Lockdown has created huge challenges for businesses and their founders, with a sudden fall of revenue, and for some, the closure of their premises, and the knowledge that a very uncertain future awaits once the pandemic is over. But rather than dwell on the frustrations, many entrepreneurs have focused on the opportunities and used their enforced time in isolation to make the most of them.
Raising your sustainability profile
The aim of the The Wood Life Project is to replace everyday plastic items with beautifully designed, eco-friendly, British-made wooden products. The business was launched in early 2019 by Hazel and Jimmy Russell. A year on they were supplying to 45 retailers and in talks with some major brands, until COVID-19 and lockdown brought new orders and their discussions with prospective large retailers to a sudden halt.
“We focused our efforts on online sales via our own website and other online marketplaces, where we’ve worked on blogs and social media platforms to drive sales and grow brand awareness,” says Hazel Russell.