THE virus has affected more than people’s health says Annabel Candler, Event Consultant & Wedding Planner, Founder of Weddings by Annabel
Everyone is feeling the effects of life-changing and more specifically business. Being self-employed has always been a challenging joy in my life. The ups and downs being relentless but not off putting. This though has been the weirdest part of the rollercoaster so far. I had to assess how I should handle it and what I could do about something so out of my control.
Being in the events industry has meant that my role was effected immediately with events being cancelled from the off. Weddings then followed as not just the governments warnings but peoples health and money fears crept in. Work paused and with no certainty of when it would come back. Testing times.
My biggest fear wasnt for my own business though. I felt a dread, a darkening gloom about what the industry will be like after this and who will come out the other side. The level of hope that events bring is high and uplifting. Everyone likes either the loving ones to look forward to or public parties and festivals, even the often scary but adrenaline boosting business gatherings. Although its difficult to imagine having these back again when in a hole like this, I am remaining positive and even more geared up to helping create some fantastic events when possible. Now is the time to get creative about them and use the time to strategically plot the steps out of the gloom!
My wedding clients plans seem so far away and there is a lot of sadness being emitted like a thick nasty gas over something so special and emotionally rewarding in their lives. Most of my work is managing people and their needs, desires and expectations. This has proven to be a time of real honest support and optimism. Its easy to go down hill and some days that is all that happens but I power on for my clients. I know how much their day will mean to them after all this. Being excited is ok, that isnt a sin, its a right and something thats truly needed at this time!
Beyond my clients, I work with very inspirational and hard working suppliers who I know could struggle with this financially and mentally. My first instinct was to reach out. I have been lucky enough to be part of networking groups for most of my career and know the power behind it. I feel this is the time to utilise these connections and methods more than ever. Staying in touch, talking and sharing can work wonders for not just for our sanity but the strength of the business coming out of this. Who will rise above when the cloud starts to descend? Who has showed up, not dialed back?
I am going to make my business work beyond this nasty era. I am going to do what I can to help others come out of it too! Are you?
- For business support, learning and networking for proactive, like-minded wedding industry businesses in Cumbria visit TWISN Cumbria – https://www.facebook.com/groups/884740485257389/
