2020 has been a whirlwind year for engaged couples who are navigating ever-changing COVID restrictions, rescheduling, and replanning their special day. And that’s not even including the annual stressors that the holiday season brings.

This is why the Charlotte-based company, Bustld, launched LoveStream, a virtual wedding platform, in April 2020. Since its launch, the one-way streaming platform has enabled hundreds of couples to celebrate their big day virtually with their loved ones from all around the world, in a safe way.

On their wedding day, LoveStream enables couples to live stream their wedding from any personal device with a webcam while handling the complicated tech. For guests, they simply click a URL to watch. With no app to download, no logging in and no admitting guests, LoveStreram is so easy grandma can do it.

With the theme of this year being virtual, they are offering a special deal each day of Thanksgiving weekend:

• Black Friday – Purchase any LoveStream package, receive an additional 30 minutes of stream time and custom virtual invitation for free ($150 value)
• Small Business Saturday – Purchase a LoveStream Plus or Premium package, receive an additional stream (more angles to capture the big day!) and custom virtual invitation for free ($250 value)
• Sunday Special – Purchase any LoveStream package, receive a free website rush and custom virtual invitation ($100 value)
• Cyber Monday – Purchase the LoveStream Premium package, receive $200 off

For more information, you can visit their website here or purchase here.

Charlotte has been one of the Eastern hot spots for growing commerce and suburban living for years. Amid the ongoing pandemic, this part of the state has seen a major shift in consumer and local activity.

The pandemic has changed the way many around the country live, and Charlotte is no different. Read on to learn more about key ways this city has been impacted socially, financially, and infrastructurally during the ongoing health crisis.

Financial Instability for Homeowners

Charlotte is a growing real estate sphere, but there are significant costs and regulations that impact homeowners on all levels of the income scale.

Homes are selling like hotcakes in the Greater Charlotte area, spending an average of just 35 days on the market before sale. But, social distancing measures have completely changed the real estate transaction. The process can take longer to close, and this has caused issues with short sales and emergency transactions.

Although low interest rates are coaxing more new investors to make the jump into the real estate sphere, stringent regulations surrounding e-notaries and virtual services can make it tricky to get started. Even among investors, foreclosures are climbing in the Charlotte area.

Consequently, economic strain has bled onto the renter pool. Homeowners might be struggling to cover their living costs, because renters have faced the same struggles with job loss, pay cuts, and medical expenses.

As renters across the greater area have fallen unable to pay rent, property owners are on the hook for the difference. The pandemic has caused a high level of unemployment across the country, which has reached a level of 3.9% in Charlotte alone.

This dip means that more and more people are having trouble making ends meet, including paying for living costs that cut into the budgets’ of their landlords.

For homeowners who don’t manage renters, refinancing a mortgage can serve as a small respite to help investors save money by taking advantage of low federal interest rates.

Small Businesses Struggle through Lockdown

The “Queen City” might be a bustling national epicenter for growing businesses, but this part of the country is just as vulnerable as any other.

Since many businesses were forced to shut their doors, talks of another impending lockdown has sent a wave of uncertainty through the Charlotte area. For non-essential companies that can’t easily move online, more downtime can make or break business in Q4.

For small business owners who need a little push to get through this time, there are a few short-term financial solutions that have gained popularity during the pandemic. Fast money loans, which can be found simply by typing “loans or title pawn near me” in any search bar.

To find out if borrowers are eligible for title loans, personal loans, or even private business loans, many services offer online rate calculators to speed up the process. Users simply need to enter some indendigying and financial information about the nature of their loan, and they can obtain liquid cash in just a few days – or minutes.

Social and Commercial Changes

As one of the largest cities in the local area, Charlotte has seen a major shift in how locals and tourists can experience the metro.

Limited indoor gatherings means no clubbing or bar hopping, and music venues have all but been eradicated for the time being. Entertainment businesses and venues continue to navigate through the ongoing changes in rules and regulations.

This has prompted restaurants, bars, and other venues to move outdoors to be able to accommodate social distancing and safety measures.

Masking is more heavily enforced compared to earlier in the pandemic, but many eateries and retail shops have found ways to stay open regardless.

