Running a successful small business is no easy feat.
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But throw in a pandemic, a shutdown and the home-schooling of small children, and anyone who makes it out the other side must be bullet-proof.
In the 15 years since Pip Brett started her homewares, art and fashion store Jumbled, early 2020 was without question the "most stressful time" she's had to endure.
"Home-schooling the kids in the shop was the worse element," she said, looking back at late March and early April when the COVID-19 pandemic forced kids to learn from home.
"It was really tricky. Which is the same for everyone ... having to hold a full-time job and have your kids learning [with you all day], that was pretty stressful.
"Things became very different," she added.
Then, rather unexpectedly, everything changed.
Despite The Sonic not even being open, online sales began to skyrocket.
"We doubled our sales," Mrs Brett said.
"We were closed for three months but we were really able to focus on online and make our community aware of how highs and lows on Instagram and Facebook.
"It just sort of proved that you need to diversify [in small business].
"You can't just put all your eggs in one basket.
People are becoming more conscious of who they're spending [their money] with... Instead of trying to find the cheapest deal, they're thinking about where and why they're spending.
- Pip Brett
"By having an online element and a social media element and using email marketing and things like that, you don't have to rely so much on the local bricks and mortar offering."
While the effect of COVID-19 was documented as having a much more costly financial impact on women compared to men, prompting it to be dubbed the "she-cession", it also brought about a cultural shift.
Customers, particularly those in regional areas, were more inclined to support small, independent businesses.
"There was a real focus within the media to support small business," Mrs Brett added.
"So many people were doing different campaigns about shop small and shop small businesses.
"People are becoming more conscious of who they're spending [their money] with ... instead of trying to find the cheapest deal, they're thinking about where and why they're spending money.
"They want to support regional businesses as well.
"I feel that's been a real movement."
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