Like almost everyone, I am excited to throw away my 2020 calendars and put up the 2021 calendars. It’s been a rough year, one that has forced many businesses to look at nearly every product and service, as well as staffing levels and other expenses.
We look to the 2021 tourism economy with a measured amount of optimism. We expect that the winter high season for visitors will be anemic, but as we move to spring we’ll see some positive numbers. Summer could be huge for the tourism industry due to the pent-up demand for travel.
We will see the return of some of our marquee events in Kona. This includes the Ironman World Championships, the International Billfish Tournament, the Wahine Fishing Tournament, the Queen Liliuokalani Canoe Races, and perhaps some other half-marathons and sporting events. I also expect that we’ll see some, though not many, incentive travel groups to the Kohala resort area.
At Kona Impact, we are well-positioned for the coming year. We now have a new UV flatbed printer, two (one new) wide-format printers, and a specialized label printer. These allow us to have an exceptionally quick turnaround on most projects, with many projects ready in a day from artwork approval.
In addition to our signage products, we will be offering the following new products in 2021:
- Custom printed tumblers, water bottles, and wine cups
- Personalized golf balls
- A range of unique, Hawaii-themed gift products
As part of our year-end review, we are looking at some new products and services for 2021. There are also a few low-margin products that we stop making next year.
I hear the word “pivot” a lot for talking about running businesses in these challenging times. While I think businesses should always be pivoting, it is, perhaps, more important than ever to remain nimble and future-focused.
We wish all our clients–present and future–a relaxing and restorative holiday season. We will be closed on December 24 & 25, as well as December 31 and January 1.
January is typically our busiest month of the year, so if you want to get to the front of the line, we recommend reaching out to us in the next few weeks. 329-6077.
