Entrepreneurs responding to the COVID-19 crisis: evidence from Ireland


 The aim of this paper is to explore the impact that the initial stages of the COVID-19 crisis had on entrepreneurs. We present the experiences of fifteen entrepreneurs. The data was collected, using interviews. We focus on the impact that the temporary business closures which were introduced had on the entrepreneurs’ ability and propensity to continue. The interviews took place during a period of great uncertainty for the entrepreneurs and at times when their availability was extremely limited. We present data characterising the entrepreneurs; their experience during atime of crisis; and the enablers and disablers to the continuation of their entrepreneurial journey. Our analysis is based on four themes from the literature: the psychological wellbeing of the entrepreneurs; their changing attitudes to entrepreneurship; the changes they made to their business; and the supports that they needed. The outcome is novel insights into the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.

(April -September 2000) of the COVID-19 restrictions on business activity. We begin by examining the issues associated with crisis episodes in entrepreneurship, as it relates to the emergent literature on COVID-19. Then we present evidence from the interviews with the fifteen entrepreneurs and finally, we present our conclusions, recommendations and future research directions.

ENTREPRENEURS AND CRISIS EPISODES
The business community, specifically, entrepreneurs, have during 2020-2021 operated in a volatile business environment. They will again face significant uncertainty in 2022. Spillan and Hough (2003) warn that not only can a crisis adversely impact business owners and entrepreneurs, it can destroy the business entity and wreak havoc on suppliers, customers, partners, competitors, families and the community in which the business is based. The literature on crisis episodes and entrepreneurial activity is limited, but notable articles include: Spillan and Hough (2003), Papaoikonomou et al. (2012), Doern et al., (2019); and Brown et al. (2020). Giones et al. (2020) explain that although the COVID-19 crisis impacts all types of economic activity, public support programs tend to prioritize and protect established and/or larger organizations. Furthermore, Brown et al. (2020) report that the attention of policy makers and support agencies has centered on the immediate impacts that the COVID-19 crisis has had for existing businesses, in terms of their ability to maintain staffing levels, avoid cash-flow problems and prevent widespread bankruptcies in the wake of the lockdown.
The literature has struggled to fully comprehend how entrepreneurial activity is upended, mediated and realigned by crisis episodes, especially when they are global in nature (Doern et al., 2019;Herbane, 2010). Indeed, research on the impact of crisis events for entrepreneurs is sparse, and often narrow in focus. This is despite the fact that entrepreneurs and their businesses are often the most disadvantaged by crisis episodes (Ratten 2020). An important factor in understanding the impact that temporary, government restrictions have on small business and entrepreneurs is understanding the cost of a crisis and how it creates barriers and perceived obstacles for those who wish to continue (Hegarty et al., 2020). The financial strain, in many cases, leaves entrepreneurs with the issue of survival (Dimov, 2010;Simmons et al. 2014). This is both a formal barrier to continuation but also an informal barrier as it may result in risk aversion. Jenkins et al. (2014) caution that while business problems can provide valuable lessons this can come with a high emotional and financial cost, causing negative psychological effects for the entrepreneur. Furthermore, research suggests that entrepreneurs tend to exhibit high levels of psychological stress (Fowle 2019;Freeman et al. 2019). Significantly, according to Shepherd and Haynie (2011), the grief and negative emotions felt by entrepreneurs who experience failure can obstruct their future engagement with business and entrepreneurial activity.
In contrast, Hayward et al. (2010) and Corner et al. (2017) report that despite the trauma that comes with business problems, entrepreneurs often exhibit resilience. Resilience can be defined as the process of coping with stressors and change, enabling individuals to bounce back after experiencing a failure (Richardson 2002;Hayward et al. 2010;Bullough and Renko, 2013). Jenkins et al. (2014) suggest that entrepreneurs develop psychological capital after experiencing a crisis. Luthans and Youssef-Morgan, (2017) and Franco et al. (2020) present evidence that financial, operational and environmental factors have a significant influence over entrepreneurial resilience. In addition, entrepreneurs who display social resilience have a better ability to maintain and build upon relationships which might have been damaged due to a failed venture (Hayward et al. 2010). Resilience is important as it allows not only facilitates recovery but also learning.
There is an emergent, albeit small body of research on the short-term impacts that the restrictions imposed in response to COVID-19 have had on entrepreneurs. Our review of the literature indicates that entrepreneurs are vulnerable to periods of crisis because they lack key business resources (staff, finance, ICT based solutions etc.). There is evidence reported in the literature of the resilience of entrepreneurs and of the potential for valuable learning to emerge from crisis episodes. Our review of articles which deal specifically with entrepreneurs and the COVID-19 crisis (Bartik et al. 2020;Brown et al., 2020;Cowling et al., 2020;He and Harris, 2020;Kuckertz et al., 2020;Liguori and Pittz, 2020;Nummela et al., 2020;Papadopoulos et al., 2020;Ratten, 2020;Stephens et al., 2021a) indicates that studies on the impact of COVID-19 should examine four key themes: the psychological impact; the attitude of entrepreneurs; the changes that occur in their business activities; and the supports that are needed. Therefore, in our discussion section we present an overview of the key findings as they relate to the four themes identified in the literature.

