Lessons Covid Taught Our Small Business

Lessons Lockdowns Taught Our Small Business

To say that the Covid years were crazy year would be the understatement of the century.  Who would have ever thought as the clock ticked over to 2020 that only a few months later we would be locked down in our homes as the whole world faced a global pandemic?

For us at Good Thing (and so many other small and large business everywhere) it was a time of massive upheaval, big doses of resilience and tapping into eternal optimism… but also of giving up control and learning to be okay with that! 

There were massive stock issues as clothing manufacturers in particular cancelled summer styles and saw production run later and later as the countries where they manufacture endured terrible effects from Covid and long lockdowns.  Add to that huge disruptions and price increases to shipping routes and air freight. 

None of the following takes away from the fact that it was such a terrible time for so many but for us these are the GOOD things we will take away from the Covid years:

• Community!
  More than anything we came together to support our community and for them to support us.  The number of customers who flocked into Good Thing after the Level 4 lockdown ended - just to support us to make sure we survived and thrived, who told us how much they loved having us in the neighbourhood and how they hoped we were ok, was extremely heart-warming and humbling.  Thanks to all our beautiful customers, near and far.
  

• Resilience
  We had to give over control and just go with whatever came our way, duck and dive, make decisions on the spot then change direction again, try new ways of doing everything and work super hard to pull it all together.  We offered local delivery, shop at the door, virtual fashion shows and foraging videos, kombucha lessons, reading recommendations, and regularly updated window displays for those out on their Covid walks. All these things helped keep us connected. Getting through was an exercise in adaptability and it is such a valuable lesson for life… that old saying comes to mind ‘Grant me the courage to change the things I can change, acceptance of the things I cannot and the wisdom to know the difference’. Covid was the true test of this. 
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• Relationships
  Behind the beautiful products on our Good Thing shelves are more than 100 suppliers large and small and in the global pandemic those suppliers came forward to support us with lenient payment terms, messages of support, and general understanding. We hold a special place in our hearts for those who showed the kindnesses larger and small that helped us get through the worst of that time. And of course our amazing team who stood by us. Where would we be without them!

• Keeping It Local
  As an independently owned local store we are total converts to the ‘shop local, shop small' movement but is super heartening to see the country turn towards this more and more post-Covid.  We have such an awesome country and such creative people, it’s fab to see people holidaying at home more, getting out and seeing NZ, and likewise supporting local makers, creators and business owners.  Ka pai fellow kiwis!

• Consciously Spending
  So many people have taken stock of how and where they spend and this can only be a good thing.  Our customers often say they are thinking about their spending and who they want to support when they open their wallets.  Lockdown gave us all the chance to think about which businesses we wanted to see survive and thrive and then commit to supporting them with our purchasing power.  The concept of 'use it or lose it’ became very real. 

• Quality Over Quantity
  We see this increasingly at Good Thing - people want to buy right, they want to know that their spending is not adding to pollution, wasting precious resources, supporting unethical work practices or creating waste that will head to the landfill before long.  They want to know that the products they buy are ethical, sustainable, and have a life beyond them.  That they can be treasured, repaired, handed down, and passed down. 

• Mother Earth Got to Take a Breath
  With all the Covid shut downs we got to glimpse what the world would be like if we can stop so many of the polluters that we have accepted as part of everyday life.  It gives us hope, we can work together and we can save this beautiful planet we are so lucky to live on. 
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• Lastly, It’s About People
  What are we without our people, the ones we love and cherish and value, whether it be our families, our neighbours, workmates and friends, the ones we value in our community, the ones who lead us well.  Covid helped us realise even more that people are more important than anything, and that we as communities and as nations can still pull together to help each other, even the people we don’t know. Putting people first is always the right choice and we were reminded of that in the most extreme way.