We interviewed The Gamez Team, Samantha y Nelson Gamez. They are a husband and wife tag team of Realtors in Berks County. We asked of them to tell us how they are managing to weather the COVID-19 pandemic from a business perspective. Here is what they had to say.
1. WAS YOUR BUSINESS FORCED TO CLOSE? AND DID YOU LAY OFF EMPLOYEES?
Since March 19th at 8 pm we were forced to cease activities, we obviously knew that this would affect our economy since it would be very difficult to help our clients sell or buy houses, but we thought it was a necessary measure because the integrity of the people, our clients and we must have priority.
Our businesses are made up of subcontracting companies and people, but not employees themselves, so we take into account subcontractors and Realtors, we are talking about 9 in total
2. ARE YOU USING YOUR TIME WISELY AND IF SO HOW?
It costs a little since the fact of being in the house lends itself to distractions, lol, such as sitting down to watch the novel after lunch, going out to play on the trampoline or playing with our children in the yard, etc. but they are distractions that we personally like and we enjoy them more than we can. Our children continue with an education routine, we a work routine and as overeating has become very difficult to combat, we decided to make a daily exercise routine.
3. ARE YOU USING THIS TIME TO ANALYZE YOUR BUSINESS? PLEASE PROVIDE EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOU DID OR ARE DOING?
Of course, it is the perfect time to do it, we are among those who think that there is always a better way of doing things and that you can always improve. So we know that we have to modify our business plan, the time that we are waxed in our houses affects the volume of work but it does not determine it, so we have to adapt and recharge batteries to become stronger and with more energy.
4. DID YOU FIND ANY GOOD READS, RESEARCHES & OR RESOURCES TO HELP YOU FINANCIALLY?
We love to read, inform ourselves, and educate ourselves. So we buy online courses in real estate, marketing, finance, technology, and social media. In order to improve and make our business plan more efficient, it is important to recover financially once we return to normal.
5. WHAT DID THE CORONAVIRUS TEACH YOU ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS AND YOURSELF?
MUCH! Every situation, no matter how bad it is, leaves us an apprenticeship, and it is on our part to identify that teaching. We learned that personally, there is nothing more rewarding than being able to see your family in the eyes every day and knowing that only you can protect them regardless of the outside, that we all need everyone, that we are all the same and that many jobs that happen unnoticed they are more essential than the best payments. As for the business part, we learned that we are not really independent, that we are left with our hands tied and that we have to find alternatives so that we do not go through the same thing in the future in the event that something similar happens.
6. WHAT ABOUT CORONAVIRUS ARE YOU GRATEFUL FOR?
I think we needed this rest, and more importantly, our planet needed this rest; We learned that life is very fragile and that it can give us a 360-degree change overnight.
It has been a very painful experience especially for those who lost loved ones, for them a lot of strength and blessings
