Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Are We Prepared Post COVID?

Post-pandemic customer behaviors may never be the same.


Were we prepared for the pandemic? As I thought of this, seemingly a million questions leapt forward...

  • If Coronaviruses have been inflicting people's lives for years, shouldn't there have been be a public awareness campaigns prior to this pandemic?
  • Is this just a money grab for Big Pharma? Seemingly this is the one industry poised to make make. After all, this is the only industry who actually spent more on advertising during May and June while the rest of the industries reduced spending by upwards of 50 percent.
  • If COVID-19 has the potential of jumping from animals to human, shouldn't government and major health authorities have already possessed preparedness measures?
  • How could this virus be allowed to spread worldwide in secrecy and without any transparency?
  • Meat processing plans have been the flashpoint of many outbreaks (reportedly more than 20,000 cases), so why are we avoiding the clear facts and investigation on the subject?

The year 2020 will go down in history as one of the most dark days in the United States and the world. Surprisingly, whether the pandemic started in January or before, Coronaviruses have been lingering for a long time. This genome has taking lives in many ways and for too long. This has been allowed to fester in our world health issues despite the clinical references of the SARS and MERS outbreaks dating back to 2003.

So, were we prepared for it? Far from it.

In an unparalleled surprise, our lives have been impacted at all levels. Some may interpret it as an opportunity to prepare ourselves for how bad things might become in future months. Others are  managing our survival for optimal sustainability. There's also a third group that only cares about the the economy. These unprecedented times raise many questions about the lifestyle of the entire world. Are we ready to begin a serious discussion regarding a plague that could wipe out our entire world?

We have to take responsibility of our own actions toward the ecosystem we live with. We owe it to the environment and to the public. In our post-pandemic recovery (whenever it happens), I hope more of the media and ad agencies focus on public health through public awareness campaigns. They need to center in on best practices on the consumption of food, proper hygiene (not just washing hands), and security from a bioweapons attack, along with corporate and government social responsibilities.

We tend to forget quickly. Many are already trying to will this into a thing of the past and go on with their lives as if nothing happened. We may even find evidence that this whole pandemic was a hoax or even worse, a governmental conspiracy rooted in inflicting intentional harm. Whatever the facts are, or who's benefiting from its political outrage and economical richness, two things are true: over 150,000 US lives have been lost as we close in on 4.5 million US cases. But remains important is our united front, intellectual remedies, and clear messages that could lead to better understanding and cohesive voice to the public.

What's also important is remember those who are battling this day and night. To all of those who have sacrificed their lives and have made tremendous contribution to society during this pandemic. We salute you and we celebrate you. I have a wonderful forum to honor the heroes on all fronts.

Honoring heroes simply takes a backseat in our 24-hour news cycle. We are bombarded daily by political and hidden agendas filled with potential chaos within rapidly changing conditions calling us to "Divide and Conquer!" Who is benefiting from all this? I can list plenty of war profiteers, but this seems like the wrong place. It feels like some cold-hearted souls are sitting around a chess table wondering how this pandemic can stockpile up their bank accounts, how to get rid of the most vulnerable, and win elections. The real game is the one untold and some of America knows better. 

As we open our economy with some safety measures, we should keep in mind the risks and consequences of our actions in the midst of crisis and increases in COVID-19 cases. Businesses must take proactive steps with liability issues, employee interaction, limited production, and sales challenges due to the changing of customer behaviors. It is going take some strategic adjustments and reorganization to maintain successful outcomes. The key element is knowledge, because as the old saying goes, "Knowledge is Power." Having the right base of facts strengthens your focus and is the backbone of survival. Avoiding critical facts about the new business climate will surely create your own disaster. 

We need to start implementing solutions that are drastic and effective -- stimulus isn't enough. Businesses that are still floating will begin to feel the impact of the shutdown in the last quarter of the year. As a business consultant who has been in the marketing and advertising business for more than 30 years and outlived a war zone, I can easily say that this temporary relief is like a bandage. My prediction is that businesses will start feeling the economic pain this winter. I anticipate thirty per cent of businesses will go under unless an economic change shift to help small businesses get on the fast track of technology and online commerce. The second stimulus should be focused on revamping business operations, innovation strategies, and the re-hiring resources. 

Larger corporations should influence their supply chain to increase small business participation. They need to showcase their diversity and inclusion more than ever before through outreach and advertising. They have already stepped up in the early days of the pandemic with their heroes campaigns and spots. Big Pharma needs to already be thinking about public awareness campaigns that influence their constituency and commercials that focus on public health instead of peddling drugs. The government agencies need to stop hiding trues about our proteins. Campaigns directed at stopping the consumption of pork and regulate processing plants. Healthy food choices need to extend beyond the 1960s and 70s five basic food groups campaign. Demand intervention. There are rules and guidelines that have been ignored too long.

Because we think our freedoms include those bad choices no matter how harmful they are. We must begin to look at the big picture and remind ourselves of our priorities for future generations. No more herd mentality. We are not supposed to be sheep following policy that our elected officials made for us. This is why, today is crucial to put our differences aside, find a common goal and work together. 

Marketing and advertising in today's climate are the most important fields that will turn the economy around. Businesses will have to rethink their strategies, preparedness and the message they need to deliver to battle the economic downturns that await when the next stimulus runs out.