NEWS - Seven Small Businesses carrying on courageously
Posted on 16th April 2020 at 20:51
Here at Alchemy Virtual Assistance, it’s been business as usual in recent weeks. Well, that’s not strictly true…
We have been a little busier than usual providing our award winning Virtual Assistant Services to support our amazing clients spinning ALL THE PLATES.
The ‘usual’ has been somewhat unusual too.
However, one thing that has stopped us in our tracks recently is the innovation, resilience, positivity, collaboration and sheer brilliance we’ve witnessed in the small business community. It’s been inspiring to say the least.
We wanted to honour and celebrate that entrepreneurial spirit.
So, here are seven independent businesses that are carrying on courageously...
“I think the most significant thing we’ve noticed in recent weeks is the overwhelming kindness and community spirit shining through.
We’ve had to adapt the way we make a difference in many ways but the support we’ve had from our volunteers, partners and the wider community has kept us motivated for sure.
For safety reasons we’re no longer able to spend time with cancer patients when we deliver their gifts which has been incredibly hard but we’ve been able to drop off the care packages to the hospitals we support and had started giving gifts to the amazing NHS heroes too.
We’re also taking our newsletters online in order to keep in touch with people during this uncertain and worrying time. We’ve had to overhaul our fundraising initiatives and postpone various events but know we have precious time to reassess and plan ready for when things return to normal.”
– Lorraine Lewis BCA, Co-Founder at The Lewis Foundation.
The Lewis Foundation provide free gifts and care packs to cancer patients in hospital throughout the midlands.
Northamptonshire based video production company Raise Your Glass Films haven’t been able to get out on shoots but Co-Founder Emma Matthews has been sharing some AMAZING top tips for shooting your own videos as well as swiftly pivoting the business to provide a remote 'editing only' service to professionally polish all those home videos.
Emma has very kindly put together a guest blog sharing some really helpful, practical and impactful video tips.
Look out for ‘You Say Video, I Say ‘Hide’ landing here soon!
“At Pilkington Communications we decided right at the beginning to support our valued clients – reassuring them that our friendly approach, creative thinking and positive outlook remain in this new world of uncertainty.
We’ve been regularly checking in with our contacts to guide them through their new public relations and communications challenges, and working above and beyond our usual office hours to boost the level of service we provide.
We have also taken this opportunity to build new connections with likeminded businesses so that we can collectively come through this period stronger than before. At a time when everything around us has been turned on its head, our collaborative and supportive approach feels right.”
– Kim Hughes, Head of Public Relations at Pilkington Communications
“The way I have been adapting is to not be afraid to contact and connect with my mailing list more often. Instead of sending a monthly newsletter, I have been sending an email to them every 10 days or so. I have created more free resources to help my clients with their mental health and wellbeing. My current offer is a reduced priced "Power Hour" to enable potential and existing clients to address working at home life-balance challenges during this time.”
“We understand just how important it is for our clients to have peace of mind, particularly during this period of fear and uncertainty.
We have adapted our practises quickly to enable clients access us to obtain specialist legal advice and we continue to offer a friendly and professional service. This includes meeting our clients by video conference, WhatApp or FaceTime and witnessing the signature of documentation through a window.”
- Clare de Banke, Managing Partner and Private Client Solicitor -
Borneo Martell Turner Coulston
Read more about how Borneo Martel Turner Coulston are serving their clients remotely here.
Gary Thorpe from Debt Doctors has been helping businesses with THE most important part of any business – getting paid…
“Debt Doctors are delighted to be talking to business owners about how they can adapt their thinking to better manage cash flow, as we move through and beyond the current trading conditions.
The first and most important thing to remember is - if customers don’t pay, you don’t have a viable business.
You simply must make getting paid as important as making a sale – because if your invoice is not paid, there was no sale – only a loss. And even if your invoices are paid late, there is still a partial loss which over time can easily undermine the viability of your business.
A sale with no payment is simply a gift. Don’t give your business away!”
Travel Counsellor Linda Allen is planning ahead and can (in time) help you turn that daydream into a reality…
“While we're unable to travel right now, here's a list of home-based travel activities to get you ready for when you can fulfil your wanderlust once more.
Now is the ideal time to dream of your future holidays. I have a whole range of destination guides to browse through and a raft of itineraries for the adventurous traveller in many long-haul destinations.”
A huge thanks to all who contributed to this post. We've been overwhelmed with amazing contributions. So much so, we may very well post another article like this again soon!
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If you’d like to learn about what our professional team of Virtual Assistants have up their sleeves to help you keep you and your business carrying on courageously - get in touch.
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