A NEW CHAPTER

Introduction…

We weren’t expecting to launch our brand new website in the midst of a global pandemic - who would have?
It’s a strange time indeed. One that few could have seen coming, the hindsight warriors on social media notwithstanding.

Some of the shine may have been taken off this event but we’re still excited to officially launch our newly established business venture that has its roots in many years of experience.

This experience comes from many exercises in trial, error and correction; a dozen stumbles for every success and a million lessons learned. These lessons have ultimately given us the foundations for now being able to help businesses navigate the often overwhelming and rather sticky business of marketing, creative strategy and content production. You can read more about all of this on our About page if so inclined.

If you think we may be the right people to help your business hit the ground running after lockdown then don’t hesitate to drop us a line. We’re happily carrying on with Zoom, Skype and FaceTime consultations and will always make time for any enquiry.

Now, without further ado, our first blog post follows below….

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OUR LOCAL FOOD HEROES

Just a handful of the many fantastic local producers we’ve worked with. Clockwise from top left: St Jude Cheese, Flint Vineyard, Ampersand Brew Co., Penny Bun Bakehouse, Bull of the Woods Brew Co., St Giles Gin.

‘May you live in interesting times” so goes the apocryphal ancient curse.

And that is exactly where we find ourselves. As we near the end of April 2020 it’s a time that is deeply unnerving and frustrating for many.

Pushing aside the obvious concerns when it comes to staying free of this unwelcome viral visitor, there are a huge number of us wondering when we can resume business as normal. The fact is that many businesses will not survive, or at least be forced to make long-lasting changes, as the ramifications of this event unfold.

The motivation that this prospect can inspire in the savvy business owner is however becoming widely visible. Many industrial manufacturers have commendably turned their hand to making much needed PPE and medical hardware. But there are also many other producers stepping up to ensure survival, none-more-so than those in food and drink production and supply.

Of course, we need to eat and drink. Those who provide the ingredients, processing and products we venture out for on a once, maybe twice-weekly, sanitiser-infused, mission have come up with a raft of ingenious workplace controls and delivery systems to enable at least some continuity.

Factories who mass-manufacture the colourfully packaged, yet mostly indistinguishable, goods on the supermarket shelves have quickly adapted operational systems and manpower resources to carry on as normal-ish. And, they’re doing a fine job indeed.

Probably more notable, however, are the small craft-level producers with little to no spare facilities, staff or funds who through sheer grit have made a few good, instinctive decisions to enable them to continue to operate and satisfy their loyal customers.

These are the businesses who have sweated and toiled to give themselves that fighting chance of making it past their third birthday.

These are businesses dreamt of and built by plucky people who believe passionately they have something not just good but GREAT to offer. These folk who’ve worked tirelessly (and often at huge sacrifice) to make our dinner plates and drinks glasses that bit more tasty, interesting and healthy deserve our support.

In our neck of the woods there has been somewhat of a boom in incredible artisan food and drink producers. We’ve found ourselves in the lucky position to have helped many of them with what we do.

Over the next couple of weeks we want to highlight these friends (and we do count them as friends either in business, personally or both) and open a window into how they’re succeeding despite the current odds.

Please stay tuned and why not give us a follow on our Instagram account for the latest bitesize insights….