My Back To Business Strategy

By Mandy St John Davey, professional property developer and mentor and interior designer. Mandy is a prominent member of the organisation Women In Property, she was national chair 2019 to 2020 and is now their national mentor. Mandy lives in South Wales and is a regular visitor to Swindon.

Summarise how Covid-19 has affected your business? 

As soon as lockdown came and the possible ramifications came to light, I contacted all of my tenants to reassure them that they would not lose their homes if their income was affected by the situation. I pride myself on being a caring and ethical landlord and I didn't want any one of my tenants panicking that they would lose their sanctuary. 

Having a home is very important for our mental wellbeing - and even more so if you are under stress in other areas of your life. I asked them to let me know if they were having financial problems and we would discuss options such as a rent holiday or temporary reduction to get us all through this difficult time. I have honoured that commitment. 

I also realised quite quickly that the support for business owners was not including everyone - many of my team of trades people are self-employed yet are directors of their own small limited companies (a group which has got no support from government). I've worked with them on empty properties that I'm renovating to keep them in work safely. It means they can put food of the table for their families although because of social distancing measures, renovations are inevitably taking a little longer. 

What has been your plan to continue?  

I have to say, for me personally, not an awful lot.  It’s still business as usual.  I have worked form home for over 25 years initially having to leave a corporate career due to ill health.  

Over the years isolation has been a regular pattern in my life as I continue to manage my health.  Since 1994 I have struggled with ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome so home working was and still is a must.   

Time management has always been a priority e.g. taking time out after busy schedules to re-energise whether that’s weekends or weekdays  self-isolation has pretty much been the norm to protect my energy and health. Therefore, my property business very much runs itself, and I can do most things from home anyway.  

What I have had to consider is how I manage my current development projects. For example checking in on projects and work flow.    

I have been self-isolating since March 6 so am avoiding contact with people if possible. Project management on my sites has had to be around times when nobody else has been on site in the late evening or weekends. 

I’ve communicated with my teams via social media, the phone and simple things such as marking up pictures for further explanation.   

I’ve also had to consider how my teams work, we’ve had to slow down turnaround times as I only allow one tradesman in at a time e.g. my electrician would have a couple of days, followed by the plumber. Previously all the trades would be in at one time turning the project around as quickly as possible.   

What has been the most challenging aspect of all of this? 

I would say the most challenging aspect in all of this is getting hold of construction materials.  

Plaster and sand has been particularly difficult, partly due to the fact that individuals have been furloughed and have been working at home on their own properties. So any holding stock has been quickly depleted.    

Deliveries have been on stop so we have needed to book collection slots from trade suppliers and builders’ merchants, or queue at smaller suppliers for the odd electrical product.  Again a slow process, but I guess something that could be a new normal, for a while at least. 

What has been the most positive aspect? 

Lockdown has allowed me quality time to think and reassess what I will and will not be doing as we move forward into a different world.  More than ever it has reminded me to look around and show kindness and compassion.

I survived the property crash in 2007/08 and learned a great deal about  the property industry , especially the value in how and when to move with the market.  Drawing on this experience has taught me practicalities such as plugging a leaky bucket, cash flow and caution.  

How important is the phrase 'buy local, supply local' to you? 

Many parts of my business would not have been able to function under lockdown rules if I had not invested in my local property market.  

I have always been passionate and sympathetically renovated local run down properties, breathing new life into them and offering them out to local people either for sale or to rent.  

It has served me well over the years and I don’t just invest to get the most out of yields, make a quick buck or ’gobble up’ cheap properties.  I actually care about the community I live in – and giving back to that community.

Therefore over the years I have built up a good relationship with local suppliers, and those larger trade depots that are dotted around my location.  They have ensured I have received excellent service over these difficult months and made sure I was supplied with plenty of material before the lockdown came into force.  

What this has enabled is a knock on effect, my projects have continued to give local tradesmen work, most are self employed without business premises and therefore would not have been able to exist without work from me.  Local jobs for local trades!

On a more personal note I have been self isolating needing to rely on food and home deliveries, for myself and my elderly parents.  I have found local markets and small businesses trying to survive by switching to delivery service.  

Delivering dairy, fruit & veg, meat and other produce, something that I have enjoyed and will definitely be continuing with if and when things get back to normal.  It has certainly made me rethink where I will be spending my money in future.   

There is nothing better than opening your front door to find a bottle of milk or fresh eggs. Long may it continue. 

What are your top tips for other business owners at this time? 

1. Look at how you can help a fellow business owner, what can you do to support them to help them survive this crisis time in their business?   Do they have a product that can help you? Come to an agreement with them. 

2. Don’t worry about what other people are doing, many will be using a scatter gun approach to grab at any opportunity to set something up.  Take time. This is a golden opportunity to clear your head, think about your passion and your own USP.  Think about longevity and not something that is a flash in the pan, think of a business that is sustainable and will meet the demands of a new changing business climate then go for it.  This way your business will be different from others.

3. Don’t spend money until you actual make some!

For more information visit https://mandystjohndavey.com