From daily challenges to community initiatives - local business owners talk all things survival during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Thanks to the current Coronavirus pandemic, business has been slow here in Bali. Families are struggling to get by, businesses are fighting to stay afloat, and we’re all scrambling for different ways to help support each other and our local communities.
While this narrative reads the same for almost everyone around the world right now, the day-to-day challenges and personal battles are different for us all. So, to reconnect with our communities and to share a little insight into the lives of local personalities, we spoke to some of our fave expats and local business owners in Bali to talk about the ‘new normal’ during the virus pandemic; everything from business strategies and community initiatives, to epic podcasts to help pass the time.
Sophie: Creative Director of SOUQ
Meet Sophie – a long-time Australian expat who, together with her husband Peter, founded SOUQ – Bali’s curated lifestyle store and cafe combo. Sophie acts as Creative Director, buying from and working with local artisans to create pieces for the store. Her talent and passion for cooking is the foundation of SOUQ Café for which she also creates the menu and recipes.
What is the biggest challenge for you and SOUQ right now?
There is no one in Bali, so business in our store and cafe has come to a grinding halt. Without exception, our biggest challenge is figuring out how to support our staff. We have resigned any hopes of making profit or drawing personal salaries and are focussed purely on how to maintain any income for staff. Many of our staff have partners and family members who have been put on unpaid leave so then the burden of supporting them with the only income in the family becomes even greater. To the extent that we are still operating, we are also concerned about ensuring the optimum health of our staff who are coming to work.
Are there any initiatives you’ve introduced to combat these?
We usually serve fresh-baked organic pastries and cakes in our cafe but we are now preparing everything for home delivery. We have shifted the focus of our menu to a greater diversity of recipes, portions that work for both singles and families, food that can be rebaked and reheated so that people can buy in bulk and freeze it for later which also gives them some reassurance that they can bake off any germs they might be worried about. It sounds like a simple shift in focus but it really is like creating a new business; from recipes and training, sourcing and ordering, packaging and delivery methods, it’s all new ground. In addition, in order to execute this, we can only have limited numbers of staff on site to protect them through social distancing.
SOUQ is also soon to launch a fundraising campaign to support the decimated Bali economy.
What are your Bali days currently looking like?
Very unfamiliar. We are trying to maintain some semblance of routine but it’s difficult when there’s both so much going on and at the same time nothing going on! We are still going into work each day (it takes about a fifth of the time to get in there with the sparse traffic – the one great boon of this experience) but our usually bustling communal table in the cafe has now become a work table for our kids who are home-schooling, us working on our computers and a packaging station for food deliveries. Our work days are a lot shorter since we close the cafe early now and once the deliveries are done, we go straight back home. There are none of the usual stops for a cardio class, walks on the beach (which are closed), pop-ins to see friends or thoughts about where we might grab dinner, but we are fortunate enough to have a lovely garden to luxuriate in at sunset.
Who or what is bringing you good island vibes right now?
There’s a core group of people amongst our friends and in our industry that have chosen to stay in Bali, despite the likelihood that they would be better-supported financially by going home and would then be with their families. Their commitment to helping their staff and community as well as the support we have given each other by sharing information and stories has been the good stuff. An inspiring group of people with integrity. The Balinese people who are in an extraordinarily difficult situation, unlike any they have faced before (including the bombings and earthquakes) are so resilient – they are really suffering but you rarely hear complaints.That is an infectious motivation to keep going.
Apart from this, I’be been streaming ’The Class by Taryn Toomey’ (for cardio, mediation and yoga set to great music – get into it) and online Masterclasses – it’s like getting a degree online in subjects you love whilst being entertained at the same time.
What local businesses are you supporting over this time?
We’re buying delivery meals from our friends’ restaurants to support them but we’re also supporting our local farmers, suppliers and small businesses by trying to buy all our food needs from them rather than bigger supermarkets and suppliers.
We also have suppliers in the garment and craft industry who have no work and we’re giving financial donations to them.
As mentioned above, SOUQ is launching an assistance initiative soon through a fundraising campaign.
What are you looking forward to most, post COVID-19?
I can barely imagine what that looks like right now… but the first things that spring to mind are getting dressed in some glad rags and going out for dinner; exercise classes; and visiting family and friends back home.
Jean: Threads of Life
After travelling through Indonesia with her husband William in 1998, the idea for Threads of Life was born. Now, working directly with indigenous producers of environmentally sustainable, heirloom-quality textiles and using local materials and all-natural dyes, Threads of Life creates a bridge between buyers and creators of authentic Indonesian ikat.
What is the biggest challenge for you and your business right now?
The biggest challenge right now is maintaining, or often re-finding, my inner balance. The biggest challenge to my inner balance is working out how to keep paying forty staff whose family’s have no financial safety net beyond the salary we can pay them: we have very little income with which to pay salaries and limited cash to keep the business going. But without maintaining my centre, I won’t be able to make the best choices.
