Doom and Gloom doesn’t match small business 2023 boom

The world bank warns of another recession.
Amazon shuts 3 UK warehouses (If you read our article Amazon, it was predicted they would – read here to learn what Amazon are up to in 2023 and how it impacts on all of us.)
The Guardian announced almost 50 shops a day closed in the UK in 2022!

Is it really all doom and gloom out there as the cost of living hits and energy prices soar?

Are small businesses able to thrive?

We asked our members to tell us (honestly) “How’s business?” And we loved the response. We won’t lie it’s hard work, but there’s lot of good news out there. So if you own a small business and want inspiration to make 2023 a success, read on.

Bad news sells!

Please note we recently offered to comment on a national media outlet who wanted to know how things were for small businesses. We outlined what we share in this article – they weren’t interested. Why? Because as Insiders know – bad news sells. It’s important to remember when you switch on your TV or pick up your phone. And remember the way you feel, the mindset you hold drastically impacts on your motivation, actions and beliefs on what is possible in business. We work on this every day as Insiders.*

The good news starts with (if you are easily offended, please don’t read on) crap – literally. Amelia Smewling owner of Amelia’s pet Sitting Services. Spotting a gap in the market, Amelia started her business Lady Mucks Pet Waste Management – visiting private homes across Kent and London picking up dog poo! Amelia proudly announced that Lady Muck’s is growing so fast that they now have every contract for doggy day care walking field for miles, but hey when you are growing businesses that well, why stop there?

Amelia shared the above image with us. A new business that her and her team launch very soon, will have its own new premises as well as mobile events already and they already have this many views and could be fully booked with enquiries they’ve had so far.
The website is not even finished!
The lease not even signed!

Amelia is the first to admit that having someone to take your poorly pooch or parrot to the vet for you is essential but getting someone to follow behind your dog or a night out, according to the media are two areas that are failing, with less people spending. We’ve the evidence to say that is not true.

Back that up with the news from our travel agent members Liz Standley from Travel Counsellors , ICU nurse Claire Jakes from Clarendon Travel Tracey Lott from Not Just Travel who doesn’t like to get bored so also breeds Bengal cats! and Sarah Gormley from the PR Travel industry agency told us “I am inundated for enquiries, with quotes for epic once in a lifetime trips like Japan, Iceland, Lapland and Disney.”

Tracey Lott added “I’ve clients that spend £100,000 with me every year and it’s no different this year.” Tracey added “I’ve done bookings from £800, £35,000 Disney to South Africa. It was over £75,000 in 5 days! It’s manic and we are working silly hours to get prices and dream ideas to customers ”

It’s a common misrepresentation that people aren’t buying however we have members that are artists creating commissioned pieces worth thousands through to skin care that loves the planet but can’t be found on the high street – people are spending.

London is buzzing with opportunities and art! New exhibitions, art fairs, and creative hotspots are cropping up regularly. The Battersea Power Station, once a dilapidated icon of British industry, is being reborn as a lifestyle and creative hub, with a new signature art’otel (https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/brand/artotels) having just opened doors in the British capital.

Multidisciplinary artist Paola Minekov (https://paola.art/) shared her excitement at joining a new program of artist residencies at the art’otel, where she’ll involve the local community and guests of the hotel with the creation of new London inspired mixed media art series.

Paola shared that she is currently busier than she has been in months, and is also taking part in a South London Women Artists (https://southlondonwomenartists.co.uk/) group exhibition called Future Memories at the Espacio Gallery in East London, 31 January 5 February.

Multidisciplinary artist Paola Minekov shared her excitement at joining a new program of artist residencies at the art’otel, where she’ll involve the local community and guests of the hotel with the creation of new London inspired mixed media art series. Art’otel are in Amsterdam, Berlin etc and now London and are part of the Radisson group.

Paola says: “This project seeks to explore the contrast between the ancient history of the UK and our contemporary, hyper modern future. Through this project, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the creative process, as well as gain insight into the history of the city and the culture of modern London.”
Paola shared that she is currently busier than she has been in months, and is also taking part in a South London Women Artists (https://southlondonwomenartists.co.uk/) group exhibition called Future Memories at the Espacio Gallery in East London, 31 January 5 February.

It’s not just art that is selling fast, new member Sharon Jenn from Timeless Furniture Art said they were over the moon with the sizable commissions they’d received already this year. Many business owner members are passionate about eco status and Timeless Furniture art are no exception. Upcycling furniture breathing new life into them with a unique quality finish. Sharon has just been commissioned to upcycle a master bedroom to consist of 9 pieces of furniture!

Sharon has been active in welcoming support from The Insiders so she can maximise on this opportunity with helpful tips and ideas for social media pages and getting her work out there to a wider audience.

And it’s not just about higher profits in 2023.

Isobel Chaplin added another 2 awards to her award winning accountancy practice IJC Accounting Services and if marrying a couple live on Saturday Night TV (Ant and Dec’s Saturday Takeaway) didn’t make Celebrant Michelle Taylor’s year, then becoming a top 100 female entrepreneur in the SBS f:Entrepreneur #ialso campaign this January, certainly started the year with a bang.

