Volunteer/ Digital Manager
In March of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic swept the nation and halted business operations throughout the country. One business that was effected was one that is close to my family. Giggles Gifts, a brick-and-mortar shop in Mayfair, Philadelphia, was founded by my Grandparents in the late 1980s and has become a staple in the Philadelphia community . When the pandemic hit, they were forced to close their doors indefinitely for the first time ever. With the fear losing their business, my Grandparents asked for my help in converting the store to an online e-commerce website. The site would allow them to counter the closures and restrictions of the pandemic but continue to operate virtually. My work entailed building a website, uploading inventory, utilizing Facebook Business Manager and Google Marketing platforms, and managing social media to continue to assert their presence. This ordeal taught me how to operate a business virtually, starting with simply building a website and progressing to targeting certain demographics to market to. Collaboration was also emphasized throughout this process and I had to learn to cater to a customer’s needs (my Grandparents) and surpass their expectations. Most importantly, I learned that at any moment businesses can fail due to unforeseen circumstance and you must adapt to changing environments.