METHODOLOGY
Authors including Low and McMillian (1998) and Breslin (2008) have proposed that the challenge for future entrepreneurship research is to continue to move towards explaining rather than documenting entrepreneurial phenomenon. However, we argue that the unique circumstances that have resulted from the COVID-19 crisis requires empirical work that is exploratory (Ratten, 2020) and that adopts a narrative based approach to reporting how COVID-19 has changed the lives of entrepreneurs (Nummela et al., 2020). The novelty of our study is based on the fact that we interviewed entrepreneurs five times over a period of six months. During this period the entrepreneurs faced a range of unique challenges. The imposition of business restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic saw all non-essential businesses close, then partially reopen, in many cases with significantly different business model and operating system. Given the motives for becoming an entrepreneur are often multifaceted semi-structured interviews are an appropriate way of capturing the complexity of the process. The interview schedule was devised after a review of the literature and was sent to participants prior to the interviews. The interviews explored the entrepreneurs experience of the crisis, motivations for continuing, current activities and the types of supports that they need.
The methodology was designed to be responsive to the changing economic situation and the level of restrictions. The interviews were conducted at five stages. Each of the five stages correspond to a different level of economic and social activity being permitted. Therefore, there was some variation in the questions used in each interview.

TIMELINE OF RESTRICTIONS/INTERVIEWS
Stage 1: Week beginning March 16 th . A nationwide lockdown was introduced. All non-essential businesses were closed. Movement was restricted to 5km. There was limited business activity due to restricted supply-chains and a lack of online capacity.
Stage 2: Week beginning May 5 th . Some businesses had transitioned to an online model with social media-based marketing driving limited sales. The Government published its plan to reopen the economy on a phased basis.
Stage 3: Week beginning June 8 th . Phase 2 of reopening had commenced. Non-essential retail was open for click and collect. Food and beverages were available for outside dining and indoor for hotel residents.
Stage 4: Week beginning July 7 th . Phase 3 of Reopening (with some local lockdowns in place). Businesses that reopened did so with new: systems, on-site layouts and modified offerings. Businesses based on personal services i.e. hairdressers remained closed.
Stage 5: Week beginning August 25 th . the majority of businesses had (re)opened but in a restricted capacity. Schools had also reopened. There was an expectation that society and the economy would operate in the "new normal" until such time as a vaccination programme was implemented. Brush et al. (2009) argue that exploring the entrepreneurial narrative can make a unique contribution to our understanding of the phenomenon. Indeed, Smith (2009) explains that to be made meaningful for others, experiences, values, and achievements must be communicated to others via language, narrative and storytelling. Therefore, narrative structuring (Kvale 2006;Roundy 2016) was used to create a coherent story of the entrepreneurs' experiences. The interviews were conducted online via MS Teams or Zoom. The entrepreneurs were all based in Ireland. Each interview lasted on average 20 minutes. The total interview time was circa one hour and forty-five minutes for each entrepreneur. Although our study is novel in approach other studies have used multiple interviews over time to study micro firms and entrepreneurship (Crick, 2011;Jaskiewicz et al., 2015;Kelliher et al., 2020). The interviews were recorded, transcribed with note taking in line with recommendations from (Bryman, 2012;Saunders et al., 2015). The unit of analysis is an individual who had experienced a temporary business closure. Criterion sampling was applied. All the entrepreneurs: 1) had experienced business restrictions due to COVID-19; 2) had (re)started successfully; and 3) expected to continue in business during the remainder of 2020. Due to the sensitive nature of the topic and time constraints many potential participants declined to participate. A profile of the participants is provided in Table 1. Pseudonyms are used to ensure anonymity and to enhance the authenticity of the emergent narrative. Eight of the entrepreneurs are male and seven are female. Their ages range from thirty up to sixty. The primary business of the entrepreneurs was in existence for between one and thirty years. Six of the entrepreneurs have completed higher education and the rest have completed second level (up to the leaving certificate or equivalent). The entrepreneurs can be classified by five business types with three from each industry. Two of the businesses did not close during the restrictions. One was deemed essential (cleaning) and the other is an online consultancy which required minimal operational adjustment. Four businesses were able to restructure and reopen after six weeks. Seven reopened after twelve weeks and two after sixteen weeks.

