The Sun Will Shine Again
Dear Lebanese people, my lovely people, the hard economic situation you’re going through has turned your life upside down, but the sun will shine again.
The hard financial situation is worsened by the corona virus pandemic that made you feel lost, pessimistic and hopeless. Your dream is to leave and your biggest ambition is a one-way ticket to any other country. BUT, let me tell you that together we can change this, together, we can make the Lebanese sun shine again, I assure you that everything is possible and we can rebuild our Lebanon and make it again the Switzerland of the East.
Let’s Keep Our Legacy
Do you want me to remind you who our ancestors are? Well, our ancestors are the masters of the sea, they are the first to venture from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. They were the dominant maritime power. Yes, we are the children of the Phoenicians, we are the masters of trading, and no we won’t let this bad financial situation makes us forget who we really are.
My people, the geography of our Lebanon is amazing. We are the connection point from East to West, we have a long Mediterranean coast and many resources such as oil, natural gas, limestone, salt… We have every resource needed to shine again.
Turn This Crises Into an Opportunity
It’s now time to turn this crisis into an opportunity, by this I mean that it’s time to start working and supporting small businesses.
In fact, the devaluation of the Lebanese Lira made the prices in LBP increase, Lebanese people cannot afford buying imported products anymore, they are turning into the local products; the MADE IN LEBANON is everywhere in the supermarkets and in the stores; that’s something worth being proud of!
On the other hand, our prices in USD are falling for foreigners; that means that our products became so cheap for them which makes them competitive on the international market.
So, small businesses, do not lose hope! The current financial situation is an opportunity for you to develop and work on your products. The demand has increased, your product is wanted, National as well as International people are looking for it. So, it’s time to produce, develop and export. My people, it’s our time to shine and get back the legacy of our ancestors.
3 Tips to Help Small Businesses:
Small businesses, you aren’t run like mega corporations, you require different strategies for success. So, let me give you 3 of the best tips in order to help you lead and succeed.
1- Focus on Customer Service
According to a study by NewVoiceMedia, 51% of customers will not repeat business with a company after a bad service experience. Other studies have shown that it takes several positive customer experiences to make up for one negative one. So, focus well on your customer service, that’s a key factor to keep going on and growing.
2- Build Your Online Presence
Creating a professional-looking website can be quick and easy nowadays, yet your small business needs to be in the online space. Research from the E-commerce Wiki indicates that 88% of consumers now research purchases online before purchasing in a store. So, go on, create a website, social media pages and grow.
3- Update Your Business Plan
Business plans are vital for startup businesses for many reasons, including testing the viability of your business idea and securing debt or equity financing. But, if you haven’t made one, do not worry, it’s not too late. Go on, work on it and update it from time to time.
You Are Not Alone
We, Lebanese people are known for our will to live, so do not be scared, go create and produce and we are here for you, Watani is here for you to help you grow and go worldwide. In fact, Watani focuses on bringing market attention to you and wants to take you to every household in the world. So, Lebanese small businesses, I ask you to be positive and optimistic. Do not be scared, stay focused, prioritize your work and learn from your mistakes. It’s your time to shine and make our country great again. Finally, the Phoenix must burn to emerge, and once more, we will rise just like the Phoenix.
