Here in the UK, we currently find ourselves in a period of serious economic uncertainty, there are no two ways about it. This year has been one of the most challenging, anxiety-inducing and surreal in recent history. The word ‘unprecedented’ has never been wheeled out as frequently as it has been over the past six months, but it’s been done so with good reason.At the moment, it can be all too easy to feel overwhelmed, but there are always grounds for optimism. In fact, our 2-man delivery service actually started out during the economic downturn 12 years ago, and we’re still going strong today. With that in mind, we wanted to look at how a business can not only survive a recession, but use it as a springboard from which to achieve greater success and growth.Looking Back In Order To Move ForwardThe recession of 2008 may now seem like an eternity ago, but the impacts brought about by the financial crisis were felt across the board and though inevitably uncomfortable, such a period of challenge and change create opportunities and the space to do new and different things; Back in 2008 BJS Home Delivery Managing Director Harinder Singh saw potential in the flux and set up the 2-man delivery service which went on to flourish, and is set to expand in the current economic downturn.Regroup, Regather, Reassess.If you’re a glass-half-full sort of personality, then you’re always on the lookout for ways in which to make the best of a bad situation. Recessions present the perfect opportunity to do exactly this. When hit by one, taking stock of your company’s processes and operations is amongst the best things you can do. In fact, in most instances, a little introspection can go a long way, and by thoroughly evaluating the state of your business as it stands, currently, you can shed light on potentially inefficient processes and costs that, upon reflection, may be deemed surplus to requirement.What you’re doing, in essence, is treating the financial squeeze as a means to streamline your company, making it leaner and more productive. When things are going well at a business, you want to plough on and strike whilst the iron is hot, so to speak. Conversely, when a recession hits, you can treat it almost as having been gifted with a blank canvas, a fresh notepad within which your company’s updated (or even entirely new) direction can be created.With Uncertainty, Comes A Breeding Ground For OpportunityAssessing your business not only highlights areas in which you can pare things back, it can also present whole new opportunities, altogether. In our industry, for instance, there had already been the initial rumblings of a shift towards online shopping. Then, when the COVID pandemic and subsequent economic slump came along, the whole process was sped along. Whilst this example is particularly pertinent to the world of 2-men delivery services, there will invariably be new, previously unseen opportunities that spring up, whatever sector you happen to be in.

‍Clearly Lay Out Your Priorities‍Try To See The Bigger PictureAmidst periods of economic uncertainty, it can be easy to lose sight of the 'bigger picture', clichéd a phrase though that may be. The thing about recessions, however, as damaging and unpleasant as they are to go through, is that they’re cyclical, and although it may not feel like it just at the minute, the markets will return to health at some point in the future.It’s vital that you maintain consistency, during these times, to keep levels of customer confidence high and ensure all customer 'touchpoints' are managed with warm professionalism. Such big shifts in a country’s economic foundations trigger anxieties and vulnerabilities on a deeply personal level, and therefore a little friendliness can end up going a long way.Provided that the service you offered was essential pre-downturn, then there will still be a demand for what you do (in the case of our 2-man delivery service, demand has actually increased) - and perhaps even the room for further development. Retain that agile, entrepreneurial drive that gave you the energy to set up in the first place and see what new dreams can be realised in this new climate.For businesses, keeping a ‘growth’ mindset at junctures such as these can feel like a huge gamble, and it can be incredibly tempting to revert to short-term thinking; a mindset geared around surviving the recession and not a huge amount beyond that. If you’re not careful, however, this can very quickly snowball into the proverbial burying your head in the sand, and that fight-or-flight survivalist instinct, the very thing you thought would help see you through this period, can actually end up being a company’s downfall. Attempting to maintain a degree of long-sightedness, on the other hand, will keep you level-headed, as a company, and provide you with a more holistic and sustainable plan, moving forward.Your Business Is Your People’s BusinessWhen those ‘good times’ do return, and it’s really worth remembering that they will, you’re going to want your team still with you. Because as a company, your priority should always be your people who, Harinder believes, are absolutely your business’ “biggest asset”. This doesn’t change whether your business is doing well, badly or somewhere in the middle, by structuring your growth around the people who make your business what it is, you provide your business with a steely core that’s harder to knock off-course. According to Harinder, “the key to getting out of this recession, is your people.”These past few months have taught us lots. Above all else, however, it’s taught us the strength of community, and the resilience that comes from banding together, and in the benefits brought about by sharing with one another. Standing together was never as important as it was when we became forced to remain apart, during COVID, and that feeling of togetherness must remain paramount during this downturn. In Sikhism, ‘Seva’ refers to a selfless service, or, a dedication to others. It’s something very close to our hearts here at BJS. Whether that’s within our own ranks, or when our delivery teams are engaging with customers, it’s a key tenet of our ethos, and something which we would encourage everyone to adopt within their lives.Contact Us!So, if you’d like to find out more about our 2-man delivery service, then get in touch! Contact BJS Home Delivery today on 01922 645 650.