FINDINGS
The findings from the interviews are presented for each of the five stages:

Stage 1: Interviews Week March 16 th Lockdown started
We began by asking the entrepreneurs about their immediate reaction to the imposition of restrictions. As the following quotes suggest, many were in shock:

It hasn't sunk in yet. I can't see how they can keep us closed, my members will be going up the walls. (Lorraine)
These quotes provide insight into the broader societal reaction to the initial imposition of restrictions. During this initial interview there was no expectation of an extended period of closure. Indeed, there was no certainty regarding the duration of the pandemic. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, government and support agencies have focused on the short-term impacts on entrepreneurs . We then asked the entrepreneurs about what impact they expected the restrictions to have on them. For many it was an opportunity to pause, reflect and reassess: It is interesting that the entrepreneurs acknowledged that they needed a "break" during which they planned to focus on other priorities and during which they could reassess their work/life balance. Next, we asked the entrepreneurs what resources and supports had they used and/or planned to use. Initially, and perhaps linked to the shock, the entrepreneurs turned to customers, other entrepreneurs and business managers in an attempt to gain a shared understanding:

Just talking with my clients and seeing what they think will happen. (Emma) Chatting (online) with other owners and seeing what way they are handling things. (Breda)
This approach highlights the reliance of entrepreneurs on peers and informal business networks for both support and information. We then asked the entrepreneurs in what ways could the government support them. There was no clear idea other than a desire for information and an indicative timeline:

We need to know what is happening. (Greg)
When will we be back? (Rory) The absence of a clear set of needs, indicates the uniqueness of situation. Interestingly, finance is not cited by the entrepreneurs but rather there is need for information that is clear and credible. The key observation from the first set of interviews is the initial shock that the entrepreneurs felt and their inability to comprehend the future. There was a sense of life almost standing still. However, many of the entrepreneurs used stage 1 as an opportunity to reflect on their business and adapt, while others used the time to engage in non-business-related activities.

Stage 2: Interviews Week May 5 th (Re)opening Plan published
At the start of the second set of interviews we asked the entrepreneurs how they and their business were impacted by the restrictions. At this point, many of the business remained closed and there was a sense of frustration: We have moved to a take-away system. It works okay … but we can't move in that direction forever. (Pat) Frustrations manifested themselves both in the restrictions on normal life and also on business activities. There was frustration at the closures and concern that the business may not survive. Even for those who were "open" there was concern about the long-term implications. For some of the entrepreneurs, the closure of their business reinforced how important the business was to them. For others, it offered them an opportunity to reflect on the impact (often negative) that being an entrepreneur has had on their family life and lifestyle. The need for subsidies and grants captures the vulnerability of the businesses. Many already operating on tight margins could not absorb the additional operating costs. Managing staffing levels and costs are a key element of creating a sustainable margin for a small business. Many operate in a competitive market, which in normal times has low barriers to entry. The entrepreneurs were next asked what advice they would give to others who have seen their business close. Some of the practical ideas, relating to improving business operations, included:

It shows how important the business is to me and how much I love being in the
Talk to the bank and figure out the bills and wages (Pat).
Chat to XXXX at XX Cleaning Services there is so much to be done before you reopen. It could be argued that these ideas are not unique to a crisis situation, for instance the development of online activities should have already been underway. During this stage, it was obvious the entrepreneurs were experiencing stress and frustration. This was as a result of the unknown and the financial implications of being closed. At this point, receiving support from financial institutions and government bodies was imperative for the entrepreneurs to ensure they could (re)open.

