The past year has been tough for entrepreneurs, especially those who have been forced to shut down for extended periods.
Despite these events, it appears that there may be some light at the end of the tunnel. The government has announced a ‘roadmap out of lockdown’ by June 21, which may make going back to normal easier.
As part of our ongoing business coverage of local female business owners, we interviewed a few, who have shared their stories of resilience within their own businesses in a time of crisis, and are looking forward to reopening.
By listening to their stories, we hope you will gain an appreciation for their lives, discover motivation, and discover possible strategies to implement that may serve your business well during this unprecedented period.
Meet Anna Barker: Owner of Flair Boutique UK
Anna Barker Owner Flair Boutique 
Anna Barke Of Flair boutique 
#getyourflairon
We have all been changed by COVID-19. Before the Coronavirus disruption, Anna was a full-time school marketing manager but decided to pursue her own business full time, Flair Boutique UK based in Sale, Manchester, and Cheshire. As with most retail businesses, Anna could never have imagined that her business would close after only a year.
In an interview with The Guide Cheshire Anna Said;
It wasn’t an easy decision, but I felt if I didn’t make the leap then the business wasn’t going to progress. I had also started to run fashion events and it was proving difficult to maintain a balance with my job.
So, with fashion events scheduled for most of 2020, I took the plunge and left my job in February last year. I was just throwing myself into the events and then we were locked down…for the first time!
As with all small business owners, the pandemic has been extremely challenging. The first issue was that all the events I had planned were postponed indefinitely”.
Anna admits that lockdown has presented challenges, but it has also given businesses the opportunity to grow and evolve sales very quickly online – the epitome of true entrepreneurship.
As the 12th of April nears, Anna’s drive and motivation have grown, and she has taken another risk by expanding her retail space to the large shop window at the front of Emporium M33, which will give her more exposure to the minute business reopens.
Emporium M33 in Sale is a community business hub with over 45 small independent businesses based over 3 floors.
After reopening, Flair Boutique UK hopes to offer it’s clients a variety of services including fashion shows, charity fashion shows, pop-up stores, and parties and TGC will follow both Anna and Flair Boutique UK on their journey after reopening.
