LISA : 1 . Learning to adapt what products I offer . By changing the direction of my business from Custom Cakes to the simplicity of a Bake at home box . I was then able to cater to the needs of the members of my local community , who were looking for activities to do at home with their children . 2 . Making the most from supplies on hand . I was blown away by the success of my first Bake at home box which was a simple cupcake kit , with clients asking what else can I offer them . This then lead to a Bake at home - Cake pop kit / Cookie Kit / Mothers Day cake / Fathers Day Cookie Cake / And an up coming XMAS Line all with access to a Video tutorial 3 . Contentedness with community - I listened to what the Mum ' s in my local community wanted , and successfully delivered a product that suited their stay at home needs .
WHAT WAS THE HARDEST PART ABOUT DEALING WITH THE CHANGES COVID BROUGHT TO YOUR BUSINESS ?
MIRANDA : By far it was having to stand down my staff . That was probably one of the hardest things I have had to deal with in my whole working life . By then my cashflow couldn ’ t sustain paying wages anymore so I had to accept that I had to let go of everyone . I had 12 staff at the time . This was before knowing job keeper was even going to happen . It was such an awful feeling . I love my team . I love what I have created in a business and I felt like I had let them down . The grief you experience as a business owner and feeling like you had failed your team is like no other . I took it very personally . In all honestly looking back now it was very hard to deal with but at the time you didn ’ t have time to deal with the emotionally side of things - you just had to keep going . The other thing would be the uncertainty it brought as a business owner . What next ? The grief that came with those changes was a lot . Dealing with all business related changes along with personal was very overwhelming at times .
LISA : The hardest thing has been uncertainty - not knowing when we would be able to have gatherings to celebrate special occasions . Not knowing if my thriving business of 12 years will bounce back to where it was .