Afraid to leave your house? Check these businesses out.

There is no doubt that the global pandemic has been a wild time of rampant over reaction and unchecked fear mongering. Have you ever heard of washing our hands, avoiding touching your face, or basic hygiene?  If that isn’t enough, and you feel still unsafe, then wear your mask when you venture outside your nanny-state “bubble”.

But, while the whole world seems to losing it’s collective social-media hooked mind, there are some industries out there that strangely seem to be flourishing. While some of these were able to provide a solution to some of the problems caused by the situation, others were less expected. Let’s take a look at some unusual industries that are currently thriving during this pandemic.

The Online Sex Industry

The sex industry has always been a juggernaut and has shown signs of resilience in the worst of times. But the boost that it’s getting right now thanks to platforms like OnlyFans and Babestation is unprecedented.

Babestation in particular has seen a massive increase in subscriptions and activity since the beginning of the pandemic. While other platforms seem to be more discreet about their approach, Babestation is more straightforward and unapologetic about what it’s trying to be. The site caters primarily to adult webcam fans and allows users to either pay to watch group cam sessions or pay an additional amount to have a one on one moment with some of the providers on the site.  

There have also been lots of talks of celebrities from Amber Rose, to Cardi B, and Katie Price joining OnlyFans, which did a lot not only to popularise the site, but legitimise it as well. It’s important to note, however, that some users are actually using the platform to reach fans and as a way to monetise their fanbase in a time when they can’t do live performances.

Home Improvement Industry

We would expect that, at a time when there’s so much uncertainty about job security and the housing market, people would try to keep investments in their homes to a minimum. However, the industry seems not only to be surviving, but thriving at the moment.

One of the reasons for this is that people are spending more time at home with very few options for entertainment. This also means that they have fewer outlets to spend money on. As a result, many are choosing to invest the money on their property as it gives them a way to both pass the time and appreciate the assets they already have in anticipation of a possible future sale.

One study by Statista found that online sales for gardening and DIY tools increased by 50% just before the restrictions were enacted. One survey that was conducted earlier this year found that 55% of all homeowners in the country were intending to prioritise home improvement projects over the next coming months. The BBC also found that the sale of seeds soared impressively during the month of May of this year, which may indicate that gardening could be growing in popularity as a result of the pandemic.

The Beauty Industry

This is another industry we wouldn’t expect to thrive in times of collective cocooning, but apparently, the beauty sector is doing pretty well at the moment. But, one of the reasons why it’s able to survive is because of one thing no one expected, and that is the rise of virtual parties.

Virtual parties give people the opportunity to feel some sort of social connection and normalcy in isolation. People still want to look great on cam, and that doesn’t only apply to parties either. As more people are using video-conferences to stay connected, a lot are inclined to pay more attention to their appearance so they can always be “camera-ready”.  All of this has prompted a rise in the sale of everything from lash extensions to wigs.

Drive-In Cinemas

Then we have the resurgence of drive-in cinemas. No one would have expected drive-ins to make a comeback. As a matter of fact, some might be surprised that they still exist, but they’re clearly having a comeback, and it could be more lasting than we imagine. 

The main reason for this is of course the restrictions on movie theatres, but they were already beginning to struggle before this. A whole new generation of moviegoers is now being introduced to the joys of drive-ins. This also allows families to have an excuse to get out while still being safe. As a matter of fact, this could be the only pandemic-proof form of public entertainment left.

Drive-ins are also being considered as concert venues, which could give ideas to promoters looking for ways to generate revenue in these disastrous times for the entertainment industry.

Coffee Subscription Companies

While no one may have expected that the coronavirus pandemic would be such a windfall for coffee subscription companies, it’s easy to see why when we look at the reality on the ground. Fewer people going out and restrictions on density in enclosed spaces mean that getting your coffee at the nearest Starbucks is now even more of a hassle than it already was. Doing work at your corner coffee shop is also out of the question. Many coffee companies are also not prepared or don’t have a product that is tailored to delivery.

Services that send select beans to their subscribers seem to be the ones doing the best. We can think of services like Blue Coffee Box, Union Roasted, or The Coffee Factory, among others. Many shops have also decided to pivot and package their own beans and blends. There’s also a growing movement towards homemade everything at the moment, and this is another trend we can expect will outlive the pandemic.

As we can see, there’s always a bright side to every story, even scary global pandemics. At times like these, there is really no choice but to try to find ways to adapt, and these sectors all provide a great opportunity to those who’d like to reinvent themselves.