How our Kirklees traders continue to adapt during second lockdown

Shops, pubs, cafes and other independent businesses are looking at new ways of ‘staying open’ while their doors must remain shut.

While for some businesses there’s a simple solution - pubs and cafes can turn their kitchens into takeaways for example - for others a whole new business model is needed.

The holiday industry has been one of the worst hit during the pandemic and that has forced a radical rethink for Mirfield-based Tivoli Travel, run by Jo Richards, 50.

Jo’s business had just expanded from its Mirfield base to open two other shops in Lindley and Holmfirth.

But the impact of the pandemic wiped out profits and meant the closure of the Lindley shop.

Now, during the second lockdown, Jo has furloughed her four staff and is working on a new business plan.

She is now branching out into home-working and is looking to recruit a team of consultants working from home.

In September Jo took on former colleague Lisa Towey and since then Lisa has racked up sales worth £30,000.

Jo now has other homeworkers lined up and is offering no set up fee and a 60-40 commission split.

“It’s been a very testing time but you have to stay positive,” said Jo. “I’m taking a bit of a risk but it doesn’t faze me. It’s a case of ‘what’s the problem, let’s find the solution.’”

Jo opened her shop in Huddersfield Road, Mirfield, in 2017 but for Alice Fowler, 24, the pandemic struck just months into her first business venture.

Alice took over specialist deli and cafe business Ginger Whale in Gomersal in September last year. Christmas went well but then the virus hit and the shop was closed for two months during lockdown.

The shop is small and the cafe had to go but Alice is planning to renovate a room upstairs.

She is serving customers from the doorway and people don’t mind queuing outside.

“It’s weird but a nice weird,” said Alice, whose shop is renowned for craft gin, ale and rum. “If we can survive a global pandemic and lockdown we can survive anything,” she added.