Small business owners navigate ‘new normal’, face challenges

Small business owners navigate ‘new normal’, face challenges

Up as covid-19 cases continue to rise in greene county... local businesses are trying to navigate the new normal.

Some businesses are having an easier time with this than others.

Small business owners are feeling the impact of the virus in various ways.

News 10's tilly marlatt brings us more on some of the challenges business owners are experiencing.

Pk} small businesses in linton, indiana, have felt the strain of covid-19 in different capacities.

Hair stylist nicky carr has owned her own salon for 28 years.

She received two unemployment checks during her seven week shut down.

"had it not been for the extra 600 dollars that they were awarding, thank goodness, i think my check would have been like 107 dollars a week."

(nicky carr, stylist and shop owner) that's not her only frustration.

Carr feels there's been very little guidance provided to hair salons.

"so i started looking through the state board of cosmetology first.

I couldn't find anything.

Then, i went to the state board of health, and i wasn't finding anything.

And then i went to the governor's notes that everybody else sees and it just kind of lumped us into personal services and there was very little to go off of."

The challenges have been different for the jiffy treet of linton.

In recent weeks, the business has struggled to receive enough meat products.

"i'm paying more now for beef than i ever have, but yet i didn't raise our prices because i don't think it's fair to raise prices in this time, even though i'm paying more for the product."

While the lobby remains closed to dine-in customers, drive-thru and carry out has helped sustain the business.

"so honestly, the community has really pulled together to help out to help small, local businesses."

(doug wasnidge, owner, jiffy treet linton) both businesses have precautions in place-an effort to keep staff and customers safe.

"yeah i don't look for this to change too much for us in here for a long time."

(carr) safety measures that businesses are adopting as the new normal.

Reporting in linton, tilly marlatt, news 10.