HOW HAVE YOU ADAPTED YOUR BUSINESS TO OVERCOME THESE UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES YOU WERE FACED WITH ?
JULIA : I had been in New York in February this year just before Covid and had been fascinated by the number of stores selling home ' kits ' for knitting , birthday cakes , embroidery and craft . I had already thought this was something we might be able to bring to the store but thought it would be in development for a year . Not long after Covid hit we decided to take the plunge because we could no longer run classes and we launched our ' Class in a Box ' concept in time for Mother ' s Day . We also added webinars in place of in store demonstrations and then launched virtual Christmas classes recently where customers are sent a product box and participate in the class via zoom . Both of these have had a strong uptake . We have loved that our customers have taken to our online concepts so readily .
MIRANDA : At first I took the sales decreasing very personally . Other businesses I knew in Australia initially were no where near as effected as we were and It felt like in a blink of an eye everything I worked for was just slowly fizzling away and I just couldn ’ t accept that . I worked so hard to get my business where it is today and I ’ m really proud of it . Knowing what we were up against what felt like the whole world shutting down my main focus was to be able to keep my staff on .
Alisha Henderson at that time was my little positive rock , my angel . She could see what was happening to me and the business and was such a support for me - I ’ ll never forget her unconditional support . I came up with this crazy idea of a DIY Cookie kit . A couple of cookies with a printed icing sheet and a one off paint card . Literally overnight there was a whole new category made and sales were coming through - thank god ! Alisha made all the cookies for me without any question . Unfortunately it wasn ’ t enough to keep my staff on . The need for adapting and changing the plan was happening almost daily at that point . From there a whole category of DIY products were created . From icing sheets , to DIY Cookie Kits to PIY Tabs and more . Although now it was only me in manufacturing ..