TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Local artisans find themselves having to think outside of the box in order to keep foot traffic coming in.
Pop-Cycle store manager Libby Tobey says when the pandemic hit, her team stepped up and transformed sales strategies in order to plan for the unknown.
“It’s been a very difficult thing,” said Tobey.
Libby says Pop-Cycle has closed three times since the beginning of the pandemic. Before, they only had 10% of their inventory online. Sales plummeted.
She knew something had to change to keep their door open.
“We’re fortunate we have a great team and a great group of artists. Collaborating is key, and working together and trying to be open,” she told KGUN9.
So they shifted their priority to selling online.
“8% of the store if not all is on the shop-up site, but that took so much labor and so much of our energy and power,” said Tobey.
They also started offering curbside pick-up, delivery, and private shopping options.
“And then also have those days where we’re open so people can come in and get a feel because that’s what...they miss that experience,” she added.
When you walk into Pop-Cycle you’ll find 100 local handmade items, clothing, artwork and even jewelry. Inventory Tobey says is selling, despite street fair cancellations.
“It’s nice to have people down here interacting with the avenue and the stores safely, but it wouldn’t have been sustainable to have 300,000 people all together on the weekend. So it’s a give and take kind of thing,” she said.
Here’s how she says you can help local businesses stay afloat.
“There’s so many ways you can support. So you can purchase things from people. You can recommend people. You can share or look on google. You can find a review of your favorite places. If everyone kind of keeps doing that we can get through this together and we need everyone’s help,” Tobey told KGUN9.
