How have San Miguel businesses adapted to the new normal?
If in December 2019 someone had warned us about everything that awaited us in 2020, we would not have believed them. First, because it would seem like something out of a science fiction movie with hints of horror, and second, because as a society we are rarely prepared for such radical changes.
It has been a tiring and very complex year that has made us rethink the way we interact and practically the way we live; and although the challenges will continue, the end of 2020 represents –this time more than ever– the symbolic end of a cycle that moved everything, and from which we have learned a lot.
Learning is that ray of sunshine that illuminates us and gives us warmth on a cloudy day: “Of all that I have experienced, what will I take away? What will help me grow and continue on my path despite the obstacles?” And if there is anyone who has learned the most, it has been the economic sector in all its aspects, especially the tourism sector, the hospitality sector and those who are dedicated to creativity and art, which we know well are the livelihoods of cities like ours.
We had a very enriching exchange of reflections with local artists, chefs, entrepreneurs and businessmen to learn how they have faced the changes and adapted to the new rules, always keeping their clients and their team in mind as their priority.
For Hermes Arroyo, the most renowned artist who creates mojigangas in San Miguel, tranquility in the midst of chaos is everything: “The biggest learning has been to deal with the situation calmly and following the relevant measures. In my workshop we receive few people with a safe distance and a lot of heart”. For his part, the independent visual artist Alejandro Trejo is convinced that “There is nothing that can stop us but our own mind”. Unfortunately, museums and galleries around the world were hit hard by the pandemic, at a time when that “art is essential for people’s emotional well-being”, as you rightly say Lourdes Rivera of the Manuk Gallery. And indeed, being deprived of the sensory experience produced by aesthetic appreciation has been something we miss the most. Fortunately for us, some spaces have reopened with due precautions, as mentioned Arturo Aranda of Art Tour SMA, “Art is a refuge for humanity during the worst times”.
Hotels, bars and restaurants stopped their operations for months, being forced to “taking care of unnecessary costs and expenses while optimizing resources, always with human quality”, as mentioned Eduardo Lopez of Centanni Restaurant. For the Chef Marco Cruz of Nomadic Kitchen with interpretation, this year was decisive to explore other means to make his work known and never give up: “We opened ourselves up to things we normally wouldn’t, like advertising and social media”.
Can you imagine having gone through this without the access to information and digital media that we have today? Thanks to the internet and social platforms, small and medium-sized businesses were able to find a way to sustain themselves and continue offering their products and services, as has happened The Liquor Store, which focused its communication on home deliveries and experiences: “We have learned to value what we have and that the limitations that exist lead us to redouble our efforts to continue offering quality to our guests”, assures Mauricio Valdez.
Other local businesses and ventures that depend, in part, on the flow of visitors and tourists, had to seek new strategies and become perfectionists, always keeping their heads and creativity high: “We have learned that order and hygiene are key points to define a first-class service,” reaffirms the barbershop team and brand Made ManIt is precisely in creativity and unity where Barbara Lopez Vie from the jewelry firm Elisheva & Constance has found the answer to uncertainty: “We have taken the situation head on, being aware and open to change. As leaders, more than ever, we must strengthen communication and develop our empathy and flexibility with our people, to reinvent ourselves and become stronger.
During the quarantine, many people took advantage of the opportunity to make renovations and changes to their homes, but concept stores and design and architecture firms reduced their usual pace. Sandra Vazquez from the hospital firm Levain & Co. The ability to adapt has been vital: “We understood the great value of having a good product and doing things well, taking into account the best possible practices of those who have successfully moved forward.” “The learning during this time has been the ability to reinvent ourselves and move forward, supporting each other”, adds Mary Blanco from the real estate design and construction space Magnolia. Another emblematic space of San Miguel, such as Armida House, has opted for the personal and professional development of its employees and for new types of commercial schemes to keep its customers satisfied and safe.
And what about mass events, which are also a primary source of work in the city? Weddings, baptisms, concerts, festivals and other events that are also planned months in advance, suffered the consequences of stopping their activities from one day to the next. However, for the wedding planner Guadalupe Alvarez of Penzi, there is hope: “We have learned to be patient, to accept things as they are and always keeping in mind the super team that is willing to work and find a way to move forward”And yes, it is proven that when we unite, we achieve even the impossible.
How have you coped with this year and its unexpected setbacks?
If you have an inspiring and overcoming story that you want to share with us and our readers, contact us and leave us your comments or messages in @localsmaguideWe will get through this!
