Dr. Lwanga Martin Mwanje
Munene was a globetrotting businessman who regularly travelled to Japan and the Far East to secure sparse goods like cars and clothing to sell. However, his business had been suffering lately from competition and he was looking for ways to diversify. Once after a long 8 hour flight from Tokyo, he felt a terrible back ache after all those hours of sitting in tiny cramped seats. At a stopover in Dubai, as he walked through the lobby, limping, he saw a Wellness Fitness Center. He decided to drop by to see if he could get a quick message.
The staff treated him expertly. Once he was done, his old energy had rebounded. He experienced no back ache for the rest of the way.
Once he got back, he realized that though his home airport was a flourishing connection hub, there was no Wellness Fitness Center like the one he saw in Dubai packed with travelers. Quickly, Munene applied and got space to start one. Just as he had anticipated business boomed. He now decided to concentrate more on it since trading cars and clothing was no longer profitable.
Then COVID -19 struck.
The airport was closed for almost half a year and even after it was opened travelers were sparse as the corona-virus was still rife. For a while, Munene thought of shutting down his Wellness Fitness Center permanently, until he caught a bright idea to take advantage of the pandemic.
In order to safeguard against the virus, airline passengers were now required to show a negative COVID-19 test before boarding a flight. However, even after taking one, those en-route might need another confirmation test, depending on their destination, just before landing. Other than concentrating on message services, quickly, Munene diversified his Wellness Center into a COVID – 19 test and care center. He also equipped it with a range of masks, sanitizers and information anxious passengers might require about public health standards to their destinations.
This business diversification opened up a new gateway for his business, which took off to fill the gap arising from the pandemic.
Today, there are many business that are struggling as a result of the pandemic. Take the example of institutions in the recreational business, like a number of hotels and tourist lodges that have been shut down due to crowd control regulations. But even after opening up the country a weary and sensitive population is not in a rush to visit.
For these business to survive, they must think of new models that appreciate changes in environment and can attract customers based on new demands. In the education industry providers must quickly embrace online education as an alternative to physical face to face instruction.
One of the problem though many business are facing is insisting to run their outfits just as before the COVID – 19 lock-down. Others are longing for a return to the old good days before the lock-down. Yet, in truth, the world has completely changed, and it those who learn to adjust and embrace new ways of customer behaviors who will flourish.
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