Businesses owners share what they have learned during COVID-19 pandemic

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) It has been a year since a shelter in place order was issued on the Central Coast, and many businesses had to shut down or change how they operate.

During a roundtable, business owners gathered to discuss what they have learned and what they wished they knew more about over the course of the pandemic.

The owner of Tropical Cuts Beauty Salon tells KION that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected more than just her business, but her health. After closing her salons’ doors she did not know how she would move on since she accumulated several months of debt. Fausta Ibarra said, because she did not know the technology, she was not able to request help from the government. 

“It affected me a lot," said Ibarra. "Aside from getting depressed, I don't know. I wanted to stop this and give up, I wanted to get out of here.”

Perhaps if the government had informed the public more about the coronavirus, many of the businesses like hers would not be facing as many difficulties, she said.

The owners of Kai Fit said that the pandemic not only affected their business but also its members' health.

“How do you plan for uncertainty and especially one that's new to everyone,” said David Alessandro. “Never in my lifetime had I seen anything like this.”

For over six years the fitness center Kai Fit has been serving the community of Salinas. Due to the first shutdown, they had to close their doors. Iris Allesandro said the pandemic itself lasted much longer than she expected.

“It's been a year of uncertainty,” said Iris Alessandro. “Over time you get one thing going and seems like it's working going very well. You get another pushback, whether it's another shutdown, a fire, a storm, anything you name it. it's all happened this year.”

They say that since pre-pandemic they’ve always focused on making sure the center was sanitized for its members. But from this pandemic, they were able to learn the importance of leadership, accountability, and community. Although their doors were closed they kept in touch with their members via email they adapted by offering online workout classes and expanding their gym outdoors.

“Everything indoors is available and we're keeping the outdoors open,” said Iris Alessandro. “We understand there are still people that still don’t feel certain. We want to be available for everybody and make fitness and health approachable for everybody.”