Financial Finesse Podcast S1 E7: The Challenge Of Running A Small Retail Business During COVID

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1 My Candid Conversation With Three Local Female Business Owners

My Candid Conversation With Three Local Female Business Owners

In this episode, I talk to three women who own boutique retail businesses in the Rock Ridge neighborhood of Oakland, CA:

Joyce Gardner, Owner of Fit Clothing Boutique
Johnelle Mancha, Owner of Mignonne Decor
Andrea Serrahn, Owner of Serrahna Boutique

Rock Ridge is an area that typically sees heavy foot traffic from locals and visitors, making it an ideal location for local businesses. However, COVID has changed all that. I invited Joyce, Johnelle, and Andrea on the podcast to share their experiences operating retail businesses in the midst of a pandemic, and how they’re tapping into their creativity to find new ways to serve their customers and generate revenue. Whether you’re a business owner yourself or looking for ways to support your local businesses, I think you’ll find their tenacity and commitment to their community and customers inspiring.

Episode Highlights

[02:19] The women describe how COVID has impacted their businesses and what they've changed to meet Oakland's social distancing and safety protocols, as well as their customers' current lifestyles.
[07:00] Joyce, Johnelle, and Andrea share what drives them to keep going when forces outside their control negatively affect their businesses.
[12:08] The women discuss why foot traffic is so critical for both the owners and customers of local retail businesses.
[19:17] I ask the women, who are all creatives, if creativity is the secret sauce to thriving during challenging times.
[23:26] We briefly touch on PPP loans and other relief packages that were made available to small businesses and if they've been sufficient to weather the storm.