The coronavirus pandemic has posed significant challenges and difficulties for many businesses, including ours. Prior to the pandemic, 70% of our activities revolved around event organization. With the ban on gatherings, we found ourselves in a unfavorable situation. We also owned a large format printing press used exclusively for event branding elements. Initially, we hoped the situation would resolve quickly, but we soon realized it would take time, prompting us to make serious decisions regarding team and activity reorganization.
Fortunately, 30% of our activities were dedicated to digital marketing, despite having limited experience in that area. When the pandemic hit, we redirected all our resources and invested in education and development for this aspect of our business. Although we had seven employees, only enough work existed for two. Instead of letting staff go, we encouraged them to learn and grow with us. We utilized this time to enhance our digital marketing skills and generate new ideas for event management, which we later successfully implemented.
The pandemic also led us to repurpose our printing facility. Shifting our focus beyond the event industry, we began producing canvas pictures, unique children’s stickers, and board games, which gained popularity in large retail chains. By harnessing the team’s creative potential, we developed distinctive products.
We discovered that flexibility and openness to change are crucial. Our team embraced new perspectives and adapted to evolving conditions. This crisis has shown us that nothing is certain and underscored the importance of being prepared for any situation.
From this experience, we have become richer for some new insights and tips for successfully overcoming the crisis:
- Investing in knowledge and team development
- Maintaining calmness in stressful situations
- Emphasizing education and the social aspects of business
- Valuing flexibility and openness to change
- Taking responsibility for our decisions
Let this serve as a reminder that resilience, adaptability, and unity are key values that guide us to success, even in the most challenging times.
Svetlana Gašević, founder and director of Ns Promo Team agency
