A new (and welcome) challenge

INC. THIS MORNING A new (and welcome) challenge Good morning, During the pandemic, business slowed at Catcher's, a seasonal restaurant in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The pace was so slow that owner Roland Buckingham and his son, Paynter, passed the time between filling takeout orders of crab legs and shrimp tacos by playing chess all night. Now, Buckingham faces a new, albeit welcome, challenge: Thanks to the CDC's surprise easing of mask and social distancing restrictions last week, vaccinated customers are returning in droves to businesses once hit hardest by the pandemic, such as gyms, restaurants, spas, and others in the travel and hospitality industries. Catcher's sales are up 100 percent compared to late spring of 2019 as customers are splurging on missed in-person experiences, like shared meals with friends. However, the restaurant currently has just six employees--and Buckingham's typical talent pool has dried up, as so many businesses have begun scrambling to staff up. His problems aren’t unique: Pent-up demand for in-person services and experiences has led to sudden nationwide hiring difficulties. Read our story to learn the strategies business owners are using to patch their talent gaps--including pricing changes, tech additions, staff initiatives, and more. SPONSORED CONTENT Take $30 Off Your First Purple Carrot Box With Code INC30! Purple Carrot provides convenient, delicious, and 100 percent plant-based meals, delivered directly to your door. Spice up your cooking routine and take $30 off your first box with code INC30! JOIN US ON CLUBHOUSE: Epic Games v. Apple is the trial of the decade and could have implications for Silicon Valley, developers, and small business. Get the inside scoop from a founder who testified in the trial, legal experts, and reporters who have been following the weeks of testimony at this event. Thursday, May 20, 2021, 3:00 pm Eastern Time View the event on Clubhouse. Pitch your company to Inc. editors and reporters looking for their next big story. Get feedback on your elevator pitch and a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how to get your business online or in the magazine. Thursday, May 20, 2021, 5:00 pm Eastern Time View the event on Clubhouse. HERE'S WHAT ELSE I'M READING TODAY: Hate networking? A new book offers other ways to form meaningful relationships. --Inc. On this week’s Founders Project podcast: This health care startup’s efforts to help historically underserved neighborhoods are finally gaining traction. --Inc. Small-business owners drew further on loans against their homes for cash during the pandemic, according to a new Federal Reserve study. --Yahoo Finance Amazon is lifting its mask mandate for some fully-vaccinated U.S. employees. --CNN Watch: How an unshakable mission helped Noom become a wildly popular health app. --Inc. ONE MORE THING: This one management mistake causes daily worry, stress, and anxiety in employees. --Inc. --Cameron Albert-Deitch Reporter, Inc. How are we doing? Send me ideas and feedback at calbertdeitch@inc.com, and sign up for daily text messages from me. Join the visionaries who choose Inc. as their trusted source for the most accurate reporting on business. Join Inc. Unlimited today. Click here to forward to a friend. This email was sent by: Mansueto Ventures 7 World Trade Center, 29th Floor New York, NY, 10007, Unsubscribe • Update Profile • View in Browser • Privacy Policy