Stage 3: Interviews Week June 8 th Phase 2 of (Re)opening
At the start of this round of interviews we asked the entrepreneurs about their experiences of (re)opening and/or preparing to reopen. The following quotes highlight the challenges the entrepreneurs experienced: Having struggled while their business was closed, the entrepreneurs continued to face difficulties as they reopened. Different products and services were better suited to the limitations of reopening. This created a sense of inequality and frustration. This frustration was amplified by the entrepreneurs benchmarking their activities against those of pre-COVID times. Acceptance of an emerging "new normal" was absent during stage 3. The entrepreneurs sought support in two ways. First, from other business owners and second from engagement with their financial institution.

I am contacting other businesses and checking what they are doing. XXXX has a really good set-up but they have a car park. Being a restaurant on the main street is very tricky now. (Pat)
We have everything paused with the banks. But in September we will need to talk to them again because we don't have the same income any more. (Greg) Next, we asked the entrepreneurs how they felt the government/community/others could provide support to them. The responses highlight two key needs. First, the entrepreneurs needed help with additional operational costs and second, they required assistance with promotions and incentives to nudge customers back into their old habits and routines: We are spending way more on housekeeping. If I push up the room rates I will have no guests. We need tax relief on cleaning products and money to buy purifiers. (

We need Board Failte to push for staycations and get as many people into this county as possible. I am way behind and need to be fully booked this month. (Aisling)
The key issue highlighted during this stage is how quickly consumer habits can change and that consumers did not on mass return to previous consumption patterns when the opportunity arose. Next, we asked the entrepreneurs to provide advice to others who were (re)opening their business. Interestingly, the entrepreneurs focused on operations, cost savings and resource management: The experience of (re)opening brought additional stress and costs for the entrepreneurs. They also had to deal with a consumer base that had different levels of adherence to the guidelines and different levels of concerns about the virus. They sought support from fellow entrepreneurs, engaging with them to gain an understanding of how they were adapting their business models. The additional cost of staffing their business along with the stringent processes required to adapt the business to comply with the COVID-19 restrictions were areas in which the entrepreneurs felt they needed support.

Stage 4: Interviews Week July 7 th Phase 3 of (Re)opening
At start of the interviews we asked the entrepreneurs about their experiences of (re)opening. Two of the entrepreneurs had not (re)opened because they had taken up employment in retail and needed additional time to redesign their work schedules. This may be indicative of a pattern of entrepreneurial exit that merits further study. With exit during this period needs to be studied at both an individual and firm level (Parastuty, 2018). At this stage the entrepreneurs reported a greater sense of positivity as they had (re)opened and were starting to gain momentum. Entrepreneurs constantly work to adapt and modify their offerings and there is evidence that during stage 4 this was the focus (once a credible future pattern of activity was established). Finally, we asked the entrepreneurs what advice would they give to others who were (re)opening their business.

Spend lots of time with your staff. Once they are happy and feel safe everything else will sort itself out. (Pat) Keep checking in on your customers and don't just ring them to sell something, start by offering them help. (Tom) Get your clients to commit to a six-week plan. Get them back in a routine and money coming in. (Shaun)
The entrepreneurs were motivated and positive at this stage. They had accepted the new business environment; taken inspiration from other business owners; responded to new customer needs; and the new needs of their existing customers. The support they most needed was keeping the economy open at this point. Having adapted their businesses, most were happy with how the business was performing, they were busy and enjoying being open again.

