'Covid forced us to adapt - now we are booming'

Businesses across the South East were sternly tested by the unprecedented nature of Covid-19.

The first national lockdown in March 2020 forced huge numbers to close at short notice, and left many facing an uncertain future.

While coronavirus proved the death knell for some businesses, others were able to adapt in the most adverse of circumstances and have flourished since.

Melissa Farry, owner of Laila Paris Aesthetic and Wellbeing Clinic in Horley, said, in a way, the pandemic helped, adding: "Now we are booming."

Pre-pandemic, around 30% of Laila Paris's customer base worked at Gatwick Airport and associated businesses.

Ms Farry said it took "a good two years" for this base to return.

During this period of uncertainty, she went into a "deep reflection" about her desired direction for the business.

She said: "I've actually now branded myself as the Skin Witch and I'm doing really well with that.

"We're very fortunate that actually Covid has, actually boosted our business in a way.

"We did survive and now we're booming."

Lesley Farrow, co-owner of Niche Boutique in Rye, said the pandemic forced her hand to open an online operation and outlet store.

She said: "At the end of the whole lockdown period we'd lost eight months of business roughly.

"The stock was still coming in and we were closed, so we opened a website."

Mrs Farrow, whose husband Peter Farrow runs a jewellery business on the same site, admits the move online was a "learning curve".

As for the outlet, this came about because there was so much stock that needed to be displayed.

"Covid has made us have two stores," she added.

The Copper Rivet Distillery in Chatham rose to prominence during the pandemic, having pivoted from producing gin and whiskey to hand sanitizer for the emergency services.

During the period of greatest need, the distillery was making 10,000 litres of sanitizer a week.

Co-founder Matthew Russell says this level of production was no accident.

He said: "We as an organisation were monitoring the situation quite closely on the lead-up to the lockdowns...

"Given the fact that Copper Rivet distillery is one of the few producers to make alcohol from scratch, we did a lot of pre-planning on what we might need to do or be asked to do."

With tour numbers still not fully recovered since the pandemic, the distillery has adapted its offering by introducing more experience packages.

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.