Steve’s breakdown: This might sound like it’s coming from the Department of Obvious but we keep getting calls and emails from our members asking what’s going on, what are people saying and, most importantly, who should we pitch.

Local: There are a ton of small businesses out there that have been doing better than ever before so they are ADVERTISING for the first time. Check out your local newspaper & TV stations, it’s all over the place. Get In On This!!

Here are some suggestions of specific categories and businesses you might want to look into.

EVERYWHERE, USA:

Cleaning services

With the spread of coronavirus fears around the country, it should come as no surprise that professional cleaning services that sanitize offices, restaurants and homes are in high demand. Cleaning companies, such as Columbus, Ohio-based Corporate Cleaning Inc., said demand has increased substantially for commercial buildings and medical facilities in light of COVID-19.

“We’ve never experienced anything like this before in our lives and especially not in our business,” said Crystal Hughey, co-owner of Corporate Cleaning told Columbus Business First. “A lot of people are counting on us being smart and keeping them safe.”’

UniStar Cleaning Service in Manchester, N.H. has had business pick up so much that they’ve hired several additional workers. “Our clients want more frequent deep cleaning,” UniStar co-owner Ryan Van Orden told NECN. “We are hiring to make sure we can deal with the demand.”

Delivery services

With many consumers afraid to leave their homes or being advised by state governments to shelter in place during the coronavirus crisis, professional delivery services have stepped up to make sure goods can be delivered to homes and businesses. While nationwide food delivery services and corporate retail deliveries have been the largest beneficiary, local delivery services such as GrubSouth in Huntsville, Alabama are also seeing strong demand.

Madeline Sandlin, director of business development for GrubSouth, told WAFF 48 News that the company had recently hired 30 new drivers and added many new restaurants. They also said they are still looking for more drivers to help meet rising demand.

Drive-in movie theaters

One of the most peculiar small business categories that have recently seen success in the coronavirus era is drive-in movie theaters. With standard movie theaters seen as less safe (most are now closed) because they encourage hundreds of people to gather in small spaces, drive-in theaters allow people to take in a show from their own car and provide a way for families to get out of the house.

Owners of drive-in theaters in California, Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri all told the Los Angeles Times recently that business had increased in light of coronavirus. While it’s not clear if these drive-in theaters will remain open as many “non-essential businesses” are closed, the coronavirus crisis may reinvigorate these types of businesses in a new period where keeping your distance is encouraged.

Grocery stores

With the general public practicing “social distancing” and many U.S. states closing restaurant dining rooms, more families are stocking up on goods and eating at home. This has led to large and small grocers alike to see surges in customer demand.

Greg Ferrara, president of the National Grocers Association — which represents more than 8,500 U.S. stores — told ABC News recently that smaller grocers have played a unique role in these trying times. He noted that “independent grocers are helping larger chains meet demand during this time and that grocery stores are being restocked at unprecedented speeds.”

The CEO of Stew Leonard’s, a grocery chain with seven supermarkets in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, told Fox News recently that its goods had been flying off the shelves. Some of the store’s top sellers have been toilet paper, hand sanitizer, pizza and chicken.

Liquor and wine stores

With many bars closed around the United States due to COVID-19, local liquor and wine stores have dramatically increased sales. JD Phelps, store manager at New York City’s Vintage Grape Wines & Spirits, told Bloomberg that it’s been difficult to keep up with demand in the past few weeks with people wanting to stock up at home.

Additionally, Mike Thompson, owner of B&B Liquor in Macomb, Michigan, told MLive.com that customers are “buying in mass hysteria,” with people buying liquor to make hand sanitizer or buying because they are afraid they’ll “get locked in.”

Meal prep delivery services

Many of the top brands for meal preparation and delivery are skyrocketing due to people spending more time at home and less at restaurants. Taking advantage of this trend, several small businesses that offer meal prep and delivery are also seeing increased demand.

Eat Clean Bro, a Freehold, New Jersey-based meal prep and delivery service, has seen a surge in orders from new and returning customers. “This time of year, we’re very busy so we’re prepared to handle an influx of orders,” Jamie Giovinazzo, owner and founder told NJ.com. “Our orders are up 40%. We’re just guns blazing with orders.”

Canned and jarred goods companies

With many people wanting to stock up on canned and jarred food, small businesses that manufacture these goods are seeing more business. Charlotte, North Carolina’s Cannizzaro Sauces, for example, has seen a lot of new sales for its fresh tomato sauce.

Randy and Melanie Tritten, owners of Cannizzaro Sauces, told the Associated Press that they realized they had a large opportunity when shelves of pasta sauces were completely cleared out at their local grocery stores.

Game makers and sellers

With the novel coronavirus forcing many people to stay at home instead of going out, small businesses that create board games and puzzles are popular since they help entertain families. Craig Marney, store manager at Good Games Chicago, told the Chicago Sun-Times that board games and puzzles were selling well, especially the timely cooperative board game Pandemic. Additionally, small video game makers that work on creative titles for children are seeing an uptick in demand with many kids unable to attend school.

Source:

And let’s not for get . . .

• Health & online fitness
• Consumer package goods
• Beauty
• Home Improvement, Remodeling & Gardening
• Online Education & Training
• Video Downloading & Streaming Services
• Online shopping / Gifts
• Supermarkets
• Bikes & Electric scooters
• Pet supplies
• Weed