WELL, here we are well into 2021 and hurtling towards our very first birthday! Our order book for this year is already looking busy and we really appreciate everyone’s support.
We’ve launched a range of new boxes, including our Letterbox Positivity Box, Self-Care box – which went down a treat – delicious Cookie Dough Delights Box and seasonal specials such as our Easter Collection and one for St Patricks Day, too!
It’s been challenging, balancing the business with homeschooling Lola and Poppy, but it’s great to know that we have such wonderful support from family and friends – and that our customers keep on coming back for more!
Natalie Bamford, Colleague Box
We also really can’t thank those businesses, particularly in our home city of Derby, whose encouragement has helped to make Colleague Box so successful.
Everyone knows of the big businesses for which Derby is famous for – the likes of Rolls-Royce, Bombardier and Toyota – but there is also a wealth of small, local businesses who we have had the honour of working with.
Laura Parry, Parry Creative
And, for me, one of the most heartening sights is that a lot of the small businesses who we have been working with have women at the helm. Quite a few are members of Marketing Derby, East Midlands Chamber or the brilliant Derby’s Finest group, who we can’t speak highly enough of.
Rachel Hayward, Ask The Chameleon
Over the past 12 months, we’ve worked with Laura Parry, of graphic design company Parry Creative – who helped us with a re-brand for 2021 – Ask The Chameleon’s Rachel Hayward, who gave Adam and I invaluable advice on awards we should be entering and grants available to us, and Bev Crighton, from the University of Derby, who was great in helping us to recruit students from their Student Employment Agency.
Others who have been brilliant for us include Sarah Loates, at Loates HR, Kerry Ganly, at Penguin PR, Bev Wakefield at Vibrant Accountancy, Claire Twells for running Derby’s Finest, Phoenix Therapies’ Sarah Gatford, Danielle Dunn; owner of bath bomb business Divine Box, which was also set up during the pandemic, Carly Dainty from Homemade Boutique who have helped create positivity packs for the gift boxes and for Safe and Sound Group’s Hope Box, Tracy Harrison from Safe and Sound and Mercia Image Print’s Amanda Strong.
Where we can, we will always strive to work with and support local businesses.
This year has been a challenging one and, where we can, we want to support all these talented small businesses we have right here on our doorstep. We are looking forward to collaborating, supporting and working with more local businesses in the near future.
Happy International Women's Day!