Lakeside area merchants have put on their thinking caps to innovate their business models in order to stay afloat through the economic downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.
Local restaurateurs prohibited from seating customers inside their premises were quick to start up carry-out and home delivery services, allowing them to stay open and keep employees on the job. Many other businesses, such as pharmacies and grocery outlets, have also introduced delivery systems to supply merchandise to homebound residents. Independent cab drivers, who made a living shuttling residents to the Guadalajara airport, doctor’s appointments, dining spots or shopping excursions, are now switching over to delivery services for their clients.
Meanwhile, social media has become a vital advertising tool for the area’s commercial sector.
• The Lakeside Guide Facebook page administered by master photographer Dane Strom stands out for its comprehensive and straightforward listing of around 150 restaurants and businesses offering home deliveries.
• Delivery Lakeside is more free form, offers advertising posts with complementary photos, plus reviews and commentaries from users.
• Similarly, Comercio Local Ajijic hosts ads for all types of products and services available from village entrepreneurs, with content in Spanish geared primarily for Mexican consumers. Started up on March 31, the site has already attracted 400 advertisers.
• Trueques de la Ribera takes a totally different approach, permitting posters to exchange goods and services through an old-fashioned barter system.
• The latest initiative created to support lakeside’s faltering commercial sector is Apollo 2020, launched on April 12 by Michael Searles and Roberto Serrano. The thrust is to aid enterprises labeled as “non-essential” that have been forced to close shop during the health crisis and are unable to retool for home services or deliveries.
Members joining the closed Facebook group will receive free guidance on developing gift certificates they can market to customers in a pay-it-forward method to generate immediate income for meeting payroll and other financial demands. The vouchers can be redeemed once the Covid-19 shutdowns are reversed and the economy reopens. For details, contact Searles at 376-766-0826 or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..