How to Make Small Business Relief Programs More Effective
“There’s a huge difference between survive and thrive,” said a kennel owner from Maryland. Here’s what she’d do to fix PPP.
Back in March, when the pandemic started to transform life in the U.S., bookings plummeted for Beechnut Kennels, a nearly 50-year-old business spread across nine acres outside of Annapolis, Maryland. Work from home also meant that suddenly, people didn’t really need pet daycare or boarding services, says Beechnut owner Melissa Medick.
The business—which Medick was in the process of buying before Covid-19 started to spread—has never had to spend much on marketing. It's small enough, she said, that the dogs recognize every staff member. “People know us, we know their dog's name when they walk up,” she said. “They'll move away and travel three hours to bring their dog back to us. You become an extended family for their pet.”