In March of 2020 there was a moment of widespread panic – it wasn’t just about public health, it was also economic.  Would our economy survive a prolonged pandemic?  A few years in the answer is clear – it did survive and it was able to because of the spirit and the resolve of our people.  Hard working mom and pops working overtime to implement new revenue streams for the businesses, artists and creators finding new ways to collaborate and share their art with their fans and folks from every neighborhood in the country finding ways to adapt and carry on.  We wanted to honor those stories by creating a space to share those stories and you’ll find some of the below.

Scott Keppel

Covid has changed not only our business model in a number of ways. When we had to shut down due to Covid we instantly lost approximately 80% of our business. Just like that we were faced with the reality of we either adhere to the Marine Corp philosophy of “Improvise, Adapt, Overcome” or we will need to close our business. Along with other companies that not only survived, but thrived during the pandemic we chose to adapt. We started coaching clients using Zoom and FaceTime. We also met clients outside and once we were able to see clients in person we sanitized more than ever, created sections for clients to train to assure they had a safe distance and adhered to strict health guidelines. In addition, what I feel really kept us going is the fact that we stayed true to our word on how we handling business. Read more>>

Katy Jo Caringer

When the pandemic hit in early 2020, many of my clients had to quickly cancel photoshoots and suddenly my revenue stream was drastically reduced. I knew I had to shift my business model to stay afloat and adapt to the impact of covid-related shutdowns. I began offering social media management and website design services, teaching myself new skills while spending a lot more time stuck at home. Now instead of only delivering professional images, I learned to create beautiful online portfolios for client websites, and as well managing social media platforms with custom imagery. This helped me get back on a successful track as I was able to adapt and offer a wider range of services that my clients were already in need of. Read more>>

Caroline Perry

2020 took a very unexpected turn for all of us and, like most businesses out there, I had to adapt. Zoom meetings and teleconference became the norm overnight. Instead of teaching clients out of a premium space in a group class environment, I started offering online classes through Zoom. While we all missed the space, ceiling height, and sense of community that studio classes offered, creating an environment where we can all come together for an hour to forget the stress and confusion of the pandemic was immensely therapeutic. What I found is that teaching online has allowed me to reach people from all corners of the globe and create a community out of common interests. Read more>>

Tracy Southers-Parker

The COVID pandemic changed my business in two ways: 1. Prior to the pandemic, I was teaching in-person marketing workshops as a business development tool. I transformed them into online workshops and recorded webinars. I also packaged my signature course, How To Create a Kick Butt Marketing Plan, into an online course that is a new revenue stream for my business. 2. During the pandemic, I was forced to modify my services and come up with new solutions for clients. For example, in lieu of an in-person event for the completion of a model home, we filmed a video with the builder giving a tour. For a restaurant client that was closed to the public for several months, they continued to provide meals for a local non-profit that delivered them to homebound seniors; we used this for social media, email marketing and media opportunity. Read more>>

Albert Ghitis

Covid changed our model by making us see the benefit of outdoor classes. At first we moved our classes outdoors out of necessity, but we slowly leaned that they had appeal even in a post-covid world. People like being outside and they love that we can give them some signature Miami views, from the Miami River to the Atlantic Ocean Read more>>

JaKaila Mason

I did not have an in person selling event from March 2020- August 2021. During this year I adapted to virtual pop up events. This was very new to me. I was super nervous, because I had only conducted my business in two manners: in person or via my website. During the beginning of the pandemic, the virtual events were successful. This helped me increase my online audience. Overall Covid has helped me become more open minded regarding my business affairs. Read more>>

Joey Klein

Inner Matrix Systems (IMS) is a seminar company. Until 2019, we produced solely in person events. In March 2019 when the entire world shut down, our business ended overnight. We canceled events and scrambled to support our clients. Our business is in the business of supporting people through difficult times and we were also trying to navigate the unknown ourselves. I’m proud to say that our team was able to pivot and create a new digital offering within a matter of weeks. This was possible because we did a few key things during this time that can help any leader during difficult or uncertain times. Read more>>

Vicki Baker

Covid came at a time when I had planned to expand my business sales by doing more vendor events. I had prepaid many events to attend and made lots of products. Then every show was cancelled! Although, I received refunds it didn’t replace lost sales I would have made. As a result I had to learn how to use and focus on social media for marketing and create online sales for my website. Now that Covid restrictions have eased off I can get back to doing what I enjoy most which is doing vendor events. Read more>>

Karina Ruiz

COVID in 2020 has had a tremendous impact on my business. Business went through the roof! So many people were quarantined for so long or stressed out. When it was time for people to come out they went straight to booking massages to relieve stress, tension, depression or pain! 2021 was a roller coaster ride with the new variants coming out. Then 2022 has been more balanced and it’s starting to get a little back to normal.. Read more>>

