Happy & Glorious sells British-made gifts, art and homeware online and from its location in Cranbrook, Kent since 2016. Owner Kate Tompsett told us how she’s kept going through lockdown.

“Cranbook is a lovely place to be. Our high street is made up of independent shops except for a Co-op and a Costa. Most of the shops have been operating for more than 20 years. I am considered a new kid on the block! I went to school here so know lots of the community and am proud to have passed the three years in business magic number. People have got to know my shop and what I sell and look for specific items.

“The last five months have been challenging to say the least. In February when I could see lockdown coming, I made a plan, a flowchart of what I would do in different scenarios. It really helped. I closed on the Saturday before lockdown as it didn’t feel right to potentially be a source for spreading the virus. I bought lots of stock home and set up a photography area. I had 200 products in my living room! Instead of working in the shop, I added items to my website and increased sales by 300% on the previous year.  Over half was from local people which was lovely. People were trying to keep me going.

“I developed new bundle products of wellbeing items. People have really needed soothing things with nice sights and smells. Plants and candles have sold especially well as people stuck at home have needed new things around them to stimulate the senses. I sourced some hand sanitiser with essential oils which is gorgeous too. I sent each purchase off with a handwritten card. I was weeping every day as it felt like I was sending out emergency parcels to people. Keeping busy and making sales helped a lot with my own mental health and of course financially.

“I also tried to keep local spirits up through my window displays. It would have been awful for people to still be seeing an Easter display in June. So I went into the shop and transformed my window into a celebration of rainbows. While I was working in the back room of the shop I would hear squeals of children able to add more rainbows to their count on their lockdown walks.

“I did get people phoning and asking to buy things in the window. I love doing the windows and often do themes as gifts for my friends and family. My next theme is foxes for my partner.

“I reopened the shop on 15 June. It felt very strange at the start. We did all the steps and more as recommended by the government guidelines. We have sanitiser, screens and gloves. I halved the floorspace in the shop and reduced what is on display. We used to do craft workshops but now use that to store stock. My stock is no longer in my living room! We’re doing everything we can so the shop is safe for everyone. It is starting to feel more buoyant with a normal level of footfall in the town. I am starting to enjoy it again. It’s so important to have human contact and talk with people.

“I have one member of staff who was on furlough. Now they are back I can take a day off. We have our community Apple Fair at the start of October which is always a buzz, and Christmas to plan for. As the weather gets colder we won’t be able to have the door open during the day which might change things. But I am hopeful that people will buy local at Christmas and something good will come out of this awful time.

September 2020

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