Not only did Michelle train over 60 new celebrants, she conducted wedding ceremonies for 17 couples in 2022. Michelle also celebrated starting her 2nd term as Mayor of Manningtree and delivered vital diversity training to wedding professionals.

Profit and awards are great news for small businesses but it’s not just about the businesses, local communities are benefiting too. Online teacher, Lyndsay Conroy says 2022 saw a record number of high grades for her students. 75% of all grades received by students were top grades and every student passed their exams. GCSE students achieved 7/8/9 while college students received Distinction* and others passed their functional skills. Lyndsay supports students across 7 subjects at GCSE level and gives them the confidence they need to move forward with their education journey. Every student who applied for a college or university place was accepted and began the next phase in September.

If you saw our blatant disgust at Amazon’s tactics you will know our passion for how small businesses support local charities and community groups. Only this week did Amazon announce it’s own Charity endeavours are coming to an end!

Jenni Sampson is a great example of how the £2 trillion made by small businesses, benefits local communities too.

When Jenni set up her side business to pay the bills and cover the cost of living hike, Jenni had no idea that her innovative ideas would also lead to a more profitable PTA for her children’s school. “I’ve worked in finance for years and know how to support a team to meet financial targets, it made sense to set up my own business helping other businesses in this way and using those skills for my children’s benefit too.” Jenni is proud to launch her new website designed by Laura Hills who saw the potential for this exciting new brand. “When Jenni contacted me I could see a new business that could help a lot of other businesses. Bringing Jenni’s passion and skills to a brand was a great project to be a part of. And as we are both members of the Insiders we know we can promote both our businesses through this route to market too. It’s exciting times for small businesses”

Already the partnership with Inky Giraffe and being an Insider has led to some vital connections and opportunities for Jenni’s P and their big plans for 2023.

Not the only business owner launching a new website or business, Kathryn Ebdon, well known at the BWN dating back to 2011 was known as an ISO expert implementing management systems and starting her career in explosives – yes explosives!

Kathryn found a passion for flyball with her dogs and now combines that with a unique solution to her own experiences of ME/CFS that led to her training as a Reiki practitioner and is now launching Libra Reiki specialising in animal healing and communication. You may not have heard of Kathryn or dog healing yet, but her customers are amazed at the results with one customer saying, “It was like we had a new dog; the instant results were hard to believe!”

Katy Beetham launched her business in 2021 for similar health benefits. Katy had no idea that the first years of business would be navigated through the pandemic, “I began making macrame as a form of art therapy to overcome my breakdown I had in 2020. My ambition had originally been to make macrame because it’s so rewarding and relaxing and creates a unique look for a home. I thought my pieces would work well in yoga retreats and offices and be great for giving height to plants in the home. I never appreciated that people would be desperate for a unique way to relax and take up a new hobby that wasn’t walking, running or baking banana cake.

The courses and make at home crafts are been very popular and in 2023 we have been asked to look at creating more unique backdrops for weddings. More and more people are choosing different unconventional backdrops and our wall hangings give that real statement wow.” In 2018 only 1 fifth of weddings were religious ceremonies and that is likely to shrink further with people opting for uniqueness for their special day. We intend to take advantage of these opportunities this year and will be asking the Insiders for ideas on how to maximise on that! Katy’s What Nots Website

Amanda Rutland from Gorgeous Gourds UK takes innovation and creativity to a whole new level in her business. Winning the national TV show Kirstie Hand Made Christmas, Amanda is not new to big business landing on her doorstep. However, Amanda admitted 2023 didn’t start great. “I will be honest I was in a bit of funk post-Christmas, the news was getting to me and I was honestly believing I’d not be able to make my art company work alongside my work in the NHS. I was honest with the Insiders and it really helped alter my attitude and I got stuck in and so far it’s been one of my best Januarys’ ever. Mandie is right, people are buying!

Our Authors are enjoying a similar January of good sales! Nothing makes an author happier than seeing the book reviews start to stack up alongside sales. Soulla Christodoulou’s fourth novel, The Village House, takes readers to the beautiful mountain village of Omodos and Cyprus and Soulla keeps sharing more and more good news. “My book is now in the top 24! The top twenty-four!!!! For fiction! (We wish we could tell you what Soulla is planning next – but we are pretty certain the Insiders will be involved for advice, and first dibs to be there!) Caroline Beament a Utility Warehouse Representative and The Money Saving Mum was the first Insider to buy Soulla’s book and jumped in at the networking event this week to say how amazing it is! You can buy that book here. Caroline has her own good news story, but not about making money, living up to her name and helping people save it. “This week I was able to help one family save over £3000 on their energy bills!” The Money Saving Mum site.

And lastly it is not just good news for our members, The Insiders has seen a 20% increase in recent weeks as businesses look to sustain growth, network and promote their businesses.

Recessions have proved that those that stop investing in marketing, events, training and R and D are likely to have a smaller share post-recession and be at a higher risk of collapse. Even our Founder Mandie Holgate said “It’s exciting if a little nerve wracking knowing you are fully booked into Easter. I’ve seen an influx of people that want to move forward from these challenging times and rewrite life/business and fun post pandemic and recession knowing what they want from business and life.”

We hope our stories of growth, money making, innovation and new opportunities have inspired you too. We have conversations like this and how to achieve our business goals every day on the Insiders. Are you in yet?*