FALL 2020 | TCBUSINESS.COM
SUCCESSFUL RETAILERS SHIFTED
STRATEGY DURING PANDEMIC
The coronavirus pandemic came on like a
Category 5 hurricane in its ability to shapeshift
the landscape for Treasure Coast merchant
retailers.
Some small retailers in Martin, St. Lucie and
Indian River counties began focusing more
on online sales as their traditional customers
avoided in-store visits.
How stores dealt with the massive shift in
shopping behavior by their customers determined
how they fared during the shutdowns
for the pandemic.
The pandemic has caused “probably the
most changes in habits since World War Two,”
says Phil Matson, community development
director for Indian River County.
Those changes include how consumers
shop, from home on a phone or computer to
when they visit a store.
While retail sales fell year-over-year March,
April and May, they began posting gains in
June and are forecasted to rise for the holidays.
NEW COLLEGE PROGRAM GIVES
STUDENTS A HEAD START WHEN
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BEING WELL-PREPARED FOR YOUR
SBA LOAN APPLICATION
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This issue of Treasure Coast Business is
produced through a unique partnership
between Indian River Magazine Inc. and
the Florida Small Business Development
Center at Indian River State College.
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NEW IRSC PRESIDENT FORESEES BUDDING
PARTNERSHIP WITH BUSINESS COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY BANKS BENEFIT FROM
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BEST PRACTICES FOR
MANUFACTURERS
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Patty O’Connell, owner of Gumbo Limbo Coastal Chic and Gumbo Limbo Coastal Kidz in Stuart, adapted the way
she runs her shop to cope with the pandemic by focusing more on online sales.
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