Let’s Celebrate Local!

By Lisa Berry, owner of Cheeky Little Prints. which helps you capture your pet’s unique paw print with an easy to use inkless paw print kit that can be posted to you at home. Prints are then tidied up to remove any extra furry bits, so you have a nice clear paw print to keep forever. Your pet’s paw print can be showcased in stunning sterling silver jewellery as well as personalised paw print stamps and gifts. Based in Swindo working worldwide.

How are you feeling about your business?  

Overall, I am feeling positive about my business. I am lucky that I trade mostly online and have some wonderful customers, however, I am very mindful we are in uncertain times and none of us really know what is around the corner. I am confident in my products and brand and know I provide excellent value and service. Hopefully by consistently marketing and continuing to serve my customers to the best of my ability the business will be able to ride out the remainder of this storm and then thrive.

How are you feeling about business in general? 

I think business is changing rapidly and Covid-19 has accelerated a lot of changes that had already begun. I feel there are tough times ahead for most businesses. Even industries that have not been affected as badly will still find it tough as the increased unemployment is likely to hit the economy hard.  

Each week I hear of more businesses closing shops, making redundancies, or closing altogether, which is very sad to see. We are seeing more and more people turning to online shopping as a preference and I think that will only increase more over the next year or two. I do hope the High Street can find a way to keep drawing customers in though. 

Tell us how you now apply this phrase to your business and/or life ‘buy local supply local’. 

1. I have worked with local vets in Swindon (Drove, Eastcott and Purton) for many years creating silver paw print jewellery for any of their clients who wish to order it. I really enjoy these collaborations and offering this service to clients of local vets.

2. I support local businesses e.g. I buy make up from a local friend who has a Younique business, I get a lot of my printing from MinuteMan Press in Swindon and we also collaborate on products as well. I learn about PR and blogging from courses hosted by local PR expert Fiona Scott and blogging expert Emma Bradley.

3. I advertise with Total Guide To Swindon and my website was built by local SEO company SmarterMedia.

What has changed for you positively as a result of lockdown? 

The business has been quieter over lockdown so it has given me an opportunity to work on the business and get more of the systemisation I had started working well, which will be a great positive for the future.  

I have discovered a new local recreation ground with tennis courts in Swindon as I wanted to find a better alternative than meeting at a park so my eldest son could meet up with his friend outside in a safe socially distanced way. 

Lockdown tested my resilience in many ways as a single parent running a business, but it has shown me that even under very tough circumstances I can keep all the plates spinning.

What makes a good local business?

A good local business is accessible when the majority of its customers want to access it and is well stocked.  The number of times I have gone into shops (often bigger national shops) and they do not have what I am looking for is incredible, so I end up going home and ordering online.  

This was a regular occurrence before lockdown, and it is an important area to address if the High Street is to survive. Friendly staff who take an interest and are enthusiastic to serve their local customers really goes a long way to building up a great reputation. 

Can you name a local business which you support around food & drink? 

I always support the independent cafés at Lydiard Park and Coate Water in Swindon when we visit, I have done for years and when they opened as lockdown eased. 

Can you name a local business which you support around health, wellbeing, or fitness? 

We recently discovered Swindon Community Tennis and have been very impressed. We have booked a court on several occasions already and will be back again soon. Very easy to book online and £5 per hour is exceptional value. I plan to use this facility a lot over the summer and beyond to entertain two energetic boys!

https://swindontenniscentre.org.uk 

Can you shout out to any local customers you'd like to celebrate? 

I cannot really single out 3 but I would like to thank all my wonderful customers who have continued to support Cheeky Little Prints, especially during these uncertain times. Your orders and the opportunity to serve you is always very much appreciated.

Can you shout out to (up to) three local suppliers you wish to celebrate? 

Smarter Media have been amazing! I began working with them in early 2019 when they built my current website and they have also carried out some great SEO work for me. Smarter Media have continued to be very supportive over the last few months with informative webinars and are always willing to help and answer questions. I highly recommend them and will be back working with them again soon. https://smarter-media.co.uk

Total Guide To Swindon have been very supportive. I began advertising with them in February not long before the covid-19 pandemic hit. It was an unsettling time at the beginning of the lockdown with sales a lot lower than usual and Liz Hutchings was very understanding, and we came up with an agreement that helped us both. All the team at TGT have been great in posting my special offers and blogs on the site to help keep me visible.

James and Mark at MinuteMan Press have been brilliant as always, producing any printing and products that we collaborate on quickly and to their usual high standards. James even hand delivered my orders during lockdown as it was not as easy for me to get out with the kids on my own - https://www.swindon.minutemanpress.co.uk

Can you name someone who has had your back during lockdown? 

I have had some pretty tough situations to deal with over lockdown and whilst he couldn’t be there to help physically due to lockdown restrictions my Dad was always on the end of the phone when I needed him and my Mum has been a big help too. They always are. I was very grateful to be able to “bubble” with my parents when that was allowed in June.

What are your business plans for Q4? 

Consistent marketing over a range of social media platforms including some sponsored posts. Weekly blogging, regular emails and I am hoping to have some new product offerings ready for this Christmas season as well. Quarter 4 is a busy time for Cheeky Little Prints with the Christmas rush so a lot of focus will be on efficiently creating and shipping orders as well as keeping on top of marketing and admin.

Any special offers you’d like to mention? 

September Early Christmas Offer:

Free personalised paw print decoration (worth £19) when you order any piece of silver paw print or raised paw print jewellery. Offer ends 30th September. Order your silver paw print jewellery on the website and I will contact you to arrange your free Christmas decoration. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or loyalty discount.

Parting thought? 

Keep positive and support as many local and independent businesses as you can. These businesses are usually run by families, parents and single parents and your business means more to them than you will ever realise.

For more information visit www.cheekylittleprints.co.uk