How 11 Small Businesses Are Bouncing Back Stronger

To put it lightly, 2020 has been challenging. To survive, we in the small business community have had to take it up a notch.

We’re all trying to turn challenges into opportunities and find (ingenious) ways to come out of this crisis even stronger than we went in. And it turns out we’re not just weathering this storm. We’re dominating it.

It’s not easy, though. Practically every industry has been hard hit. And not everyone is feeling like they have the strength and the resources to bounce back. 

So here’s something that might help. We asked what businesses owners are doing to bounce back even stronger than before, and we were flooded with stories of small business resilience. And they’re not merely inspiring—they’re also filled with practical advice and actionable strategies. 

5 Ways to Bounce Back Better and Stronger


Unsure of what to do next? These stories might help you see the opportunities in this year’s challenges. And, at a practical level, devise some strategies to strengthen your position and come out of 2020 even stronger. 

Here’s what 11 businesses are doing to bounce back. 

Focusing on the customer

When tough times hit, it’s natural to look inward and be absorbed by our own struggles. 

But here’s something we’ve noticed about resilient small businesses: They make a point to shift their gaze outwards. They focus on how they can better serve their customers. 

“In this disheartening time of chaos and discord, I think people need to feel supported and cared about even more than before,” says interior designer Catherine Cote from CSC Designs. 

“Positive engagements, prompt response times, clear communication, and full follow-through have always been my objective, but right now I'm making sure it all comes with a calming presence and a voice of encouragement.”

Over at W R Zanes & Co of LA Inc, Diane Schexnayder has stuck with her proven formula for everyday success. "Show up, roll up your sleeves and do whatever it takes to service the customers you have; and take time for any prospect, however small,” she says. 

“The small customer will grow to be a big customer and word of mouth is always the best marketing.” 

+ Find 4 ways to drive your word of mouth marketing

Rethinking the way they deliver their products

Small business owners everywhere have shown their resilience (and ingenuity) by finding new ways to deliver their products and services.

As a relationship and career counselor in Lone Tree, CO, Deb Daufeldt was already giving appointments via Zoom. But then she came up with an even better way to consult with nearby clients—a way that provides human contact and respects social distancing.

“I've started conducting ‘walk and talk’ counseling and coaching sessions outdoors while safely walking a beautiful open space trail in the neighborhood on nice days,” she says. “The extra fresh air and exercise have been mutually beneficial.”

Over in Ithaca, NY, Laura Falk from Experience! The Finger Lakes proves tourism lives on, even when people can’t travel.

Despite being in one of the hardest hit sectors (the US travel industry is set to lose an estimated $500 billion this year) they’re taking steps to ensure they come out stronger.

Laura says they’ve adjusted their business model, shifted their experiences online, and continued to work with their partner wineries to improve their products and rise above anything else available in the region.

“Virtual wine and cheese experiences are here to stay!” she says, adding that companies are loving their virtual tours “as a way to do team building without the travel.”

Redesigning physical spaces to embrace the new normal


Bouncing back stronger means accepting that the world has changed—and adapting to keep up.

That’s why small businesses are redesigning physical spaces to make them safer. They want to comply with regulations. They want staff and customers to feel at ease. 

And they want to invest in a stronger future.

For Nicholson Orthodontics, IN, it’s already paying dividends.

“We have invested almost $15,000 in upgrading and re-engineering our clinic spaces, adding HEPA air filtration with UV light disinfection and physical repositioning of some of our clinic chairs,” says owner James R. Nicholson.

Their first month back was busier than expected. "Our patients have been very positive to see all that we have done and of the new protocols we have set up.”

Scooter Joe's Wheel & Water Rentals were also facing the challenge of how to win back confidence from customers. 

As a bike and water rentals business, hygiene and health had to come first. So they added additional disinfecting and cleaning protocols. 

Related content: How to Keep Your Customers Safe

But they didn’t stop there. What we love most about their story is that they took the changes as an opportunity to improve. “We were pretty efficient to start with for our type of business,” says owner Joe Allen, “but [we] implemented a series of changes that will make us even more efficient.”

These included clever initiatives like creating a “simple hinged mechanism” that cleans publicly touchable iPads quickly after every use, setting up QR codes, giving employees styluses so they don't have to touch devices, and even designing a sneeze guard “that is magnetically held in place for easy opening/closing.”

“We will be stronger and better for sure,” says Joe.

Using downtime to develop skills and build the business

When business is down, use the lull to your advantage. That’s the lesson from our community, which is packed with examples of business owners using their downtime in productive ways—from mastering digital marketing to tackling to-do lists.

“I have taken the time at home to work on the administrative things I really needed to get done including training my staff,” says accountant Reanna Ritter from Murrieta, CA.

“I am in a better position now to be a better leader, take on more work, and provide better results for my clients.” 

Realtor Reba Golden used the time to get new certifications. “I sheltered at home for two months, and I used that time to take online classes,” she writes. “My business is stronger and better, because I am a stronger person.”

And here’s Linda Fostek, a crisis planner from East Northport, NY, proving that she really is good in a crisis: “I’m turning my to-do list to done. I launched my click funnel, am taking a course in creating a membership site, and getting a life coaching certification.” Way to go, Linda!

Staying positive and helping others

Business is booming for Angela Anderson from Mary Kay in Dallas, TX. But for her, this isn’t a time to take advantage by pushing others down. It's time to count her blessings and help other businesses rise. 

“I look forward to growing and being a source and resource for other entrepreneurs,” she wrote in her response. “I have made mistakes and so I want to help those keep from doing the same things that would have kept them from being a sustainable business and an example to others.”

Over in New York, April Nieves, owner of a Chinese medicine clinic, is caring for herself so she can better care for others.

“I am doing my best to stay centered,” she says. “Practicing gratefulness and a positive mindset to stay strong through everything is going on. Making sure I am healthy so that I can help others without exhausting myself.”

Now that’s a book we can all take a leaf out of. 

What are you doing to bounce back stronger?

Finding your way out of a crisis is a pretty big task. If you feel like crawling back under the covers and sleeping through the rest of 2020, you’re totally forgiven. 

But as these stories of small business resilience prove, there are ways to come out bigger, better, and stronger. And, well, different. Because the world looks a little different now, so it’s natural that we do too. 

If you’re one of the lucky businesses that’s naturally positioned to thrive in the current climate, keep doing what you’re doing and sharing your goodwill with others. (We know you will: the hundreds of supportive comments in our forums every day are proof of that!)

And if you’re feeling the pinch, just remember that challenges can be opportunities. You don’t have to take our word for it: The stories above speak for themselves. 

There’s also a mountain of actionable advice in our Coronavirus Resource + Recovery Center, so check that out and, when in doubt, just ask. The Alignable community is here to help. 

What's your strategy to come out of the crisis stronger than you went in? Tell us what's working in the comments.

For more disaster recovery tips, check out the below reads:

For US businesses: Paycheck Protection Program Updates
The Best Digital Marketing Tips for Today's World
How to Handle Your Money Post-Covid, According to Experts