Lea Woodford

COVID has propelled my business to another level and in a different direction. I created a digital/print magazine as a lead generator and marketing tool. My plan was to also have it provide advertising revenue and sponsorship opportunities… I didn’t know it would be a new business for me. It has been a game changer during COVID and I don’t see it changing anytime soon. Read more>>

Natasha Reyes

As a solo entrepreneur, I am always in search of finding solutions for others. Fitt Life Fitness Gym has by far been my biggest success. It was also the one entity that got hit the hardest during Covid. In the context of business, there were many disadvantages as well as advantages during, and post-Covid. Covid was a setback, a setback that presented a powerful opportunity to bounce back with a new profound perspective and wisdom. It also led me to the birth of another business. When Covid came along, it sent every one of us into the Unknown. The uncertainty of what it was, how it was going to impact the fitness industry left us on the edge of our seats. How were we going to continue to serve others in the health and fitness industry when we were the last on the list as far as businesses being able to continue running?. Read more>>

Malina Farias

When the first lockdown hit us in 2020, retail cheese sales dropped to almost nothing. As the weeks went on, I noticed that the only orders remaining steady were those food services that were delivering and offering pick-up. With nothing else to do, I began visiting restaurants, (especially those that serve pizza) with samples of my vegan mozzarella. I picked up several new customers who are still with me today. I now sell just as much mozzarella to food service clients as I do my artisan cheeses to retail shops. Read more>>

BigClint ” Morris “

Being a digital-first brand.. People are no longer able to run to the shops for their every day needs. Instead, they’re going online. That automatically puts businesses with strong online offerings ahead of the competition. Read more>>

Meghan Gonzales

I will never forget the day we were notified that our business would have to close its doors for “two weeks”. My management team and I sat in the back office of my studio, I was 2 months pregnant with twins and cried for maybe the first time since my wedding day. I looked at the two of them and saw hope, they looked back at me with love, empathy, and determination. We decided at that moment that we would do Zoom classes and figure it out. We swiftly built an online schedule, organized our team notes, and launched our online streaming classes the next day. We offered 3 classes a day and with each awkward learning experience of teaching “backward”, taking the class as participants backward, and figuring out the hard way that certain angles were NOT going to work on film, we grew as a team. We grew through all of this change together. We laughed, cried, slipped, fell, got back up, and kept going. Read more>>

Greg & Sara Fetzer

We opened in March of 2019 a business model of servicing our neighborhood one pint at a time across the bar. Once the pandemic hit we quickly realized we were going to need to pivot and focus on packaging our product to go to maximize revenues. We did offer 32oz crowlers to go however 32oz in a single vessel can be intimidating and filling a crowler straight from the tap is not great for beer stability. We switched to four packs of 16oz cans. A much more approachable togo option for our customer base and saw our togo sales triple. Read more>>

Frances Coffey

Like many other businesses, the Covid pandemic forced us to rethink how we operate, top to bottom. On the customer side, we had to close our retail store to the public and rely 100% on e-commerce sales to help our company survive the past two years. To still serve our retail customers, we adapted to provide our curbside pick-up option which allowed people to place orders online for no-contact curbside pick-up. This was not an option we offered prior to the pandemic but is something we plan on continuing, as it has been very helpful for us as well as our customers. Looking at the bigger picture, we knew if we were being challenged during the pandemic, so were our customers. Read more>>

Charge Michael

When the pandemic hit, we were forced to change our entire business model to an online platform in less than a week. As the pandemic continues to improve, we are able to offer both online and in-person services, Online lessons were never on our list of offered services, and it has had a positive impact on our business. Read more>>

D’Marcus Latcher

March 26th 2020 a day before I was supposed to get on a plane to join friends in Vegas for a Dj convention. I was hyped, however indecisive because of all the cancellations and shutdown warnings across the world. Nevertheless my flight was cancelled as well as the Dj convention. Little did I know that I would not Dj for the next 8 months. No one could predicted it, I was straight flat lined from the Dj world. The known was the unknown. Selfishly, but logically thinking because of my success from the previous year I didn’t want to go that long not being able to Dj. Read more>>

Amber Franklin

Before Covid my organization was meeting once or twice a month for runway training and photoshoots. We would also host multiple women empowerment events. When covid hit we had to began to do everything virtually, cancel events, and a couple of members also had to leave due to the financial need to work extra or just because virtual wasn’t a option for them. We sat out a couple of months before I came up with a game plan to help us get through the pandemic. Even though things seemed impossible God always gives me directions and which way to lead these women. Read more>>

Carol Chenkin

While everyone in the world had to adjust and make accommodations in order to continue to move forward throughout the pandemic, our company not only had to make adjustments for our own internal organizations and how we would operate and service our clients, but we also had to quickly improvise how to keep our clients relevant and connected to their constituent & consumer base – essentially pivoting on the programs that we had in place and creating new ones. From incorporating webinars to virtual Stream-A-Thons, book and author chats online, and a digital Buy It Now Auction, we were able to spread our client’s exposure through the full utilization of digital marketing best practices. Read more>>