Feature Story of the Month - May 2021

Feature Story of the Month - May 2021

Time for change during Lockdown!

 

When the second lockdown started 26th December 2020, most of us were disappointed about not being able to spend Christmas with our loved ones and extended families. With home schooling beginning again for some, and closing the doors of our bricks and mortar businesses yet again with no end date being given - we couldn't help asking ourselves... how would we survive another long lockdown? how would we cope not being able to socialise with friends and family? how is my business going to survive another long period of uncertainty?

Yet we are still here, though some of us are pursuing somewhat different paths from the ones that we had last year. What lockdown allowed us to do, that most did not realise at the time, was give us a chance to step back from our businesses and evaluate what was important to us, and discover what our hearts really wanted to do.  Just within Ayrshire Business Women we have a number of women who have taken this opportunity to follow their dreams...

When Michelle and Teah Brennan of 'Rule 42' were forced to close the doors of their fashion boutiques for the second time, they took their entire business online, offering discounts and free shipping along with Click & Collect when they were able to. This has been an extremely successful move, and their business is thriving with lots of sales coming through both online - and via their re-opened stores.

Time for change for 'Sarah’s Creative Occasions' company founder Sarah Plant, who 13 years ago established the successful event management business based in Ayrshire.  In April 2021 Tracey McNally, who recently married herself during the pandemic and lives in Prestwick, took over the company fulfilling a dream of running her own business.  Tracey will, for this year at least, retain the company name and brand.  Sarah, former ABW President, follows her passion too and is now a full-time landscape painter with her new business 'Sarah Louise Artist' and can also be found volunteering in the Coach House Gallery on the Culzean Estate.

Time to expand for ABW Member, Carol Dickie who has been an active member of the property lettings community for 23 years with 'Ardanach Lettings', and has now turned her focus towards property sales. With a passion for service in the Ayrshire area, she is ready to help with your residential property buying and selling needs. As a proud member of the ‘Powered by’ Keller Williams family, 'Ardanach Property Sales' channels the same core values of hard work, integrity and amazing customer service into everything they do. 

After running her own successful social media business, 'Arran Social Media' for several years, our ABW Secretary Jane Mack has undergone a name change to 'Jane Mack Consultancy' and will specialise in helping businesses to grow and succeed with her ‘Create Success with Relationships’ method. Having grown her own successful business from scratch - for the second time in a row - Jane wanted to help others do the same. As Jane says, “It’s time to run the business you always wanted and to enjoy doing it”.

What better time than now to follow your dreams and finally make your visions a reality? These are just a few of the Ayrshire Business Women who have used the opportunities given to them during lockdown to re-invigorate their lives and their businesses for the better. 

If you wish to be featured in future articles on this website, please get in touch with Victoria Frater, by emailing news@abw.org.uk

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