Creative Responses Bringing Hope
Suzanne Smedley
As a small and independent business, I’ve been blown away by the creative response so many similar entrepreneurs have had to the current crisis. It has been incredibly inspiring to watch as they have come up with innovative solutions to keep momentum going.
That is not to say it has been easy, for myself or for anyone.
Last year I took a terrifying leap of faith to go part time at my job so I could spend more time building my creative business, Suzanne Elisabeth Jewellery. It was a big risk but also exhilarating. I had just begun to find my stride when one by one all my markets have been cancelled and shops have hit pause on taking new stock as they face crippling financial loss. As things have rapidly escalated, I must admit I have wondered if I have made a mistake in daring to think I could make something of my enterprise all on my own.
I could keep writing about this and drag you all down into a deeper pit of despair. But what good would that do anyone? I could choose to feel horribly vulnerable and alone in all this. But that’s where social media
has been so powerful. Because, one swipe and it’s clear, none of us are alone. It has taken unprecedented circumstances to propel people into looking for exciting alternatives to forge new connections and build community. This has been especially evident amongst small independent businesses.
It’s one thing to drive online sales with a new ferocity, but it takes so much more to build community so that not only ‘I’ get through this, but so that we ALL get through this. Together. People criticize society for being
entirely individualistic. But when society has been put under immense pressure, I have been so encouraged by how this has not been the case.
All of my outlets such as Cheerfully Given, Cambridge Contemporary Crafts and Etsy have been in constant contact to assure us that they are doing their utmost to find new ways to support us to make sure we are not left to fend for ourselves. The markets I was going to attend like BCDO, Solo Craft Fairs and Crafty Fox Markets, have also been wonderful in finding new ways to boost our sales, such as having virtual markets!
Then there are my fellow businesses who could be in it for themselves, but instead are running free online workshops to help those in self isolation develop new skills or parents teach their children how wonderful it can be to do something creative. Just think of all the people who will come out of this time having found a new hobby that brings them great joy. Maybe it will even start them on a journey to having their own creative venture that is life changing.
I want to leave you feeling encouraged to not waste this time, but to make the most of it. Learn a new skill, try your hand at something different or brush up on a language. If you are able, then share these online with someone else. If we could come out of this stronger by being a more united community, well wouldn’t that just be something amazing?
https://www.craftyfoxmarket.co.uk/