Are there any initiatives you’ve introduced to get you through?
The two main pivots in our business are to build an online retail presence, and to expand the commercial production capacity of our natural dye studio. The staff collectively decided to take pay cuts rather than have some staff laid off, so we have decided to go as far as we can through this all together. And that sense of mutual support is very empowering for all of us. Where reduced salaries might make it hard for some to pay bills and buy food, we can have people grow food for themselves on work time and have taken more than half (1000 square meters) of our dye plant garden and turned it over to food production. For keeping balance, which is not just something I am struggling with, many of us in the organisation are all falling back on our yoga practices and reiki training. For the last year we have had a yoga teacher give a twice-weekly afternoon class at the office to anyone who wanted to join. We also had two trainings of reiki. So there are a number of staff who are practicing yoga and reiki at home.
What are your Bali days currently looking like?
Meditation, yoga, breakfast; marketing for the online store and natural dye studio; lunch; more marketing work; swim, dinner, call my Mum in the UK; bedtime; repeat!
Who or what is bringing you good island vibes right now?
I am very lucky to live in a place with a woodland and a swimming pool on the property. Just getting out and spending time in nature is the most soothing thing in the day. And I can do this without breaking any social distancing guidance!
What local businesses are you supporting over this time?
From a business point of view, keeping our marketing presence going is central, so that means keeping our support for Elami & Co, the local business that does our social media. From home, it’s two bakeries: Bali Buda and Seniman Coffee, both in Ubud.
What are you looking forward to most, post COVID-19?
Two things stand out: being with family and going for long walks!
Gede: Owner of 2befit, Secret Penida & Coco Penida
A local entrepreneur originally from Nusa Penida (Bali’s little sister island), Gede is the face of health and fitness in Bali. As Head Trainer for his fitness brand and restaurateur for two healthy cafes on Nusa Penida, Gede has homegrown his locally-owned businesses. He’s even opening his own gym on Nusa Penida later in 2020 – watch this space.
What is the biggest challenge for you and your businesses right now?
Obviously the Coronavirus itself is the biggest challenge at the moment for me and everyone in the community. And from a business perspective, it’s the suspension of tourist arrivals, the large-scale social distancing guidelines (including government regulations for restaurants to only allow takeaways and deliveries), and the recent suspension of boat travel to Nusa Penida where my cafes, Secret Penida and Coco Penida, are located.
Are there any initiatives you’ve introduced to get you through?
For 2befit, I’m offering at-home workouts for anyone social distancing and isolating. I’m also sharing positive news across my social media channels, from pictures of beautiful ocean and garden views from my restaurants, to offering recipe ideas for home cooking, and motivational workouts to keep everyone exercising. I’ve also opened one of my restaurants for takeaways and delivery.
What are your Bali days currently looking like?
Mostly staying at home and cooking with my family, and exercising in my garden.
Who or what is bringing you good island vibes right now?
Definitely Netflix and reading books which I previously never had time to do.
What local businesses are you supporting over this time?
I have two restaurants in Nusa Penida; Coco Penida and Secret Penida – both are run by local staff, so my priority is keeping these up and running. I’m personally a Head Coach of 2befit, and next month, I had planned to open the doors to 2befit Penida Gym -but it seems this will be delayed for a bit. I’m also support local families with virtual workouts, and sending them food once a week.
What are you looking forward to most, post COVID-19?
Everyone travelling to Bali again!
Naomi: Co-founder of The Dose
A Canadian/Kiwi expat and co-founder of The Dose, Naomi helped bring the island’s first mobile vitamin IV therapy service into being back in 2015. A dog lover on a mission to find the island’s perfect cinnamon bun, Naomi regularly balances business with community-loving support – even before the Coronavirus pandemic reared its ugly head.
What’s the biggest challenge for you and The Dose right now?
For a while, The Dose wasn’t in too bad a situation since we generally treat people in their homes, one-on-one with IVs. And being in healthcare, we already have hygiene protocols. Even so, we ramped up the patient screening questions so we could operate safely for as long as possible, but we ultimately decided to temporarily close in late March until it’s safe to re-open.
Are there any initiatives you’ve introduced to get you through?
To keep busy, we’ve been working with Support Bali to help fundraise and produce PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for local healthcare workers. We’ve donated hundreds of face shields, surgical masks, and hazmat suits to the hospitals and clinics that are running short. If you’d like to support this effort, please send an email to [email protected].
We’ve also introduced telemedicine with our GPs, so people can message and book doctor video consults, and we’ll also help arrange prescriptions. This can be done through Whatsapp (+62 821 3137 0688).
What are your Bali days currently looking like?
I’ve been baking and cooking a lot more! Turns out sourdough starters really like this heat. We’re also redoing The Dose website with an agency in Australia, so that’s been keeping me busy, as well as just catching up on admin. I’ve been staying home as much as possible, but taking the dogs for walks around the neighbourhood twice a day keeps me sane.
Who or what is bringing you good island vibes right now?
