BrandCrowd and DesignCrowd Aid Small Businesses Together With OpenWeStand
Starting out small is the norm. Heck, even Apple started with three men cramped up in a garage. We’ve all been there, right? We’ve all felt that unshakable feeling in our chest during the first few months seeing people walk by your store or seeing your website traffic climb higher each day.
It was terrifying yet exciting, all at the same time.
Today, it seems to have been replaced by pure apprehension with no end date in sight. All thanks to COVID-19.
Businesses are being hit hard
The cases continue to grow exponentially in a day.
You can check out the live update of global coronavirus cases here.
Government agencies began to announce lockdowns in the middle of March, which marked the start of great economic uncertainty.
China, where the virus was first found, is getting back on its feet. However, the Chinese economy sustained some hits due to the lockdown. The same is expected to happen to the rest of the world as we follow suit.
Goldman Sachs said that the US market alone could decline by 24%. The investment company sees this record-breaking drop happening by 2020 Q2.
No one enjoys reading grim approximations from experts saying that the economic recession of 2008 was only a sneak preview for what’s to come for us during this pandemic. While of course, the circumstances were different then. It was a result of an unguarded market, not a highly-contagious novel virus. There is still no room for complacency now more than ever.
Because of this, small businesses are now expecting an ill-fate as half of them prepare to cut their losses. If the virus does not get controlled within three months, they will have to close for good.
So, what can we do for the small business owners and workers that have long been considered the underdogs of local economic communities?
#OpenWeStand
For a lot of non-essential small businesses right now, the situation feels like a multiple choice question:
a.) Stop operations completely and leave the company unprofitable
b.) Stay open and risk everyone involved in every undigitized transaction
But we are here to tell you it’s not.
As we find ourselves still in operation amid the lockdown, we recognize that privilege. That’s why we are using it to help others who weren’t as fortunate. Our company is doing what we can to help people and brands in need since that’s what we know best.
We have partnered up with GoDaddy’s #OpenWeStand movement. This was created to provide tools and resources that help recession-hit employees and entrepreneurs acclimate themselves to the current situation.
Normalcy is out of everyone’s reach right now. Our partners and our team are not going to let small brands battle this struggle unarmed. Making operation adjustments to digital smooth is the least we can do for small businesses. The goal is to urge business continuity as we shift our priorities to protecting ourselves and each other from the disease.
BrandCrowd and DesignCrowd stand with the likes of GoFundMe, ChowNow, and other companies such as Inc.
Each member of the movement has pledged to chip in through ways they know best.
For GoFundMe, they are helping brands reach out to people who are willing to provide cash assistance in a safe and timely fashion. Its CEO Tim Cadogan said that this is a way for brands to move further with the help of their patrons.
DesignCrowd
This is right up in our alley, having supported tens and thousands of young businesses since our first day. Supporting operations of small brands comes as second nature to us.
Our companies get people closer to the graphic design of their dreams. It all started with DesignCrowd in 2008. This marketplace has connected countless entrepreneurs to their ideal designer through contests. Different services—such as logo design, web design, web banner design, and others—that can be used to help keep the flames of a business going can be sourced on the platform.
We are giving away a stream of discount coupons to let small businesses get powerful digital collaterals that speak to their audience. Entrepreneurs can start a project at a more manageable price here.
BrandCrowd
Making economical choices push companies to cut costs. These decisions may entail having to sacrifice quality graphic design materials.
That’s why we’re offering a more affordable graphic design plan. Using our social media image maker will empower brands to create visually compelling messages optimized digital channels.
Aspiring entrepreneurs also get 35% off their logo from us. By clicking this promo code, they can find the perfect logo for their dream business and call it their own.
Our leader Alec Lynch spoke of the initiative best, “From small businesses adapting and fighting to survive, to people launching their first online business from their bedroom – the ingenuity and grit of entrepreneurs have the potential to create new solutions, new sources of income and new employment.”
