Service Sector in the Era of Covid-19: Emerging Consumer Trends and Service Design Adaptations

This paper explores the disruptive industry and consumer trends that have emerged in the services sector due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Adopting a multi-method approach utilizing secondary data, case studies, and interviews, we examine how service providers realigned their business practices to survive and thrive in these chaotic circumstances. We illustrate innovative solutions and discuss emerging models using several mini-case studies across airline, fitness, restaurant, office fulfillment/replenishing, and other service sectors. © 2022, Rutgers Business School. All rights reserved.

Rising on the Storm: A Comparison of the Characteristics of Entrepreneurs and New Ventures During and Before the Covid-19 Pandemic

This study examines unique characteristics of newly-minted businesses and outlines emerging challenges for starting a new business during a pandemic. Business origination more than tripled in 2020 compared to 2019 and is on track to set another record in 2021. While “covidginated” businesses are more likely to be based on hobbies and have a social mission, “covidpreneurs” indicated relatively low level of technology readiness. Availability and access to capital, time, and talent pool were identified as contributing factors to forming a business amidst the pandemic. The authors derive a taxonomy of covidginated businesses via cluster analysis and discuss policy implications. © 2021, Rutgers Business School. All rights reserved.