Businesses forced to get innovative

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This article was published 08/02/2021 (2097 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

People often say that adversity breeds creativity, and it seems like Brandon businesses are taking that idea to heart for this upcoming Valentine’s Day weekend.

Since this year won’t allow for the usual services and romantic public gatherings due to COVID-19, some local establishments have whipped up some unique promotions that aim to keep people safe and engaged during these unprecedented times.

For example, Fun Time Pottery owner Milly McKenna is putting together a virtual painting tutorial via Zoom on Sunday at 4 p.m., which will provide a step-by-step guide on how to create your own Valentine’s Day themed artwork at home.

McKenna told the Sun last week that this tutorial is a continuation of the in-person events she would organize pre-pandemic, where couples, family members and even single people would get a chance to follow along with her every brush stroke inside the store itself.

“It’s the same as that, except they’re looking at me on their iPad, computer or phone,” she said. “I give the same instructions … I still go step by step and wait until everybody is together.”

Plus, McKenna revealed that this Zoom tutorial also represents a recent shift in her business model, since the amount of people allowed into her store to browse the inventory has been very limited over these past couple months.

“We’ve been using Facebook heavily to promote what we have in stock,” she said. “Honestly, we’ve been very blessed. It’s been going very well.”

Increased social media engagement has also paid dividends for the staff of The Dock on Princess, since the restaurant received 100 shares on a recent Facebook post advertising their new charcuterie bouquets.

Acting general manager Jody Mead revealed last week that this collection of meats, cheeses and fruit was the brainchild of one of her chefs, who came up with the idea of arranging all these items like a traditional flower bouquet after serving up charcuterie during this past holiday season.

In order to keep everything upright, most of the various food items are secured by wooden skewers that are stuck into a base made of bread; a unique arrangement that has struck a chord with a lot of local Brandonites in the leadup to Valentine’s Day.

“We’ve had a lot of preorders come through, lots of people messaging with questions on Facebook, our email and on our own personal end of things,” Mead said last week. “Our chef is getting Instagram messages and I’m getting personal texts … so it’s been really great.”

Just like Fun Time Pottery, The Dock’s new holiday promotion is just another example of how its staff has been forced to get creative under COVID-19 restrictions, which has relegated them to provide only delivery and curbside pickup since the province went into code red.

And while Mead definitely misses the hustle and bustle of facilitating dine-in services, she said her staff is more than willing to take on whatever 2021 throws their way.

“It’s definitely an adjustment for all of us,” she said. “We’ve adapted thus far through two closures now and we’re still planning for the future nonetheless.”

Equally optimistic is Smitten Adult Boutique general manager Nicole Epp, whose store is currently running a Valentine’s Day contest that will net the eventual winner more than $500 in prizes.

Epp told the Sun over the phone that this brand new holiday promotion is meant to provide couples, or single people, with everything they need to enjoy the upcoming weekend at home.

This staycation package includes a floral arrangement from Carolyn’s Floral Designs, an assortment of treats from Courtney’s Cake Creations and a $400 selection of items from Smitten’s shelves. In order to receive this holiday pampering, participants are asked to share the store’s original Feb. 2 social media posts announcing the contest by tagging three friends in it.

A winner will be selected at random this upcoming Friday. 

“The idea here was to try and treat people to something special for Valentine’s Day knowing you can’t really go out and do a lot right now,” Epp said. “So we wanted to wait for couples to be able to spoil themselves. Even if it’s a single person who wins it, they get to spoil themselves as well.”

Of course, the business owner is used to accommodating her clients in person. But like everyone else, she has had to contend with distributing items from a distance because of the recent health orders.

However, Epp maintains that providing delivery and curbside pickup has actually proven very popular with her clientele, so much so that she plans on keeping these new services in place whenever things get back to some semblance of normal.

“It’s been really great to see how it’s brought customers and clients of ours together as well,” she said. “People are stuck at home together and they have to find new, fun and creative ways to stay happy and stay sane, and they definitely have been getting more adventurous throughout this pandemic as well.”

Anyone interested in signing up for these various Valentine’s Day promotions can learn more information about them by visiting each businesses’ respective social media accounts.

» kdarbyson@brandonsun. com

» Twitter: @KyleDarbyson