Here's how local businesses are coping:

Kelbel Pharmacy, Tim Bondy Physical Therapy, Randy Keys of Edward Jones, First Tee, Walstrom Marine

We asked to hear from our members about how you’re doing these days, when many of us have had to change how we conduct business.

If you’d like to be considered for our Member Spotlight and share some of your ideas and coping strategies, please take this short survey. Then we will share them with our newsletter readers and social media followers. We plan to run several each week, so stay tuned. Here are some of our first responses:

LeAnne and Jim Kelbel of Kelbel Pharmacy:

"This is a work in progress with no playbook"

What have you had to do differently since the pandemic began? 

What has worked? 

All of it.

What is the one most important thing you have learned during the past 4 months?

You can NEVER be too careful.

Anything else you would like to share? 

Please be patient with employees and staff at any store. We are doing our best. This is all a work in progress with no playbook. We are all learning as we go - there are no definitive answers to the ever-changing rules or guidelines of this virus.

> Kelbel Pharmacy, 205 E. Main Street, Harbor Springs, (231) 526-5971.

Tim Bondy of Tim Bondy Physical and Occupational Therapy and Wellness Center:

"We remodeled our main clinic to allow for safe distancing"

What have you had to do differently since the pandemic began? 

After the order for stay at home and shutdown of March 23rd our main clinical site on West Conway Road was modified in the interior to create more open space and allow for the implementation of safe distancing as well as to ensure proper screening of all individuals entering the facility. Our staff were initially put on layoff except for myself, my chief financial officer and administrator. Patient care for physical therapy and occupational therapy continued and increased as demand and safety required. Our professional staff gradually returned to full duty status and a second facility was opened at a site adjacent to our main building in order to continue with safe distancing and procedures as the demand for rehabilitation services increased over the past two months. Strict screening procedures that are required for medical facilities have been implemented and remain in place.

What has worked?

The procedures put in place have provided a safe environment for patient care and all staff to maintain safe distancing and personal protection, allowing for appropriate business operations.

What has NOT worked? 

We regret that the resumption of our Exercise and Wellness Program has not taken place at this time. This suspension of these programs will continue in order to ensure the safety and proper distancing of our rehabilitation patients.

What is the one most important thing you have learned during the past 4 months?

The realization of the blessings we all have to live in Northern Michigan and have such wonderful medical and professional services to access. The primary importance of spending time with family and balancing our work demands and family time has become very clear.

Anything else you would like to share?

As we continue to navigate the demands and required changes of the pandemic, it is essential that we put forth the time and effort to better understand each other. Realizing that so many people have different views on life and politics and the priorities in their lives. What everyone has the need for is to be understood and loved and not judged. Everyone has the opportunity and actually the obligation to assist someone or some family in need. In this way we will all contribute to a better world. Because everyone’s life matters!

> Tim Bondy Physical Therapy, 1171 W. Conway Rd, Harbor Springs, (231) 487-6163.

Randy Keys of Edward Jones:

"I gained a ton of perspective being able to talk to my clients through these challenging times"

We all have different challenges and concerns in regards to our families, health, work, and finances, and I gained a ton of perspective being able to talk to my clients through these challenging times. At the end of the day, we all need people in our corner to support and be there, and I think that's why this has been so challenging. It really isolated us from physically being able to be there to share and support some of the people we have the closest relationships with.

> Randy Keys/Edward Jones, 930 State St, Ste. 20, Harbor Springs, (231) 526-8856.

Kate Conlon, Walstrom Marine:

"Virtual walkthroughs are a successful alternative"

What have you had to do differently since the pandemic began?  

DISTANCING! We are not a distancing bunch, we do love our events and reconnecting with our customers after a long winter. Boating itself has picked up but we've had to get creative with reaching and servicing our clientele who aren't necessarily comfortable with venturing out into the public domain. We've had to go from "come on down and see it" to "hop on our Youtube/Instagram/Facebook/Webpage to check out the virtual walkthrough." It's been an adjustment but one I think we've been rather successful at. Our crew is thankfully very good at adapting and we have a lot of great, thoughtful staff to help deliver our message and assist all of our customers in a meaningful way.

What has worked?  

Virtual walkthroughs! ( Here is an example.) The buying process is involved and boat buyers always have their favorite features and must-haves. Filming a walkthrough with a salesman allows viewers to have a contactless boat showing and still see every detail on the vessel.

Complimentary pick-up and drop-off. This was especially true for drop-off season and while we have offered it in the past it was especially popular and important to offer this season.

We have also set up a 24-hour call line for emergency purposes, which means that if you call our facility after hours, current customer or not, you will be transferred to a human being who will contact the correct person in the organization or with the authorities to help you with whatever emergency you’re facing on the water. With increased boating during the pandemic we wanted to make sure we were serving all of the communities we are members of in the most thorough way possible to keep people safely on the water this season.

What has NOT worked?  

We were fortunate enough to have taken the time we had during lockdown to create a simple, yet effective plan for how to adjust our messaging and outreach. By not trying to reinvent the wheel but being just creative enough to put together some new things, such as our Summer Launch video, we were able to reach customers new and old online, but also have a safety plan in place for those who were comfortable coming in and meeting in person. The precautions and procedures are ever-changing and we will keep rolling with it to best keep out staff and clients safe on and off the water.

What is the one most important thing you have learned?

From the marine standpoint we have learned that boating is truly the original and the ultimate social distancing. It's connecting in a way that still allows you to disconnect from the world and other people. The post-lockdown comeback in boating was awesome and seeing the marine industry come together to create best practices and safely maintain the ability to enjoy this lifestyle has been amazing to be a part of.

From the community standpoint, these last 4 months have made us thankful twice over to be a part of such a special community in Harbor Springs and Northern Michigan. Without our customers and staff we would have a really nice, really empty building on the water and it's made it all the more meaningful to see everyone come together to keep our community alive and well.

> Walstrom Marine, 501 East Bay Street, Harbor Springs, (231) 526-2141.

Melissa Hoglund of The First Tee of Northern Michigan:

"We had to recognize we cannot do everything we usually do"

What have you had to do differently since the pandemic began? 

1. We cancelled all our fundraisers.

2. We have an outdoor-only policy. Children are not allowed to come indoors except to use the restrooms, while wearing their mask.

3. Because of the outdoor-only policy, classes are cancelled in inclement weather. Pre-Covid, classes were held rain or shine.

4. Class sizes are limited to maintain a 4:1 ratio of kids to coaches, reduced from a 6:1 ratio.

5. We interview every kid every day upon arrival with the following questions: how do you feel? Do you have your own water? Face mask? Hand sanitizer?

6. We eliminated all equipment sharing.

7. We cancelled all community partnership activities, including YMCA, Challenge Mt. Spirit Camp, Adventure Camp, Northern Michigan Autism Association, Lakeview Academy, because we could not maintain the safety protocols listed above with these groups.

What is the one most important thing you have learned?

We had to recognize that we cannot do everything we usually do; we cannot accommodate everyone we usually serve. We had to identify what was absolutely necessary to fulfilling our mission, and commit to do that as well as possible.

> The First Tee of Northern Michigan, 600 Highlands Dr, P.O. Box 613, Harbor Springs, 231-526-3168

SPREAD THE NEWS  - We'd love to send you the weekly Harbor Happenings newsletter. To subscribe, unsubscribe, advertise or submit your news, email info@harborspringschamber.com .