How Australians can keep their favourite businesses afloat

Australians are rallying around their favourite small businesses in order to save them after Scott Morrison ordered a mass shutdown.

Pubs, clubs, cafes and restaurants were forced to close their doors or switch to a takeaway business model to stop the spread of coronavirus on Monday. 

Many customers have been left devastated by the lockdown and many want to do more to ensure businesses stay open and people keep their jobs.  

The Deakin Business School associate professor of marketing, Nichola Roberston, said there were many things Australians could do to make sure their favourite businesses survive. 

Customers should purchase online or over the phone rather than going into the business. Pictured: Friends enjoying a last coffee before non-essential venues were closed on Monday 

She told ABC: ‘I really think the choices we make as customers now have the potential to really meaningfully help those that need it.’    

Dr Robertson emphasised that Aussies should not stop shopping but simply change the way that they engage with these stores. 

She said that small businesses are also altering the way they provide their services to fit with the current environment of coronavirus shutdowns. 

Instead of going into the businesses, Dr Robertson advised that customers could do their shopping online or engage with the stores over the phone.  

She noted that some shoppers felt so passionately about their local cafe or pub that they were even setting up crowdfunding pages to keep them afloat.   

Dr Robertson said another way to provide support for local businesses was to purchase a gift voucher.    

She said that being a patient and understanding customer was also essential throughout this difficult time.  

‘We need to be more tolerant if things fail. Expecting a more adequate service level rather than their desired service level, because we’re all in unprecedented times,’ Dr Robertson said.  

She also said that leaving a kind online review or spreading positivity on social media would really help some businesses.    

‘Telling others what the business is actually doing to keep its customers safe and healthy if they’re taking precautions … people can help by liking these sort of posts, commenting, sharing and following,’ Dr Robertson said.  

Customers could also support their local businesses by purchasing gift cards and leaving positive reviews online. Pictured: Another cafe in Sydney closed its doors on Monday 

Dr Robertson also suggested that shoppers could go one step further and offer practical help to their local businesses. 

If a store was short staffed she said the customers could then become voluntary or partial employees.  

The Federal Government’s latest economic stimulus package offered up to $100,000 to try and keep Australia’s small businesses afloat. 

Banks have also announced a pause on small business loan repayments in an attempt to save the economy.

Pictured: An empty food court in the usually busy city centre of Sydney