Keep Calm And Carry On
We asked local businesses from our community about how COVID-19 has affected them - the bad, the ugly and even possibly the good - dare we say good! along with any tips they would like to share to fellow business owners on how they have adapted and eased the effects of the pandemic.
Tracy – Blissfully Organised
“We are lucky to have so many amazing local businesses in St. Albans. I own a local business called Blissfully Organised. For over 11 years I have been supporting my clients to simplify their lives by simplifying their home organisation. Usually I offer both in home and virtual organising sessions. During the lockdown period I am only offering virtual support with virtual power hours. These are a fantastic and cost-effective way of getting started. I’ve also set up a free private members group on Facebook.”
Andrea & Adam – Cleanhome St. Albans
“Like all small businesses, we were extremely worried if we would be able to maintain the unrivalled, high standard of service offered. With guidelines and regular updates in place, whilst following all safety measures, our experienced cleaners are still ready for our amazing and supportive clients, some of whom are elderly, disabled and in desperate need of the help. We are so grateful for the continued support and are all working hard to keep their homes as they want them to be. Our clients have a fantastic relationship with their regular cleaners. Inevitably there has been scenarios where both parties have had to isolate, and the kindness and understanding between them and us with consistent communication has been the key, keeping everyone safe and well. As a business we are thrilled that clients keep coming despite the uncertainty we all face both personally and professionally...we are ready when you are!”
Cat – Gather + Give
“I opened Gather + Give two weeks before Christmas 2019. Being off the main high street I was unsure if I would see many people, but my store was given the warmest welcome and so many people were excited to have a gift store on their doorstep. The start of 2020 welcomed regular workshops for adults and kids and I felt so proud to be bringing something fun and useful to my community. Within just two months I closed the store after falling ill, not realising that I wouldn’t reopen for almost 10 months. I quickly moved my focus online and hand delivered orders throughout St. Albans. Continuing to pay rent on an empty store was costly and stressful, so I was immensely grateful for every single order.
When other stores reopened, I found myself unable to juggle three small children without childcare and opening the store. That was really hard as I felt like a failure but knew it was the best decision for our family. Lockdown forced us all to be flexible and go with the flow in all aspects of life. For the store it meant pivoting to offer gift boxes, helping customers to send gifts to loved ones all over the country. They’ve proven to be really popular and I absolutely love creating them, so in a way I’m thankful for lockdown helping to find a new path which I’m so excited about.
There’s still so much uncertainty for shops in 2021 but one thing is certain, people are more passionate about shopping local than ever. Finding ways to continue to build these relationships and offer something extra special to customers will really set us apart from larger retailers and ensure our survival and that of our high streets.”
Katie – Hello Haus
“Hi, I’m Katie, designer and founder of Hello Haus Interior design. My aim is to help my clients create calm and balance in their homes. This year has forced our homes to work harder than ever for us, becoming offices, classrooms and also a space to try and relax. During the pandemic I took my services online offering e-design packages to my clients and to take the stress away from home re designs (there’s enough to juggle already!). I was able to consult via Zoom, source items, order samples and draw visuals for my amazing customers. Our homes will continue to be so important to us and how they make us feel, so it makes it so happy to be able to help make it a little better. Moving online wasn’t original in my plan but pivoting in that direction has really helped my business to grow.”
Maya – Maya’s Chilli Company
“It’s been a huge burden to survive as a small business especially as a new one like mine, where I would have benefited from being out and letting people taste my Chilli. Their reaction would have helped me to sell and product develop much better. It is hard to reach people online as well as managing a new business simultaneously. I have learned so much about other local businesses and I see them as friends rather than competitors. I have learned that helping others goes a very long way, and selling online is how the younger generations will shop, which is a landscape we have speedily learned to managed during Covid-19. Hopefully that will bear fruit in the future for us all.”
