How a change of plan bears fruit for David
WHILE an emergency loan under the Government scheme is essential for some businesses in order to make it through lockdown, other entrepreneurs have opted to restructure – or even start entirely new businesses.
A few years ago, David Marr set up a business selling glassware and bottles for essential oils. But as supplies came from China, he knew his business would be severely impacted as China attempted to control the coronavirus outbreak.
In the week before total lockdown, David popped into his local Sainsbury’s in Vauxhall, South London, and was astonished to see all the empty shelves.
‘I thought something’s going on here,’ says David. Just next to the supermarket is New Covent Garden, one of the biggest fruit and vegetable
markets in Europe. So early the next morning, David bought as much produce as he could fit in his car with the idea of selling it to friends and family who would also be confronted with empty supermarket shelves.
‘I put up a new website in a matter of days and got £200 of orders straightaway,’ says David. ‘The next day, orders had jumped to £900, all by just mentioning it on Facebook and local online groups.’
Clapham Fresh, his new company, now takes between £5,000 and £8,000 in daily sales – far more than his previous company – and he has a fleet of four vans delivering around London. ‘It’s been a real rollercoaster ride,’ says David, ‘but it’s great to see how thankful people are for our service.’
Emma Jones, founder of small business support network Enterprise Nation, says: ‘Businesses have had to adapt to the new world we find ourselves in. While the majority are still waiting for financial packages to be resolved, it’s good to see that so many are thinking beyond what’s happening today and pivoting their business model.’