My friend Erin used to teach pilates here and now does it from her new home in California. My weekly Thursday morning Zoom class with her has been a fun way to feel connected (just send her a message if you want to join). I’ve also been using an app called FitOn for fitness videos. Reading has been a struggle for me recently, I think it’s just been hard to tear myself away from the news. Podcasts are still manageable, though. Some of my favourites are: Reply All (their recent episodes with calls from people around the world affected by Coronavirus have been inspiring), The Drive (some of the best discussions around the science of the virus, they’re fascinating), Today Explained (general in-depth news) and The High Low, which couldn’t have returned from hiatus at a better time thanks to the culture chats and book recommendations.
What local businesses are you supporting over this time?
We are SO lucky here with all the fresh produce and cafes we still have access to. One of our Dose nurses comes from a family who has a farm in Bedugul that usually supplies hotels and restaurants in Ubud. We’ve been ordering vegetables from them, and it’s been so much better than the grocery stores. These can be ordered from Martini on Whatsapp (+62 857 3747 7767). And until we figure out how to make our own bread, sourdough loaves from Farine are a must. For cloth face masks (now required in Indonesia when leaving the house), I love The Paws range, which also helps a good cause. When ordering in Bali, you can message them on Instagram, and they’ll deliver by Go-Jek.
What are you looking forward to most, post COVID-19?
Travel! And the little things we took for granted – being able to hug friends, sit on the beach with a coconut, and work from a cafe.
Gypsy: Co-owner of The Shady Shack & Betelnut Cafe
Co-owner of two of Bali’s most popular cafes, Gypsy helped kickstart the Canggu cafe craze before it was even on the map. With Australian roots and a history of living overseas for most of her life, Gypsy is now a long-time Bali expat and much-loved local personality.
What is the biggest challenge for you, Betelnut and The Shady Shack right now?
The uncertainty of how long this Coronavirus and its travel restrictions and lockdowns will last. Of course, having no income for an uncertain amount of time can be quite stressful. Our staff have been very good to us for the past few years and we want to make sure they don’t suffer during this time and still have a salary to tide them over until we have a better idea of when things will return to normal.
Are there any initiatives you’ve introduced to get you through?
Our staff have been given the option to work or not whilst we are open for takeaway and delivery. Those who want to work are on a two-week-on, two-week-off roster.
What are your Bali days currently looking like?
My days are certainly a lot slower at the moment but I’m actually enjoying the change of pace and trying to stay positive that things will return to normal in the not so distant future. Having almost completed a villa project, this extra time has allowed me to get creative again and enjoy doing the interiors with a lot less stress. When I’m not at the project, I’m reading, spending time with my dogs, exercising, cooking and eating far too much 😉
Who or what is bringing you good island vibes right now?
My friends who decided to stay on the island have been amazing. Every one of them has been extremely positive, relaxed and considerate. They have also pitched in to help the locals in their communities and businesses.
What local businesses are you supporting over this time?
The expats who live in my area have all gathered and donated food, water and other essential items to the local families that are most in need in our greater residential area.
What are you looking forward to most, post COVID-19?
Travelling again and spending time with my family.
Will Lovejoy: Founder of Lacalongtime Group
With not one but three legendary Mexican cantinas on the island, Will is the notoriously wild and much-admired owner and founder of the Lacalongtime Group – the parent of Lacalaca in Seminyak, Lacalita in Canggu, and Lacasita in Ubud. With more than 25 years of cheffing under his belt – and a longstanding love for Mexican food – it’s no surprise that Lacalongtime is still going strong almost 8 years later.
What is the biggest challenge for you and your Laca locations right now?
Apart from the fear and dread that this global pandemic has wrought on society, the decimation of the tourist industry that may take years to recover and that the beaches are barricaded, I’d say the short supply and corresponding price hike of onions is top of the list at the moment.
Are there any initiatives you’ve introduced to get you through?
Well, we’re running a fastidious approach to disinfection and sanitisation of work spaces, workers and guests. And on the offering front, we have a short menu for takeaway/delivery, Weekly Feasts to send a bit of cheer to everyone isolating at home and we’re also introducing a pantry list of ingredients– things like our homemade tortillas, meatballs in sauce and bottles of pre-mixed margarita. As for the onions, we’re on local shallots… takes a while to peel a bag but time is one thing we have loads of!
What are your Bali days currently looking like?
Like a kitchen sink – where did all these dishes come from?! Was I always this messy? So apart from endless cleaning, a bit of exercise, hanging at home and indulging in arts and crafts with my wife and daughter, listening to 50 years of Play School on repeat – oh yeah!
Who or what is bringing you good island vibes right now?
I’ve recently got into crosswords but I don’t recommend it – it’s slowly and inexorably driving me and anyone around me insane.
Any local businesses you’re supporting during this time?
Alive Wholefoods, Bali Buda, and Souq home delivery
What are you looking forward to most, post COVID-19?
Getting the hell off this island!
