Panther Prints | Issue 4 | May 2020

@PESHPRINTS News • 5
New normal
Local businesses adapt
to reality of pandemic
by Andrew Cox
rom prom to public health, COVID-
F19’s implications are wide — and local
businesses are no exception. Without the
reserves of cash that larger companies
have to fall upon, many business
owners had to rely on one another
for mutual assistance while the
state’s shelter-in-place policy was
in effect.
“All small businesses are vital
to keeping our economy thriving,”
business owner Carol Davis said.
“We will get through this together,
but it is so important for us [as a]
community to come together [to]
keep these businesses [running].”
Davis’ business, Crave Popcorn Co.,
typically caters to bulk orders for the
hotel industry and an in-store experience
for individual consumers, neither
of which are compatible with voluntary
or ordered social distancing measures.
As such, it has moved toward online orders
and social media advertising via
Facebook. Assisting such adaptations
like Davis’ is the Plano Chamber of Commerce,
a network of businesspeople
and companies that promote economic
“All small businesses are vital to keeping our
economy thriving. We will get through this together,
but it is so important for us [as a] community
to come together [to] keep these businesses open.”“
-business owner Carol Davis
development through social events and
connecting resources to its membership
— who now look to it for community
and guidance.
“One of the main things that our chamber
offers is that in-person connection
with people,” chamber communications
director Katie Gimenez said. “But we’ve
known also for a long time that as technology
changes, it’s time for us to change
as well and offer more opportunities for
people to connect without leaving their
offices [or] their homes. So this has been
a really good push for us in some ways.”
While the chamber ordinarily focuses
on growing its members’ businesses,
the priority has shifted to mitigating
COVID-19’s economic repercussions
— connecting people to relief efforts
such as the small business disaster loan
and providing opportunities to the newly
unemployed. In the meantime, video
calls are used to keep up morale and
gather feedback.
“It’s been such a great way to keep connected
throughout this and to see each
other and to build that sense of community
[to] make sure that everyone knows
Economy begins reopening
by Saifiyah Zaki
that we’re here for [them],” Gimenez said.
“How can we help you? What are you doing?
What are your challenges, what are
your successes?”
The chamber is adapting their dayto-day
communications to the crisis beyond
just migrating meetings online. New
activities catering specifically to their
members’ needs during the pandemic are
in development.
“We’ve also looked at this as an opportunity
to listen to our members and
say, ‘What [do] you need from us right
now?’ [because] it might not be what
[they] need when it’s business as usual,”
Gimenez said. “So we really have
been trying to reach out to them,
hear what they’re saying and then
adapt accordingly.”
In the meantime, business owners
seek out ways to help the
community in the crisis — among
them, Davis, who was in discussion
with the Friend & Foe board
game cafe at the time of writing
to provide meals to first responders. The
Plano Chamber of Commerce has additionally
opened up some of its events
to non-members in an effort to reach as
many people as possible.
“We really feel that it’s important right
now to come together as a community
and [realize] that the membership aspect
is not the most important thing right now,”
Gimenez said. “The most important thing
is that we support the businesses here
locally and be a resource for them and be
a community.”
elect businesses including retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters and malls reopened at 25% capacity May 1, marking
Sthe first part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order outlining a phased plan to balance prevention measures and economic
well-being. Phase II launched May 8 and Phase III launches today, May 18, allowing a wider range of businesses to reopen.
PHASE I PHASE II PHASE III
May 1 May 8 May 18
Businesses opening at 25% capacity:
• Retail stores
• Restaurants (occupancy limits
do not apply to outdoor seating)
• Movie theaters
• Malls (excludes food court
dining areas, play areas and
interactive displays)
• Libraries and museums (excludes
interactive displays/installations)
• Wedding venues and reception
services (occupancy limits do
not apply to outdoor areas)
Other businesses reopening:
• Golf courses
• Local government operations
• Some municipal government
operations
• Services provided by an individual
working alone in an office
Businesses allowed to open ensuring
at least six feet of social distancing
between operating work stations:
• Cosmetology salons
• Hair salons
• Barber shops
• Nail salons/shops
• Other establishments where
licensed cosmetologists or barbers
practice their trade
• Tanning salons
Swimming pools may also open
given that both indoor and outdoor
pools operate at 25% listed capacity.
The following businesses and services
may reopen:
• Services provided by office workers
in offices that operate at up to
either 25% of the total office workforce
or five individuals, whichever
is greater. Individuals must maintain
appropriate social distancing.
• Manufacturing services at 25%
occupancy of the facility.
• Gyms, exercise facilities and
classes operating at 25% occupancy
of the facility. Locker rooms
and shower facilities must remain
closed, but restrooms may open.
T
he executive order does not prohibit citizens from accessing essential services
or engaging in essential daily activities such as going to a grocery store or gas
station; visiting parks, beaches, rivers or lakes; hunting or fishing; or engaging in
physical activity like jogging, bicycling or other outdoor sports, so long as the necessary
precautions are maintained to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and to
minimize in-person contact with people who are not in the same household.