won't open that day."
I read in the NY Times the plight of certain business owners around the marathon course. Car wash/oil change spot: close for the day on a day he is usually bustling with business.
Flower shop owner: any reason (marathon, street fair, parade) that closes the streets prevents deliveries from being made and customers from getting there.
Food delivery people: with all the closures near the route, it's such a headache to deliver, they take off even though they can't afford to.
Pushcart vendors: there is a place for them to store their pushcarts overnight that is on the route. They would need to get to the garage before 4am to get the cart and won't be able to return it until later that night after the streets are re-opened.
Real estate brokers: low turnout for open houses and last minute rescheduled appointments with buyers.
Horse-drawn carriage drivers in Central Park: it used to be just one day they were closed off from doing business in the park, but the officials now close the park 1 week in advance to set up...during the busy season for viewing changing leaves in Central Park.
The list of woes comes from lessons learned the hard way from experience. Wouldn't it be great to not have to learn that way? To plan in advance for disruptions...
Aside from making plans to be closed or open with the best circumstaces (everything you need have delivered the day before, do some advertising to bring in more business the day before or after so you can be closed and it not hurt that much), I offer another option: Maybe there can be an agreement with the city or the Chamber of Commerce can negotiate a deal where the same location isn't hit multiple times in a year. Spread the "wealth" of the inconvenience. Business continuity also looks at resources and partners outside your business to help with disasters and disruptions.
I'm not going to lay blame on the Indian restaurant owner who didn't know one of the world's most famous marathons ran in front of his new restaurant space. I might suggest that a Chamber of Commerce or business association let new businesses to the area know that they can anticipate as part of an orientation to the area. There are a lot of opportunities for cooperation and information sharing. Half the battle is knowing. The other half is making a business continuity plan for that day well in advance and have it to use every year. You know you're going to have to!
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