Small businesses in Alberta, particularly in rural Alberta, are caught between the pangs of delays, broken supply chains, and strained customer relations after the strike by workers of Canada Post.
Fueled by demands for higher wages and better working conditions, the strike led to a drastic slowdown in the services of the postal network, affecting businesses that had come to rely on postal services for shipping, invoices, and communications.
As the strike continues, small businesses must adopt strategies to counter its residual impact, restore operations, and build resilience against present and future disruptions. This blog provides actionable insights for small business owners in Alberta to effectively address challenges and regain momentum.
These challenges showed clearly that in businesses that rely on postal services, flexibility and preparedness would be critical.
For small businesses in Alberta, the end of the Canada Post strike is a relief and a call to action. Recovery involves not only addressing immediate disruptions but also building systems to withstand future challenges. From streamlining operations to leveraging digital tools, small businesses have multiple avenues to navigate this transition successfully.
Identify and classify pending shipments or invoices according to priority. Prioritize the execution of high-priority orders to avoid customer dissatisfaction.
Notify customers of any residual delay due to the strike and give them an estimated time frame. Transparency is a great way to regain trust.
Send an email newsletter, use social media, or make direct calls to keep customers updated.
To reduce dependence on Canada Post, consider a private courier service like UPS, FedEx, or Purolator.
Working with local delivery services ensures faster delivery within Alberta.
For businesses with physical locations, offering discounts or perks for in-store pickup can help reduce delivery burdens and enhance customer engagement.
Reduce reliance on paper invoices and mailed checks through electronic invoicing platforms like QuickBooks or Wave.
Encourage customers to pay online, which will allow for a faster transaction
If you have a product-based business, it is an excellent idea to invest in an e-commerce platform where you can track orders, provide real-time tracking, and communicate with customers.
Thank the customers for their endurance and apologize for the inconvenience with the strike. A little such as free shipping or free discount on the next purchase to redeem can do wonders on the restoration of goodwill.
Introduce real-time track order feature or proactive notification for the delivery for more visibility.
Collect feedback using surveys to know how you can help your customers in the future better.
If your marketing activities are interfered with by postal services, you can rely on email newsletters and electronic advertising to continue reaching your target.
Publish updates, offers, and information about yourself to your clients through channels such as Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Contact customers or business associates about past due accounts. Offer alternative payment terms to expedite cash flow.
Consult the Alberta government’s programs and funds for small businesses, like grants or relief initiatives, to mitigate the financial effects of the strike.
A small boutique in Calgary experienced slow delivery of inventory and orders to customers. This caused irritation to the customers and loss of sales.
Taking immediate action helped the boutique both in managing the strike and making long-term improvements to its operations for strength.
The Canada Post strike is an eye-opener for the small businesses in Alberta, especially in terms of adapting and proactive planning. The strike calls for building more strategies that will make businesses less vulnerable in the future.
