{"id":574,"date":"2020-03-28T22:30:20","date_gmt":"2020-03-29T05:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/https:\/\/phoenixvalleyreview.com\/news\/target\/coronavirus-is-shutting-down-local-stores-heres-how-to-support-phoenix-small-businesses\/"},"modified":"2020-03-29T22:55:02","modified_gmt":"2020-03-30T05:55:02","slug":"coronavirus-is-shutting-down-local-stores-heres-how-to-support-phoenix-small-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phoenixvalleyreview.com\/coronavirus-is-shutting-down-local-stores-heres-how-to-support-phoenix-small-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Coronavirus is shutting down local stores. Here’s how to support Phoenix small businesses"},"content":{"rendered":"

The new coronavirus has caused closures of gathering places such as restaurants, bars and movie theaters as the federal government and local leaders have implemented measures to contain the spread of the virus.<\/p>\n

Arizona’s response hasn’t yet reached the level of Los Angeles and New York<\/a>, which have ordered mandatory closures, but some local retailers in Phoenix are voluntarily shutting their doors temporarily to halt the spread of the virus.<\/p>\n

“It is a really difficult decision for small businesses to close their doors but we’d rather feel like we are part of the solution and not the problem,” said an Instagram post for Phoenix boutique urbAna<\/a>, owned by Ana and Brian Wells.<\/p>\n

Businesses that are closing their brick-and-mortar locations are rushing to make their inventory available online.<\/p>\n

“We\u2019ve got to try to be a mini-Amazon,” urbAna’s Brian Wells said, “and make it convenient for the customer who\u2019s not out and about.”<\/p>\n

On March 16, President Donald Trump asked Americans to avoid gatherings of 10 or more people<\/a>. The next day, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego declared a state of emergency in the city<\/a> and requested the closure of bars and reduction of restaurant operations to delivery, drive-thru and take-out only.<\/p>\n

Changing Hands bookstore, urbAna, Mucho M\u00e1s Art Studio and Gallery and Local Nomad are among the locally owned stores that have pivoted to online sales and offered incentives such as discounted or free shipping (some hand-delivered within a certain mile radius) and curbside pickup.<\/p>\n

Local Nomad owner Lauren Danuser said 7% of her sales happen online, and the store’s cash flow heavily relies on brick-and-mortar profits.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s a really, really hard decision to close,” she said. “We\u2019re trying to shift our mindset and shift our sales to online.”<\/p>\n

This means perhaps buying ads on Instagram and Facebook as well as ramping up marketing efforts on the store’s social media accounts and in email campaigns.<\/p>\n

For Kathy Cano-Murillo, owner of Mucho M\u00e1s Art Studio and Gallery<\/a> in Phoenix and The Crafty Chica online store<\/a>, this means posting about inventory on Instagram, fulfilling online orders and doing Instagram Live and Facebook Live sessions to engage customers and build community.<\/p>\n

Her online store is “very busy,” she said, and she’s working on evolving the Mucho Mas website into an e-commerce platform. Most of their merchandise is made in Arizona by Latino artists, she said, 75% of it by herself, her husband Patrick Murillo and Emily Costello.<\/p>\n

Pivoting away from in-person experiences is pushing small businesses to innovate, Cano-Murillo said, as they are forced to figure out how to maintain revenue.<\/p>\n

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Now more than ever, we can really appreciate how small the world really is and the importance of coming together to support the Phoenix community. As small business owners, the decision to close our doors is never an easy one. We’ve come together as small businesses to discuss how we can continue to keep our customers, employees and local community safe. In the face of tough decisions, we have collectively decided to close our brick and mortars until at least March 30. As the COVID-19 situation changes, our plans may too. \u2800\u2800\u2800\u2800\u2800\u2800\u2800\u2800\u2800 In the meantime, staying connected to others is more important than ever when when it can’t be in person. So we will continue to reach out and try put a smile on your face while we’re all doing the best we can. Maybe let’s think of as an opportunity to discover and and support brands and business owners you may not have known in your community. All our online stores are still open for business, and each business plans to serve you in new and different ways. As always, your support means everything. We hope you and your families stay healthy. \u2800\u2800\u2800\u2800\u2800\u2800\u2800\u2800\u2800 All the best, The Phoenix Retail Collective @gatherphxshop, @___noons, @antiquesugar, @bunkyboutique, @camelbackflowershop, @changinghands, @cosasphoenix, @deependvintage, @desertcrafted, @framedewe, @palabracollective, @galeana39, @halopiercing, @localnomadshop, @madeartboutique, @manorphx, @modernmanor, @mountsunny, @muse_apparel, @palabracollective, @practicalartphx, @shopfrances, @shopmodernique, @stinkweedsrecords, @strawberryhedgehogsoap, @vidamoulin, @curiousnatureshop, @purplelizardboutique2827, @retro_ranch, @sauvagephx, @phxgeneral<\/a><\/p>\n

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