West Liberty businesses, striving to stay financially healthy and keep their customers happy through an unprecedented time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, aren’t seeing a lot of walk-in business as the end of a devastating year comes to a close.
The pandemic, which started in the area in mid-March, has not only taken lives and major community events that helped draw hundreds of consumers to West Liberty throughout the year, it has put a bullet into community businesses, although many are surviving and clawing their way through one of the toughest years of their business.
A recent Index survey of businesses, conducted through the West Liberty Chamber of Commerce, tells a good part of the story that might be shared by many businesses. Restaurants, getting a lot of orders for carry-out, are slowly getting back to sit-down waiter status in the community while some businesses have simply shut their doors and others are “working from home.”
One business that hasn’t seen a drop in business is Shop 121, which just started their third year in business in downtown West Liberty at 121 East Third Street. Lisa and Bruce Browning actually closed their business in April and May because of the crisis and Lisa says that forced the business owners to “be creative with sales,” from offering curb-side pickup to showcasing merchandise on social media.
“Our business is actually ahead of last year,” Lisa said of her success, noting the small shop has a lot of loyal shoppers while more and more consumers are discovering the unique shop that carries clothes, gifts, home décor, candles, teas, greeting cards, paint, Christmas décor and Comet gear.
Browning said that since the store reopened in June, they’ve been cautious about ordering new merchandise, but says the community support has kept their doors open. This holiday season, Shop 121 offers a wide variety of gift offerings in what she calls a “safe, quaint environment.”
Just down the street at 105 West Third Street, Rachel Morrison says although her walk-in boutique business at West Elle Salon + Boutique has been down since opening just over a year ago, her hair appointments have kept her busy, especially now for the holiday season.
Morrison says closing salons in the spring definitely was a set back and she was forced to play catch-up when she finally reopened, noting being “overwhelmed.” She said customers have been very loyal, noting “it’s a great feeling to know clients and customers want to stay local with us.”
The store offers a variety of unique items, specializing in clothing and accessories as well as home décor items and more. She says one popular gift item the store offers is hair care boxes and she says gift cards and specific product specials are keeping customers coming through the door, including a unique “holiday happy hour” promotion through the holidays.
Morrison sais she did her best to “pivot around the new normal” noting, “we are all having to reset. Times are changing and we all have to change with it.”
Morrison said “thoughtful, community-minded, long term thinking” is keeping her in business, something she hopes will continue in West Liberty for many years to come.
Another retailer using some creativity is Melissa Stagg, who owns Melissas Taggs, an in-home business that offers custom decals, gifts, clothing and more.
Staggs, who usually participates in the Chamber’s Farmer’s Market but didn’t this year because of the pandemic, said her business is down because of the fact she hasn’t been able to participate in many of the yearly events where she sets up a booth.
She did utilize the Regional Training and Learning Center (Chamber office) over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend to try to attract some business. She says even the events in which she has pitched a booth haven’t been greatly attended and said consumers seem to be less likely to make impulse buys or non-essential purchases, although noting she can “relate.”
She said if the pop-up shop at Thanksgiving went well, she would try it again the weekend before Christmas in the same location, hoping to capture some last-minute shoppers.
Also adjusting to the new virus climate are service businesses.
With 46 years of history under his belt, Michael J. Tharp, DDS, says there have been few changes in his Tharp-Womachka Dentistry business in downtown West Liberty since the pandemic hit, although noting in the initial months of the crisis, his business dropped about 90 percent as the office was mandated only to perform emergency care.
Dr. Tharp said his office has always used universal health precautions, noting “we make it a point to wear masks at all times in the office now.” He said there is more of an emphasis on disinfecting surfaces in the front office and reception area and patients are expected to mask up as well.
Dr. Dana Nelson at Active Health Chiropractic and Wellness at 1503 North Elm says her business is down about 20 percent from a year ago. For the first time in her 14 years of practice, she had to lay off some members of her staff for a short time early in the pandemic, working at two different divisions of her business - Fuerza Functional Fitness and message therapy.
Active Health is requiring all staff and customers to wear masks, cleaning all surfaces between customers, taking precautions to lower interactions between customers by spacing out appointment times, hand washing stations and hand sanitizer are available throughout the clinic.
Dr. Nelson says there are lots of ways to give healthy this year including massage therapy and gym membership gift certificates, foam rollers, shoe insoles, low back supports, immune boosting vitamins and other nutritional supplements.
Another business impacted by the virus is Wuestenberg Agency, Inc., an independent insurance business at 120 East third Street. Founded in 1915 by Ray Wuestenberg, the business is now owned and operated by J.J. (Jack) Fulwider and his wife, Edith, as well as Robert Fulwider and his wife Jan along with Janet (JJ) Fulwider.
The Fulwiders say they are continually evaluating how best to serve their clients “while doing our part to slow the spread of the pandemic.” They’re “thankful” to be able to utilize modern technology to stay in touch with customers, utilizing Zoom, texts, e-mail and even Go-To Meetings.
The Fulwiders praised their customers for their patience and understanding during the August derecho that “forced our company partners to respond to unprecedented damage” amid COVID restrictions.
Jan Fulwider, a customer service agent for the firm, said clients have remained faithful through the pandemic, patiently accepting social distancing restrictions and mask mandates. “We pray that their willingness to do their part will give us hope,” she finalized