NEW YEAR , NEW HOPE
Tamara Eggleston , Barking Hen Jewellery
For more info : www . barkinghenjewellery . co . uk
Tamara is a jewellery designer and maker who lives in Chippenham and runs Barking Hen Jewellery . She has run her business for five years and is well known for her hands-on creative workshops . Her unique designs feature flora and fauna and she also takes on bespoke commissions .
“ The impact of Covid-19 on my business was dramatic . Overnight my workshops were all cancelled and that has been around 50 per cent of my income for the last few years . Online sales also dropped initially and outlets which stock my jewellery shut their doors . It was very , very scary ,” she said .
With more than 25 years ’ experience in the jewellery trade and a degree in art specialising in jewellery making , Tamara relies on her micro business for an income . “ I had my own business early on in my career and then went into the jewellery trade working for a specialist valuation company . When I had my children I went back to having my own business and I do love it . I love creating my pieces and seeing the joy they bring to customers .”
When lockdown came , Tamara ’ s regular clients at her workshops kept messaging
her asking when they were going to be held . “ I decided that I could make a kit – a bracelet in a box kit – to send out . I spent weeks designing it because it needed to be of high quality , it needed to include semi-precious stones which speak of love , harmony and protection . That was really important to me . Thus my Zen Hen Kit was created .”
Since then her kit has been featured in the national media and her first batch has now sold out . She ’ s just , at time of writing , completing her next batch of Zen Hen Kits .
Simon Ward , Professional Photographer
For more info : www . simonwardphotography . com
Simon Ward , 41 , has been a professional photographer in Salisbury since 2009 and is well known in and around the city for his corporate , family and wedding work . As a father of two , as soon as lockdown came he applied for jobs working in local supermarkets and secured a role in Tesco . “ That first week when we knew schools were closing I had three weddings postponed in a single day . I wasn ’ t waiting around for things to collapse around me and I didn ’ t know if there would be any financial support for a business owner like me . People were panic buying and I was offered a job at Tesco and I ’ m still working there .
“ Things have started to improve and I feel my business will build back up slowly . I ’ ve done three socially distanced intimate weddings which was great and I ’ m optimistic ,” Simon said .
He also launched a project during lockdown 1 called Doorstep Snaps where he offered to photograph people on their doorsteps in and around Salisbury in return for a donation to two charities , one relating to the Stars Appeal at Salisbury Hospital and Julia ’ s House Children ’ s Hospice .
“ I went out on the streets of Salisbury , supported by my son Adam ( 12 ), and we took images of families during lockdown . An archive
of this time . As a community in Salisbury we ’ ve been through a lot in the last few years and I ’ m proud of our city .”
Simon ’ s efforts raised almost £ 3,400 for charity and he ’ s considering more Doorstep Snaps in the run-up to Christmas . He also was thrilled when the Monopoly game , Salisbury edition , was recently launched . Several of his images of the city have been used including one of the iconic and world renowned Salisbury Cathedral .
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THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2020 9