While restaurateurs changed operations, online marketing
remained strong amidst uncertainty in the world of real estate.
Though the market stalled immediately following the outbreak of
and response to COVID-19, the market seems to have quickly
recovered. Ronnie Allison, Jr., an established real estate professional
whose firm, Allison Real Estate, launched in January
2020, shares his perspective. “Over the last 5 years, our local real
estate market has been healthy. However, in 2019 a boom was
brewing with increased demand, rising prices, and rapidly evaporating
inventory. Then, COVID-19 darkened the forecast.
Overnight, it was like someone turned out the light,” he says. The
grim realities of self-employment and a dismal market projection
left Allison numb. Like so many small business owners, he
witnessed cash flows dissipate to a trickle. Unable to secure
Unemployment Insurance, he slashed expenditures and navigated
his start-up on a lean budget. He says, “Business has
rebounded and the markets have opened back up. We weathered
the storm and are about to turn a corner. The reality of COVID-19
forced me to re-evaluate every aspect of business, and we are
stronger today because of it.”
Sandy Sutton, a 34-year veteran of self-employment and
the namesake of Sandy Sutton’s Design Center, faced the COVID
crisis by staying calm and keeping the faith. “At first, the very
thought of not being open was more than upsetting. We had
numerous projects in play, employing and involving multiple
trades and people,” she says. “Most of our clients chose to continue
their projects, and we were attentive to the daily health
of our work-force.” Distancing, masks, sanitizer, and respecting
boundaries keeps her doors open, though Sutton and her assistant
Kim Edmunds rely heavily on Zoom meetings. The new
protocols will stay in place as long as needed to keep clients
comfortable and contractors working. She expresses gratefulness
for today’s technology and her liberty to protect herself and others
by working remotely as well as on-site, when necessary.
Business longevity gives Sutton another valuable perspective
in regard to community support. “We live in a beautiful city and
state where we care about each other,” she says. “Think about the
local companies supporting this community through donations
and services. Let’s think about our neighbors first.”
LIFE & HOME 29