Stage 5: Interviews Week Aug 25 th New Normal in Operation (Schools (re)open)
The final set of interviews took place in late August. At this time all the businesses had reopened, albeit under very different circumstances. At the start of the interviews we asked the entrepreneurs to reflect on their experiences over the previous six months. The majority of the entrepreneurs saw a positive future, even those who were less optimistic about the economic outlook were committed to continuing their entrepreneurial journey.

If we can stay open then I think our trade will be okay. The bar is doing well and we have better staffing levels.
We really need to get back to weddings. (Greg)

I am very busy and have found ways of working with customers to keep things busy. (Lorraine)
The gym is taking off. People just want somewhere to go and we have a cool community here. (Shaun) I am not sure what will happen but as long as our take-away isn't closed then we will keep going. (Pat) We asked the entrepreneurs about the key business and/or life lessons that they had learnt. Many had taken time to evaluate their business, to gain new ideas and to focus on what really works in their business. From a negative came a positive. Many of the entrepreneurs had new, leaner business models which were better aligned with evolving consumer needs. Where appropriate online sales and service provision had been developed resulting in new customers.

Just having a clinic (building), you can miss out on so many clients. The amount (of clients) I have now for online consultations is brilliant. (Lorraine)
Finally, we asked the entrepreneurs about their expectations for their business and their local business community in 2021. There was significant concern about another lockdown but optimism for 2021.

It will be really hard if there is another lockdown. If we can keep going until Halloween then we might just close up anyway until St Patrick's (March 17th) and then get going again. (Aisling) I can do a little bit online but realistically I need to be allowed stay open so that I can run classes and do my PT stuff. (Rory)
My business is much better now. I can do a lot more things even in a lockdown. Next year I will really push on.

I have great plans. (Emma)
The main street is already in trouble so we need to get that sorted next year. We are all just muddling through until this is over. (Pat) The entrepreneurs were accepting of the situation at this stage. They desired for a period of certainty, but accepted that this would not occur until mass vaccination was implemented. In the short-term (winter 2020-21) they hoped that as much of the economy as possible would remain open. As the level of change in relation to business activity normalized they were thinking more long term. Table 2 presents an overview of the key findings as they relate to the four themes identified in our literature review. Post-shock reflection on work/life balance.

DISCUSSION
Despair and frustration.
Relief and joy at reopening.
Acceptance of the situation and hopeful.

Attitudes
Focus on others, particularly family members.
Realise that their business is a key part of their identity.
Difficult to see positives, problem focused.
Pushing to maximise turnover and catch-up.
Benefitted from a period of reflection.

Business
Taking time to consider how best to improve.
Limited activity. Exploring online options.
Risings costs and reduced turnover.
Busy due to residual demand/finance.
Made improvements and diversified.

