What a remarkable and unprecedented year it has been. As 2020 comes to a close and we head into cold and flu season, it is unclear whether COVID-19 will persist at its current pace, if there will be an onslaught of smaller outbreaks, or if a larger second wave is on the horizon. To further compound matters, flu season is right around the corner, generally lasting through January. This overlap has many concerned – are we facing a double whammy? Or will social distancing and our new hygiene habits stave off the spread of influenza this year? Either way, we are in for an interesting season, and because this flu season may be quite daunting, there will likely be a lot more customers looking for products to prepare for it.
Time to have the conversations
We may be looking at a different and broader purchasing season this year as businesses gear up for flu season amid a pandemic. Because of that, it is high time to discuss readiness options with your customers. Checking in with them and offering products and solutions to help them prepare for what’s to come may ultimately lessen the impact, one community at a time.
Topics to get ready for
Sure to be front and center this winter are the differences between COVID-19 and the flu, and COVID-19 and the common cold. Posters, signage, decals, postcards, flyers, and envelopes will lend a hand in informing the public about what’s what. Similarly, many will need to communicate flu shot information, including companies offering flu shot programs to their employees. All public access areas continue to require social distancing products, and will certainly be emphasizing the importance of hygiene and sanitizing. Additionally, with a second potential shutdown looming, retail stores trying to lessen stockpiling will need signs, banners, and decals reminding folks to take a limited number of essential items. Nonprofits, governments, and other agencies will need products and communications informing people of where they can get ahold of emergency services and supplies. As hospitals and clinics approach maximum capacity, their need for materials increases as patients increase. There is also a new topic on the block: screening supplies. No more rushing off to work or rushing kids off to school with the sniffles – there will be more hesitation, more mindfulness, and symptom screening.
Who’s buying?
The current circumstances are opening new areas of “who’s buying” and “who’s interested.” Undoubtedly, the employers in the community, retail shops and stores, governments, nonprofits, schools, healthcare, manufacturers, banks, insurance, financial institutions, and more will need readiness products and communications solutions to help gear up for the next five months.
How can you help?
Start having conversations with everybody you can think of. No one is exempt from what the world is experiencing right now. Helping your customers and prospects solve their challenges centered around informing, directing, notifying, and protecting makes you an essential piece of the puzzle. We have created templates with specific cold and flu messaging that may help get some ideas in front of your customers as well.
Next steps
Are you ready? We are. And we are here for you. Navitor has a plethora of options, ideas, and support, and offers a free content page for distributors like you. We have over 100 pages of ideas, products, text, and imagery that you can use as your own. The solutions benefit top industries in need of new, important and often urgent messaging. Navitor members have access to exclusive, more detailed materials such as a social toolkit for each of today’s most predominant industries, customizable eBooklets where you can add your own name or branding, or even the actual slides to the webinars we produce complete with links and additional resources you can use with your customers.
Are you ready to help your customers get through the cold and flu season? Yes!