Adam – Stronger than water
“Covid-19 has been a mixed bag for us. Before the numerous lockdowns I had just won General Manager of the year for Wells & Co in the business I had worked at for the last 5 years and got engaged in the same week. 1 week later we were locked down indefinitely. In the first lockdown I found myself without purpose and at a loss not doing the job that I loved. Which is why I decided to set up my own company, so in subsequent lockdowns and my days off, I have been working hard on my business. I have learnt a lot in the small time we have been operating, I guess the biggest thing I have learnt is that you need to diversify. When we started, I wanted to offer drinks events at people's houses, weddings & venues, but we quickly realised that for the foreseeable future we would not be able to do that. We also wanted to offer cocktail delivery but also realised that without a premises licence we would not be able to do this either. However, by just making sure we stay flexible we have been able to grow and If all the uncertainty and constant lockdowns I do not think we would be in the position we are in now.”
Lisa – Style with Wisdom
“With over 20 years’ experience in the fashion industry I launched Style with Wisdom 8 years ago, a personal styling and shopping business for men and women. At the start of 2020 my diary was full of personal shops, wardrobe edits and style parties, until March 20th 2020, when all my appointments were postponed and then later cancelled as the pandemic spread and lockdown became the new normal. I was heartbroken, as at the time approximately 80% of my business was working directly with clients and the virtual styling part of my business was still very small.
I thought about how to grow my virtual styling service and had always wanted to set up a Style Subscription for clients to receive regular style inspiration in their inbox. With shops shut it felt an appropriate service to launch and did so in April 2020. It immediately proved popular and put my Full Virtual Style into the spotlight too for both existing and new clients in need of online shopping support, especially to update their new “work from home” style.
My virtual styling business is now 90% of my current business and I have grown my client base having not met most of my new clients, which I never thought was possible! As a small business the current climate continues to be challenging but I continue to look for new opportunities to grow and adapt to the lifestyle changes of my clients created by Covid-19! My tip would be to ensure you constantly talk to your clients and market audience to know what they need and want with the changing environment and adapt accordingly!”
Deryane – The Dressing Room
“This past 10 months has without a doubt been the most challenging year of my career. If you had told me at the beginning of 2020 that we would have been closed for 6 months out of 12, I would not have been able to see a way through. The challenge, anxiety and stress would have been unbelievable as I have a team of 18 staff to keep in jobs and a busy thriving retail business to keep moving. However, sheer determination, hard work, passion for what I do and future planning have got The Dressing Room through. I have re-assessed every area of my business and made changes where required from the basics right up to the more intricate details.
During the 3 lockdowns, keeping our Dressing Room community engaged has been paramount, there has not been a day without fresh content online and interaction with our community. Our customers often say that we are a lifeline that has kept them going through this distressing situation as we provide an element of familiarity and joy at a very unfamiliar and difficult time. We have done some great online 'events' with goody bags and charity raffles that have kept our loyal customers connected to us. Our business personality is key to who we are and is key to keeping our business alive even when our bricks and mortar doors are closed.
As an independent business I am able to be nimbler and adapt more quickly than larger corporations, this is in our favour as there is no red tape to get through to make changes. We listen to what our customers want and react immediately, we can strike up direct dialogue with them to make changes and this has really stood us in good stead throughout 2020 and into 2021. Let’s hope this is the last time and we can all emerge from this latest lockdown with a happy and healthy community.”
Katie – Tiny You Clothing
“After nearly 10 years of working as a fashion buyer, I wanted to use my experience to create a children’s clothing brand that was not only minimalist and stylish but one that also gave people the opportunity to personalise. So, in December I took the plunge and launched Tiny You. Even though Tiny You has only been going for a few months I have been hugely grateful for all the lovely feedback that I have received from customers. So, I would say mine is a good Covid-19 story!”
Katie – Tommy & Lottie
“Since the pandemic we have not only had a big uplift in sales generally but so many more people are shopping locally and really starting to support more environmentally friendly and sustainable brands like us. We have always predominately sold online through our own website, Notonthehighstreet and other online market places so we are used to operating like this and so far, we have been able to fulfil all orders and get gifts sent direct. We pride ourselves in delivering local orders ourselves safely to our customers (from a safe distance of course). We work as much as we can with other small local businesses which I have found have been quick to adapt and still been able to operate and supply us with what we need.”