Supports
Searching for accurate information.
Need credit extensions.
Networking with other entrepreneurs.
Need Information to help make future plans.
Dependent on the duration of the crisis. Table 2 provides an indication that for the entrepreneurs the appraisal of the situation was an iterative process. The evidence presented in Table 2 shows that the impacts of the restrictions can be tracked over time (the 5 stages). The impacts are varied and subject to change over time. We believe that the four themes identified in the literature are a useful lens with which to frame and organise our findings. Table 2 illustrates that the imposition of restrictions and temporary closures impact an entrepreneur in four ways. First, the entrepreneurs experienced a significant level of psychological stress but over time they accepted the changed circumstances and focused on continuation. This supports evidence in the literature on the resilience of entrepreneurs, especially during crisis episodes (Spillan and Hough, 2003;Shepherd and Haynie, 2011;Jenkins et al., 2014;Hegarty et al., 2020;Stephens et al., 2021a). Second, initially the entrepreneurs focused on their family, staff and customers. But over time they engaged in reflection with a focus on work/life balance and/or the type of product/service that they want to provide. This is a novel insight and points to a need to explore the impact of "breaks", both voluntary and imposed that occur during an entrepreneurial journey. Third, in response to the crisis the entrepreneurs were willing to consider any option that allowed them to continue in business. However, over time their focus was on the retention and development of their core business, to which they have an emotional attachment to (Singh, 2015;Williams and Shepherd, 2016;Hegarty et al. 2020). Our findings indicate that during the COVID-19 there were some novel reactions, caused by different business being impacted for different periods of time and in different ways depending on the core product or service. Fourth, and finally, the entrepreneurs needed different types of supports at different stages of the crisis, from closure through to re-opening. Initially, it was accurate and up-to-date information. Then practical supports to help maintain liquidity and then accurate information to allow them to engage in meaningful planning. In the medium-term entrepreneurs who have been impacted by COVID-19 will need supports for their business, and importantly for themselves. The entrepreneurs need access to their peers and business community. This is for social support, to share experiences (to alleviate the psychological impacts) and to allows them to understand how best to support their employees.
Additional staffing needs, less capacity for customers and strict cleaning procedures requiring specialist equipment were some of the financial challenges incurred by the entrepreneurs upon (re)opening. For the entrepreneurs who were able to develop online provision, this resulted in new business opportunities and revenue streams (Di Domenico et al., 2014;Daniel et al., 2015). However, the entrepreneurs experienced distress as a result of the impact that the uncertainty had on their families, their staff and their peers in their business community. (Politis and Gabrielsson, 2009;Jenkins et al., 2014;Simmons et al., 2014;Shepherd, et al., 2016;Hegarty et al., 2020).
The evidence from our interviews indicates that a temporary business closure has a significant impact on the psychological wellbeing of an entrepreneur. During this study the entrepreneurs had to deal with a great deal of stress and uncertainty. However, the entrepreneurs responded by engaging in a period of reflection resulting in new business ideas and different perspectives on their work/life balance. The need for achievement is an important trait in motivating entrepreneurs and irrespective of external shocks and the associated uncertainty entrepreneurs will still retain a desire to (re)achieve. For the entrepreneurs the decision to continue their entrepreneurial journey is framed by resilience linked to work satisfaction, loyalty to staff and customers; and a shared identity with their business community and peers. In this unique scenario dealing with the unknown was the biggest challenge. Despite the best efforts of government and health agencies the COVID-19 restrictions continue. Appropriate support systems are complex to design and deliver. The situation is fluid and so financing interventions is a significant challenge and appropriate support systems are complex to design and deliver Liguori and Pittz, 2020;Papadopoulos et al., 2020;Stephens et al., 2021b).

CONCLUSION
A business closure can devastate an entrepreneur leaving them in shock and left to deal with the emotional and financial impacts (Corner et al., 2017). However, the entrepreneurs in this study used their time to evaluate and reassess their business, looking at how they could adapt and improve their processes, offerings and resource allocation. The entrepreneurs displayed resilience as they adapted rapidly and changed their business model to fit with the limitations of the business environment. Additional financial strain occurred as a result of the rigorous processes and procedures imposed on the businesses. The findings highlight the importance of providing entrepreneurs with timely information, guidance and the opportunity to share their experiences with others in the same situation. Some of the entrepreneurs felt more supported than others, some were better able to adapt. Therefore, entrepreneurs should not be thought of as a homogeneous group during crisis episodes. The evidence from our study provides a snapshot of the perceptions of entrepreneurs who faced temporary business closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the findings offer insights for policy makers who wish to aid business recovery. The length of the pandemic will inevitable determine the scale and scope of government interventions. Entrepreneurs who have been impacted by COVID-19 need supports for their business, and for themselves. We conclude by acknowledging the limitations of our study. The data collection process was subject to significant time constraints. The data was collected during a period of great change for the entrepreneurs. Their availability to participate in our study was extremely limited. Our sample size is small and a greater number of respondents and from different jurisdictions would add additional perspective. Although the transcripts are detailed and represent a biographical account a longitudinal study may provide greater insights. Additional research is needed into the longterm impacts of the business restrictions, specifically, the rates of entrepreneurial exit and the use of qualitative methods to explore the reasons and outcomes.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors wish to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of the editors and the reviewers. Their guidance and recommendations have resulted in significant improvements to this paper.

Simon
Stephens is a Senior Lecturer in Small Business Economics at Letterkenny Institute of Technology. His current research explores the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the small business community. His recent publications can be found in the Journal of Business Venturing Insights and the International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship.