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business Monday 12 october 2020
Amid COVID, many businesses in precarious spot as 2020 ends

By JOYCE M. ROSENBERG Rammel says.
AP Business Writer Barking Irons, a maker of
NEW YORK (AP) — The fi- apple brandies, is heav-
nal three months of the ily dependent on the bars,
year, usually a boom time restaurants and liquor
for many small businesses stores of New York City for
thanks to holiday shopping its business. The company
and celebrations, looks typically makes half its rev-
precarious as the coronavi- enue in the fourth quarter.
rus maintains its grip on the The city's social life, and
economy. economy, remains con-
Owners contending with strained by the pandemic.
government restrictions or Restaurants can have only
crumbling demand are try- a quarter of their capacity
ing to hold on, with some indoors and there's no bar
creating new products service. And while outdoor
and services or desperately dining will continue indefi-
searching for new custom- nitely, it's hard to predict
ers. Others, however, have how many people will be
found they're already well willing to brave the cold
equipped to meet the — even with a brandy to
lifestyle changes brought warm them.
about by the pandemic. This photo provided by Adam M. Rammel shows The Syndicate on Aug. 20, 2020 in Bellefontaine, The other side of Barking
The big corporate and non- Ohio. Associated Press Irons' business is picking up
profit parties and events some slack — the distiller
that Sophia D'Angelo ran pect to make as much as they cannot bring in the brewpub, Brewfontaine. has boosted sales to liquor
before the virus outbreak half their annual revenue revenue they need. Rammel, who worried stores as more people drink
have just about vanished. during the holiday shop- Restaurants face a diffi- about the future of his Belle- at home. Overall sales
Large in-person gatherings ping season, as do many cult time as state and local fontaine, Ohio, business won't double, as they had
that companies typically of their suppliers. Any busi- governments limit the num- when he was interviewed every year since the brand
use to launch or promote ness connected with holi- ber of people they can by The Associated Press in launched in 2017, but Ash-
their brands aren't possible day parties and celebra- serve. The impact of the April, said he's "hanging in ley Purdum, marketing di-
because of social distanc- tions also has high hopes social distancing can be there" but still concerned rector for Barking Irons, is
ing requirements. for the October-December seen in sales figures — the because dining is limited hoping to break even.
"The fourth quarter was al- period. National Restaurant Associ- by social distancing. With "If we can just remain even
ways the bulk of my busi- But conditions are dicey ation reported that 70% of tables six feet apart, he in a time of pandemic, if
ness," says D'Angelo, who this year. The coronavirus restaurants suffered a drop can serve 65 people at we can hit our same num-
owns Boston Experiential has devastated many small in revenue during August Brewfontaine instead of his bers as last year, we'll be
Group, based in Boston. businesses; it's estimated from a year earlier. full capacity of 100. And he happy," she says.
D'Angelo has had to get that hundreds of thousands Ohio's restrictions forced has to stop serving alcohol Business is down sharply
creative. She's using her already have closed for- Adam Rammel to at least at 10 p.m., four hours earlier during what's normally the
expertise to arrange small ever. Many of the survivors temporarily abandon plans than pre-pandemic. Com- busy season for Tower Press,
gatherings like holiday- are expected to struggle for a catering and event bined revenue from both a manufacturer of promo-
themed dinners and parties further during this quarter, space designed for par- restaurants is down more tional items like pins and
at people's homes, usually especially as cases of the ties, in time for the holi- than a third from where shot glasses. Trade shows
for no more than 10 guests. virus surge in some areas days. Rather than have the Rammel projected it would and conferences have
The fourth quarter is a key of the country. More busi- space sit unused, Rammel be. been canceled, so com-
time for many industries nesses — restaurants and turned it into The Syndi- "I don't think there's any panies no longer need to
and companies of all sizes. retailers in particular — will cate, a restaurant located chance to break even with order giveaways to hand
Some retailers typically ex- likely go out of business if next door to his 5-year-old where we expected to be," out to attendees. q

Report: Iowa’s derecho crop losses increase by more than 50%

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — of up to 140 mph (225 kph) are asking crop insurance
Crop loss estimates from that flattened crops. The adjusters to take another
a rare wind storm that damage then was com- look at their fields after find-
slammed Iowa in August pounded in late summer ing it more difficult than ex-
have increased by more with a drought that, at its pected.
than 50%, a new report peak, encompassed much "Crops can deteriorate,"
shows. of the state. The drought said Naig, who was helping
The U.S. Department of Ag- is again expanding after his father harvest corn in
riculture said Friday that the some September rainfall. northwest Iowa. "It's a really
number of crop acres that Iowa Agriculture Secretary dynamic situation."
Iowa farmers are unable Mike Naig said he expects "I've seen the gamut: Corn
to harvest has grown to the number of lost acres will down, flat as a carpet.
850,000 (343,983 hectares) climb even more as grow- Some leaning. Some half-
from estimates last month ers move deeper into the way down. And some al-
that 550,000 acres (222,577 harvest. Usually, farmers most normal," said Swenka,
hectares) were lost, The Des will try to harvest downed whose crop near Iowa City In this Aug. 20, 2020 file photo, a cornfield damaged in the
Moines Register reported. corn, salvaging what they goes to feed his purebred derecho earlier this month is seen on the Rod Pierce farm near
The storm, known as a can. But Naig said he said black Angus cattle. "I've Woodward, Iowa.
derecho, generated winds he has heard that many had the whole extreme." q Associated Press