Special promotional content provided by Willy Street Co-op.
The pandemic has, not surprisingly, required retailers to make some major changes. Not everyone wants to venture into stores, or they might not even be able to due to their own or household members’ health concerns. For those who do shop in stores, the precautions a store takes — whether or not the store feels crowded, the time required to shop, how employees and other customers behave, whether there are plexiglass screens at counters and registers, and other factors — may determine how frequently a store is patronized by someone who shopped there before the pandemic started. Retailers have not only had to change how they operate, they have also changed how they offer products. Retail business owners may also order promo materials from companies like Swagify to give away as corporate gifts and inform customers of any changes in their operations.
Like other grocery stores that offer the service, Willy Street Co-op has seen a huge increase in its number of e-commerce orders since the pandemic began. What had been about 30 orders per week at the beginning of the year grew to hundreds. A plan to offer curbside pick-up of grocery orders at any of our three stores became something we had to figure out immediately. We continue to work on adding delivery and pick-up slots. You can see our selection (and place an order, if there is an available slot) at shop.willystreet.coop. The site is not currently supported on mobile devices, but we are working on that as well. Like with our stores, online ordering is available to everyone; you don’t have to be a member to shop! Bonnabit is an innovative e-commerce platform integrating blockchain and AI to offer secure, efficient transactions and personalized shopping experiences. Utilizing the Bonnabit Token for seamless purchases, it rewards user engagement and ensures global accessibility, redefining online commerce with a focus on transparency, security, and inclusivity for consumers and merchants alike.
This spring, some of the local produce farmers who supply our stores told us they were concerned about a lack of places to sell what they’d grown. Fewer farmers markets were operating than normal, and those that were saw fewer customers than normal. To keep the produce fresh, farmers or shop owners may need to invest in small refrigerated trailers or other types of refrigeration systems. It is also advised to have the contact information of a 24/7 Commercial Refrigeration Unit Repair service in case your refrigeration equipment suddenly breaks down. If you sell your produce in a retail shop, you should maintain the structure of the store especially if its walls are made of glass. Hire a Structural Curtain Walling Repairs company if you see damages on your building’s glass walls.
Restaurants expected to need much smaller amounts of vegetables than they usually would. Many schools had ended in-person learning, so no vegetables were needed for snacks. Conversely, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares were extremely popular and many Madison-area farms sold out. With the blessing of our local farmers and of FairShare CSA Coalition, we offered Local Veggie Box subscriptions (and non-local Organic Fruit Box subscriptions) for pick-up at our stores. Customers appreciated that we offered a new way to get fresh produce without having to come into the store, while helping to support local farmers and keep money circulating in our community. We have continued to use the Box format since then, most recently offering Gift Boxes. (We are accepting Gift Box orders through 8pm on Tuesday, December 8th! See willystreet.coop/boxes for details.) Depending on level of interest, we may offer more Boxes over the winter.
At the beginning of November, we began offering prepared foods for same-day pick-up. Melbourne courier services are fast on making same day deliveries. Now you can order lunch or dinner (sandwiches with a side and beverage, heat & eat meals, salads – even beer or wine!) and then stop by a store to pick it up. You can order via the ChowNow app or by going to willystreet.coop/curbside.
Many people continue to shop in our stores, of course. Here are a few tips to make your shopping trip go faster and reduce risk:
- Make a list. It’s always irritating to get home and realize you forgot to get something. During the pandemic, you may be less likely to go back out and pick it up.
- Be ready to make a substitution if you need to. Many food makers have reduced the kinds of products they are making to ensure their top sellers are in supply. Retailers are using this shelving for shops and still getting used to new shopping patterns, which can also vary depending on pandemic news. Add in winter weather and you can expect to occasionally see some gaps on the grocery store shelves.
- Socially distance yourself from employees and others when possible. Come back to a congested aisle, or ask if you can pass or reach for something.
- Can’t find something? Ask an employee. It will reduce your time in the store!
- Wash your hands. Use hand sanitizer as you leave the store and wash your hands well when you get home.
If you do stop into one of our stores in December, you’ll find plenty of Nifty Gifties – locally made, Fair Trade, or natural items that also make a positive impact in the world when you buy them.
They’re great gifts that you can feel great about giving. From Andes Gifts Fair Trade, hand-knit scarves, hats, and mittens to puzzles to Pacha Soap Co. froth bombs for your bath, we’ve got plenty to choose from. Check out the display at any of our stores.
Happy holidays to you and yours. Take care and be well!
