Since March 2020, with several colleagues and the students of the Master in Franchising, Retail & Service Chains at IGR-IAE Rennes – University of Rennes 1, we have been working on small businesses in times of Covid-19 crisis. About a hundred professionals of the franchise, retail and service sector have already shared with us their “experiences” in this context of Covid-19 crisis, and more particularly the support received by the small business owners from the different stakeholders and the adaptations and innovations necessary to continue their activities. The first findings of these studies have been synthesized in the form of posters accessible via this link.
In May 2021, we started a new research supported by the French National Research Agency. This study aims to better understand the concerns of small business owners, restaurant owners, hoteliers, bar/coffee owners, fitness center owners, etc. In the first stage, we conduct in-depth interviews with these small business owners, restaurant owners, hoteliers, bar/coffee owners, fitness center owners, etc. In a second step, during winter 2021/2022, we will launch a questionnaire-based survey among these small business owners.
Through this research project, the floor is thus given to small business owners, restaurant owners, hoteliers, bar/coffee owners, fitness center owners, etc.