Although the pandemic has changed the world of commerce as we’ve known it, Charlotte is one of the cities with the highest potential to bounce back. As a leading tech and cultural hub, businesses are quickly adapting to distancing measures and a growing dependency on digitization.

It’s seen a significant hit in recent months, but this city is withstanding the economic strain caused by COVID-19.

Ahead of the fall 2020 semester, Johnson C. Smith University is taking top honors in a new survey released by Zippia.  According to the career expert site, Charlotte’s HBCU is the best small college in the state when it comes to job placement for students.

Using information found on the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Zippia searched for the college in each state with an enrollment level between 1,000 to 5,000. From there, they cross-referenced the small colleges with data from College Scorecard to find the highest listed job placement ratings, looking at employment levels 10 years after students have graduated.

JCSU topped the list in North Carolina with a 93% rating.

The 2020 holiday season is going to be different, but North Carolina retailers are in excited anticipation, and the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association (NCRMA), along with its 2,500 retail members across the state, encourage consumers to #ShopNC this year.

The Thanksgiving holiday typically ushers in the official start of the holiday shopping season however, given the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, retailers are adapting their strategies to ensure they are serving customers safely and effectively. Some are choosing to close on Thanksgiving Day; others are offering several months of “Black Friday” deals; and others will be featuring the same deals both in-stores and online throughout the holiday season to allow consumers to spread out their shopping.  

According to the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics, consumers surveyed said they would spend, on average, $998 which is up slightly from spending last year. Consumers plan to purchase items such as gifts, food, decorations, and other holiday-related items with the bulk of their spending going towards gifts for family and friends.

“North Carolina retailers are excited about this holiday season,” said Andy Ellen, president and general counsel of NCRMA. “For our independent retail store owners in small town North Carolina, the holiday shopping season is an important time, this year especially. For many of them, holiday sales will help them finish the year successfully. Additionally, there are many stores that were closed for weeks and are struggling to recover from the shut down and they are anxiously awaiting customers to return to shop.”

Ellen encourages consumers to shop local businesses, saying, “their commitment to their communities, where they live and operate, is strong and deep, and we hope shoppers will visit brick and mortar stores not only because of their excellent staff, superior customer service and the specialty products they provide, but also to give back to their communities, by keeping their money local.”

Ellen also addressed shopping safely in stores this holiday season.

“The main concern for all retailers has and continues to be the health and safety of their employees and their customers. Since the onset of the COVID-19, retailers have made wide-ranging changes in their operations with safety in mind. They have incorporated social distancing procedures and worked tirelessly to keep stores open, shelves stocked, and carts sanitized. Many have shortened hours to institute stringent cleaning processes.

Retailers need your help both economically and with compliance to safety requirements. We ask you to be patient with retailers and their employees as you go out to shop in the coming days and weeks, as they continue to navigate these unprecedented challenges. Please wear a mask or face covering and be considerate if you are asked to do so when you are shopping. Also, we can’t all know the reason another customer isn’t wearing a mask, such as due to a health condition, so be kind to each other.”

Gift cards remain the most requested item on wish lists, as they have been for more than ten years, but will be the second most purchased gift item behind clothing and accessories. Books, music, movies, and video games are also popular items on shopping lists this year. Gift cards are an excellent option this year as it will support retailers now and provide an opportunity for recipients to shop when they feel safe to do so.

Ellen advises consumers to be sure they are taking precautions to buy legitimate gift cards. The primary way to ensure you are getting a gift card that is the correct value and will work when you gift it, is to buy from a reliable source. Also, discount gift cards (sold below value) are tempting but be aware that they may have been compromised. For instance, they may have been stolen or exchanged for stolen goods. Gift cards are a great gift to give and receive but be smart and keep them secure.

“I hope North Carolina consumers will support the local businesses that support what they care about in their community – their schools, their youth organizations, their Food Banks, and employing their neighbors,” said Ellen. “These are the brick and mortar stores, both independent and chain, who are engrained in every community across the state who, along with employing one out of every four North Carolinians and collecting the sales taxes that fund our roads and schools, also sponsor the little league team, high school band and school spirit night. This holiday season we encourage you to return their goodwill and support your local retailer this holiday season.”