Being a Store-Owner During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Being a Store-Owner

It is a crazy time right now for everyone.

It’s been a really weird time to be a store-owner.

I’ve rarely been to our store, The Game Capital, since we let some of the staff return to work (when it was deemed safe). There is no real reason that I need to be at the store physically in order to do my computer work. So, I stay home.

Staying Socially-Distanced

I haven’t been to ANY stores in over a month. I’ve used InstaCart (<-Click to get $10 Off!) to have groceries delivered to our house. I have only gone out to get drive-thru prescriptions and food. I am doing my part to stay socially-distanced!

I’ve only been to our store when no other staff (aside from my husband) are present. Am I being too cautious? Maybe. But, it doesn’t hurt.

Since the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the governor’s Badger Bounce Back plan, businesses in our area have started to open back up. I feel like this is way too soon. I am obviously no expert, but I know the virus is still out there.

We have stuck with just Curbside Pickup at The Game Capital. I feel like it should be at least a week or two yet, or when we are allowed to have at least 10 customers in the store at once.

But, it’s not just up to me. My husband keeps asking me when I will feel comfortable letting customers in.

I don’t know.

I tell him that it’s not totally up to me, it’s more so up to the staff. I’m not going to be the one physically there working with customers.

Responsibility

It is scary to me that I have partial responsibility in deciding these things. I am nervous about a customer or a staff member transmitting the virus. I don’t want The Game Capital to be held responsible for spreading anything.

I also know that we will need to take small steps to return back to normal. But everything is weird now. I feel like we should be trying to get back to normal, but I also know that our old sense of normal may likely never happen again.

Opening Back Up

With stores opening back up, people are complaining about having to wear masks in public. I know that we will have to deal with complaints about this when we open back up. This does not excite me.

I’m not even sure when I will return to working at the store. I share my office with our store manager and I don’t think I should needlessly interact with anyone if I don’t have to. Plus, I don’t actually need to physically be at the store in order to do my job.

I mainly do our social media and marketing. Back when we had events every day, I was obviously busy working on the events and marketing them. We have no events happening for the foreseeable future.

I would also work on signage and organizing the store. Those things are being handled by the staff that is actually there now.

I just don’t know when I will feel comfortable getting back to normal. But, things can change a lot pretty quickly these days. So, who knows?