Local Businesses Discuss Hardships Caused by COVID
On Friday, November 19th 2021, the Springfield Chamber of Commerce hosted a thought-provoking LunchVox LIVE – Frontline Retail, the fourth and final program of the year in our quarterly series. Sitting on the panel for this program was local watchmaker Celeste Wong, COO of Jerry’s Improvement Centers, Scott Lindstrom, and Co-Founder of Bitcork and Pollinate Food, Todd Edman, who discussed current challenges in the business community, specifically around supplychain and workforce. With three drastically different businesses represented on this panel, one thing was clear throughout the conversation – there is no single problem, and no single solution. All three of our retail experts shared countless barriers they are facing, from longer wait times due to supply chain issues, increased pricing of their normal products, and lack of workforce. All shared unique and creative solutions and workarounds they have adapted within their business models, but admitted there are still many hurdles they face every day and are preparing for many more ahead. Terms such as digital freight forwarding were mentioned in discussions around creative solutions happening now. There is no doubt that the retail environment is changing daily, and these three businesses have demonstrated innovation and creative problem solving that isn’t just a benefit to leadership, but a necessary skill to survive in these trying times.
Thank you again to Todd Edman, Celeste Wong, and Scott Lindstrom, our panel experts, and to Chambers Construction for sponsoring this year’s LunchVox speaker series!
View the recording of the LunchVox program below:
And check out the following analysis article on our program written by hyper-local news provider The Chronicle! Analysis: Business leaders talk challenges of Covid era
Title Sponsor:
