In a challenging year for most companies, a few have shone, such as pharmaceutical groups boosted by their search for a Covid-19 vaccine, technology giants buoyed by the trend for working from home, and retailers offering lockdown necessities online.

Online Retailing

Online retailers have fared well during the pandemic, with Amazon remaining a juggernaut. Although the company’s sales growth has been impressive for the past decade, Amazon received a significant boost from the quarantine as consumers were unable to go to stores to make purchases. On March 12, the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown, the company’s stock price closed at $1,676.61. By the end of June, it had risen nearly $1,000 from just a few months prior.

Workspace Solutions

Out of necessity, businesses are increasingly moving toward more remote and flexible workforces. According to Gartner, nearly a quarter of CFOs said they would move at least 20% of their on-site employees to permanent remote positions. As workforces become remote, having the right collaborative technology and security has become a top priority for executives.

Culinary classes

People love to eat and drink and are always looking for unique foods and cocktails to try. If you have a culinary background or have just mastered the hobby, consider sharing your expertise with the world.

Remote working tools and software

With governments implementing more severe measures such as full or partial lockdowns, and businesses struggling to find ways to maintain adequate levels of productivity, many are turning to remote working apps and software.

Even as many other tech companies fell in value, Zoom’s shares rose as the pandemic spread. Microsoft Teams reached 44 million users, a 37% gain equivalent to Slack’s total number of users, in just one week.

E-learning

As of this week, school and university closures have impacted 1.5 billion learners in over 180 countries. Readily available remote learning technologies meant many programs could instantly be reformatted for online, with colleges shifting to distance learning and many teachers trying their hand for the first time at Google Classroom or web apps like Seesaw for students as young as kindergarten. Many parents are also making their first foray into homeschooling.

Social media services

Many small business owners know that a social media presence is important but do not have the time or bandwidth to learn about it themselves. If you have that expertise, now is a great time to launch a social media management company. Reach out to companies with little to no social media presence and offer to run their accounts and engage with their audience to boost sales and brand awareness.

Pet products and services

A positive outcome of the COVID-19 lockdowns was a significant spike in pet adoptions. As people sought companionship from dogs, cats, birds, and more while social distancing, shelters across the country saw a 700% increase in adoptions and fostering in 2020 compared to 2019.

Commercial cleaning service

In 2020, cleaning and antibacterial supplies flew off the shelves, and many commercial cleaning services found themselves in higher demand than ever before. Office buildings, restaurants, and other public businesses still rely on these service providers to continuously disinfect their spaces and keep employees and patrons safe.

Virtual workout classes and personal training

The pandemic showed many how important it is to maintain their physical health and immune systems. In 2020, consumers were left to find creative solutions to get their exercise, and virtual workout classes and digital personal training sessions entered the market with a splash.