‘An ongoing series of conversations with an effort to amplify and imagine a future that is good for the people and the planet.’ – Inspired by Colombo Design Market x Pendi.lk
Whilst the world is in the process of hitting that ‘reset’ button, it’s probably a good time for start-ups to consider the same. While everything around you may seem to be going down-hill, start-ups, entrepreneurs and small businesses may seem to be the most vulnerable at the moment, thus, this would ideally be the time to also look at things from an optimistic perspective. Below is a list of ideas, we, as start-ups, entrepreneurs, and small businesses could initiate to help each other.
HOW CAN CREATIVE BUSINESS START-UPs SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER?
• Reach out to a fellow start-up owner, give them a shout out, share their work, thereby promoting collaboration.
• Attend and promote virtual community events while sharing great tools and resources with one another.
• Create interactive social media posts which motivates and promotes participation.
HOW CAN CREATIVE BUSINESS START-UPs SURVIVE COVID-19?
• Increase and uplift your online presence.
• Consider product diversification, for when this passes, you’ll have an actionable plan to get back to.
• Use this time to hit the ‘reset’ button, build better strategies, stronger communities and for all you know, this could result in a greater ‘comeback’ than anticipated.
HOW CAN CREATIVE BUSINESS START-UPs SUPPORT THE DAILY WAGE EARNERS WHO BENEFIT FROM THE DESIGN INDUSTRY?
• Continue to support them by sourcing out work thereby providing them with a form of income. Try not to negotiate over the limit, remember these are trying time we need to get through together.
• Take that extra step to support them with affordable basic daily essentials to get through their day.
• Create more employment opportunities, possibly by designing a wider range of products to add to your collection.
• Once this situation passes and we get back to our normalcy, host workshops for those from low income communities and take the initiative to teach them a skill with which they could earn a better living.
In addition to the numerous challenges and situations faced by start-ups, entrepreneurs, and small businesses on a daily basis, this global pandemic has only increased their fear of survival during these tough times. However, as we seem to have moved into a more virtual world, use this time to implement digital solutions which will possibly make your business more sustainable in such situations. Applying the practice of digitalization is what may make start-ups, entrepreneurs, and small businesses the real heroes post COVID-19.
HOW CAN CREATIVE BUSINESS START-UPs SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER?
• Reach out to a fellow start-up owner, give them a shout out, share their work, thereby promoting collaboration.
• Attend and promote virtual community events while sharing great tools and resources with one another.
• Create interactive social media posts which motivates and promotes participation.
HOW CAN CREATIVE BUSINESS START-UPs SURVIVE COVID-19?
• Increase and uplift your online presence.
• Consider product diversification, for when this passes, you’ll have an actionable plan to get back to.
• Use this time to hit the ‘reset’ button, build better strategies, stronger communities and for all you know, this could result in a greater ‘comeback’ than anticipated.
HOW CAN CREATIVE BUSINESS START-UPs SUPPORT THE DAILY WAGE EARNERS WHO BENEFIT FROM THE DESIGN INDUSTRY?
• Continue to support them by sourcing out work thereby providing them with a form of income. Try not to negotiate over the limit, remember these are trying time we need to get through together.
• Take that extra step to support them with affordable basic daily essentials to get through their day.
• Create more employment opportunities, possibly by designing a wider range of products to add to your collection.
• Once this situation passes and we get back to our normalcy, host workshops for those from low income communities and take the initiative to teach them a skill with which they could earn a better living.
In addition to the numerous challenges and situations faced by start-ups, entrepreneurs, and small businesses on a daily basis, this global pandemic has only increased their fear of survival during these tough times. However, as we seem to have moved into a more virtual world, use this time to implement digital solutions which will possibly make your business more sustainable in such situations. Applying the practice of digitalization is what may make start-ups, entrepreneurs, and small businesses the real heroes post COVID-19.
ABOUT URBAN COLOR JUNKIE
I’m Rumaiza Refai; an interior designer by profession, an entrepreneur/creative artist by passion. When I was younger, I always knew I wanted to be someone more than just working at an office and completing deadlines. There was something else I wanted – to be able create an impact in the life of another, to be able to spread positivity and creativity and above all to create successful and consistent change.
Urban Colour Junkie came to life as a result of a simple DIY project. My love for color and patterning lead me to work with tie-dye, batik, and block printing fabrics. My initiative with this startup is to also provide employment opportunities to individuals from low-income communities who wish to work from the comfort of their own homes. Therefore, the entire process of sourcing my supplies to dying the designs are all done by myself while the tailoring aspect is being outsourced to those in need. I’m always on the lookout for women in need of such employment opportunities. My long term goal is to host tie-dye/batik workshops, thereby teaching another individual a skill through which they too may earn an income.