Small businesses in the Deltaplex area are being forced to adjust to new ways of business with the COVID-19 situation in our area of the state. Some businesses are experiencing a reduction in business, while others are changing how they operate in order to help facilitate business.
Lelan Stice, owner of Doctors Order’s Pharmacy in Pine Bluff and White Hall, said that the situation has forced him to change how his business operates.
“Doctor’s Orders Pharmacy is emphasizing delivery, mail, curbside, or drive through services,” said Stice. “Especially if patients are running a fever or exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19 or the Flu.”
Trisha Shank, owner of Déjà Vu Upscale Consignment in Watson Chapel said that business has dropped off for her.
“Business has slowed down however, at this time, Deja Vu Upscale Consignment plans to remain open,” said Shank. “We are sanitizing the counters/credit card machine in between customers.”
Jan Robinson, owner of Uptown Salon and Boutique in historic downtown Pine Bluff said that walk in’s have fallen off for her business, but those who have had appointments have kept their appointments.
“I’m not sure if it is the virus or streets, but for us but [we’ve had] no walk in’s,” said Robinson. “Appointments have been kept at Uptown Salon & Boutique.”
Liam Jackson, owner of White Hall Martial Arts, has been forced to close his dojo, despite working hard to keep everything clean and sanitary.
“We are in something of a unique situation. We have 100-plus students from all over a four-county-wide area,” said Jackson. “We already sanitize the facility on a regular basis. As with most sports-oriented operations, our greatest concern is staph and in 12 years of operation in this area, we’ve not a single case of staph in any form. At this time, we have closed operations for [due to coronavirus concerns].”
One of the biggest concerns with the COVID-19 crisis, other than the health and welfare of each person, is how the economy will respond. Shopping local is always critical for every local economy, but it is even more so right now with the situation at hand.
Consider shopping with local retailers during the crisis to help both those retailers and the local economy.
