#SBCountyTogether Daily Update - May 13, 2020

San Bernardino County, California sent this bulletin at 05/13/2020 05:14 PM PDT

May 13, 2020 - Daily Update

Business Edition

As the County moves into reopening our economy, we will be providing more information for the business community to help support, implement and inspire reopening phases. We want to thank everyone for supporting, sourcing and buying from local County businesses. This special Business Edition of the Daily Update will be published every Wednesday. We are here for you. #SBCountyTogether

For the latest Statistics and a complete list of upcoming Testing Locations and links, scroll to the bottom of today’s Daily Update

Business Insight

How Businesses Can Plan for Recovery and How Customers Can Help

By Michael Stull, Director of the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship at California State University, San Bernardino

This crisis has shown us how much we need our local small businesses. They provide valuable services and products and are often a social “hub” for the community. We need to “shop local” as much as we can, even if that means paying a premium for the convenience of shopping local.

Use this time to get to know local owners and employees because it is these businesses that support our schools, students, and community events through funding and volunteerism. Let’s do what we can to embrace them.

For Small Business Owners:

In turn, business owners need to find ways to provide more value and better service to customers – by getting closer to them. For many local firms, this crisis has exposed challenges in staying connected with customers as well as their lack of technology.

Actively creating and managing customer relationships is paramount to the consumer experience. That means having an active social media presence, using digital apps, or building customer communication lists. I encourage you to use this time wisely, and here are a few items to consider:

Maximize referrals. Continually develop your pipeline of customers. Ask existing customers for referrals. Offer them a reward, such as discounts on future purchases.

Get feedback. Now is an ideal time to find out what your business is doing right or wrong by asking customers.

Focus on retention. Existing customers are your best marketing strategy. Ask yourself, how can I increase sales without adding one NEW customer?

Look ahead. Business may be slow, so spend time doing strategic planning. Meet with advisors to discuss where your business will be in three years and what will it take to get there – especially considering new conditions. Revisit your business plan. If you started out with a written plan to guide you, take another look. Your initial business model is probably no longer viable in today's marketplace.

Finally, stay optimistic! Prepare your business to take advantage of opportunities that will surely present themselves, sooner than you think.

Business Spotlight

The Importance of “Pivoting” and Sourcing Locally
By JD Wang, Founder, reRubber (Ontario and San Bernardino)

This isn't my first pandemic. I was working in China when SARS broke out. We built up inventory because I had a feeling we would be shut down, which we were. However the whole rubber industry took a nosedive. So I had no sales. We laid off staff and cut salaries. I was taking in scrap tires because the supply side of the business is considered essential. But it’s a catch-22 because I can't continue taking in scrap tires when I can't sell the rubber.

So we pivoted - to save my company and staff. Many of them have been with me for over a decade, they’re like family. We looked at our strengths, weaknesses and analyzed resources. We have a strong background in chemistry and material science, mixing and formulation. We utilized it to manufacture hand sanitizers and to R&D surface disinfectants. The task forces, committees and association boards I sit on all came together. We talked about our country's supply chain, where things are at, and how we respond as a community. I looked at what was needed. Now we're gearing up to bring back all of my labor. So we've pivoted pretty quickly.

As a local San Bernardino County manufacturer, my commitment is to get our sanitizers and disinfectants to first responders and essential industries in our region. I’m not packaging a consumer product. I’m fully focused on getting it to first responders and setting up my distribution channels for that.

We need a local system - as the pandemic has shown just how weak a global supply chain is. Our business model is based on protecting our local economy - a circular economy or a sustainable economy. One thing that has lifted my spirits is a call to action for all small businesses to collaborate, to share resources, to connect. Small businesses can pivot much better and address a local need faster than a large corporation.

This is a great opportunity to take a pause and serious deep analysis at what our local region needs and how we can play a part in fulfilling the supply chain. For example, I’m sourcing equipment and raw materials from small businesses in California, and they're helping me. While I’m a new customer, they're putting me on the short list.

Small business owners need to align - but we must reopen carefully and intentionally and not rely on foreign imports as heavily and see how we can leverage what our County and country is able to supply from a local perspective.

Key Takeaway: Small businesses pour everything back into their local economy. You're not helping a CEO or stockholders buy a vacation home, you're helping a local resident put their kids in camp or purchase goods from the local economy. Working together is the best way to help right now.

How County Businesses Can Ensure a Safe Reopening

With the limited re-opening of some Phase 2 businesses beginning last Friday, the County is looking to owners and managers of businesses and facilities to establish safe reopening guidelines to address the following areas of concern.

Perform a detailed risk assessment and implement a site-specific protection plan. Every workforce is different, with unique characteristics and challenges. No one is in a better place to know how to conduct operations safely than the owner, managers and employees of an individual facility.
Protect and support worker health and safety. Supply and require use of face coverings and personal protective equipment. Relocate break areas outdoors with physically distant seating.
Ensure appropriate physical distancing. Ease into opening by limiting occupancy initially by 25% capacity in order to evaluate operational protocols. Use floor markings and manage traffic flow to ensure 6-foot distancing between individuals as much as possible. Avoid congregating.
Ensure proper infection control. Follow strict cleaning and sanitation standards, appropriate for your place of work or business. Establish operational procedures to frequently clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces.
Train all employees on new procedures. All workers need to understand your site-specific protection plan. Make sure employees know how to screen themselves for symptoms and stay home if they have them.
Communicate with the public. Post clear signage to communicate your new safety protocols to visitors, including the requirement to wear a face covering when indoors and interacting with workers or strangers.
Offer transactions and services online and at curbside whenever feasible. Accommodate curbside pick-up to keep vulnerable populations safe. Continue to encourage takeout and delivery service.

The bottom line is that if we want to keep our economy open, we all have to take responsibility in keeping one another safe. We are confident our businesses, employees and patrons can do what it takes to get through this together.

Latest Stats

3,153 Confirmed Cases (up 2.4% from the previous day)

138 Deaths (up 15% from the previous day)

33,287 Tested (up 2.2% from the previous day)

For more statistics from the COVID-19 Surveillance Dashboard, click the desktop or mobile tab on the County’s sbcovid19.com website.

Testing Locations for Weeks of May 11 and May 18, 2020

Monday through Friday – Arrowhead Regional Medical Center

400 N. Pepper Ave., Colton

8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Appointment ONLY, call 1-855-422-8029

Monday through Friday – SAC Health Systems (IEHP Members only)

250 South G Street, San Bernardino

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Appointment ONLY, call (909) 771-2911

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday – MCH Rural Health Clinic

29099 Hospital Road, Lake Arrowhead

8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Appointment ONLY, call (909) 336-9715

Wednesday, May 13 – Apple Valley Civic Center Park

14999 Dale Evans Pkwy., Apple Valley