Through the accelerator programme Future Retail Lab has eXpression Umeå conducted a survey among owner-operated companies in the trade and hospitality industry. The aim was to map the companies' attitudes, reactions and actions to the rapid introduction of the pandemic law. Now that the rich data has been examined, it can be concluded that many have been prepared - not least thanks to continuous adjustment work.
This is a group that has come to eXpression Umeå to strategically and methodically develop and work with issues related to strategic business development and it is clear that they have been relatively well prepared for change. They are in a tough situation and that's why it's impossible not to be inspired by the fighting spirit and solution-focused attitude that so clearly surrounds these entrepreneurs," says Annakarin Nyberg, program manager business developer for Future Retail Lab, at eXpression Umeå.
On 10 January, two days after the Riksdag's decision, the new pandemic law came into force throughout Sweden. It gives the government and authorities the right to take even tougher measures to reduce the spread of the disease - if necessary, they can impose fines and force businesses to close down.
In Umeå, companies that have been affected have reacted differently. The media have told stories of how some have struggled to adapt at such short notice, while others have been well prepared.
The survey reveals that smaller companies have in principle only received information through the media because they do not belong to a specific trade association. Information from public authorities is considered to be poor and difficult to find.
Through the Future Retal Lab business development programme, a total of 28 owner-managed companies have been given the opportunity to work on issues such as business development, communication and leadership in a time of change - something that the industries were already in the midst of before the pandemic and which is now further complicated. These are the 28 companies that form the basis of the survey.
Here are some reactions to the new pandemic law from companies that participated in the survey.
This is an exciting challenge, not least because the rules are different for shops and cafés, we have a combination of this. In the shop I can have a total of 14 people, while the café can have four guests per table. So in the café, the total number of guests can be more than 14. What was the thinking here? At the moment it works, but in the spring and summer it will be tough because we have more visitors," says Johan Hallberg, Eljest in Umeå.
I haven't really made that much of a change now compared to before because we have such a big shop. We were prepared with signs and hand sanitizer and other things before. But we can do a better job of turning the negative message about restrictions around and showing that the restrictions are about caring for our customers. We should turn it into something positive, our customers should feel safe with us. We will continue to communicate this clearly," says Marie Andersson, Ingmar interior design in Skellefteå.
I try to convey to those I meet that we will try to get something good out of this. It's a new way of life. I think this will continue, there may be new challenges. I went from four to three customers, I put the hand sanitizer at the door instead of at the cash register, so it hasn't really made that much difference to me. I'm closing a bit earlier and I'm using that time to work on the business, not least our communication, and to talk to other traders and share experiences," says Merete Fischer, Meretes ekobutik in Umeå.
