Oh boy, are we looking forward to Crimbo Limbo! It’s that time of the year when we can take a breather from the trials and tribulations of running Life In Magazines, as well as juggling side hustles, family etc…
We’ve had to make a few changes this year; we were originally planning for a second magazine launch in the first few months of 2020, but with Covid came new priorities – and sadly our goals had to change too.
With different demands and pressures of life in lockdown, we’re not ashamed in admitting that we sometimes struggled to cope. We made the decision to bring out digital-only issues for a couple of months (while in total lockdown) and we also had to regulate the copies of magazines being printed; with a heavily reduced footfall it made no sense to waste throwing away magazines if they weren’t being picked up.
So instead we made a huge effort to plough funds into online advertising. This ensured that we continued to grow our subscribers list, meaning more eyes on the magazine. It was very much a trial-and-error situation – and one which we didn’t always agree on. But who knew Covid would come along and challenge most small businesses on all fronts?
Our (ever changing) working life
It made us review and change the way we worked; it forced us into looking for new opportunities and different ways of bringing in money. And it even made us more creative (we like to find that silver lining!)
And it’s this resilience to whatever life throws at us (including turning into teachers at home for our children and dealing with serious illness over the last 12 months) that has kept us going.
Comments, letters, social media tags and conversations with the public and other small businesses, have continued to inspire us – and ensure that we’ve not given up. So, while we can, we’d like to take this opportunity to say a HUGE thank you for believing in us – and for all your wonderful comments. It’s lovely to be able to spread a little joy with the production of Life In Orpington every month.
Your continued support is very much appreciated. And we would ask for you to shop local where possible. Please support the businesses that advertise in Life In Orpington by giving them a try. We have gotten to know most of them as individuals and they, like us, depend on your support to keep them going.
Plus you’ll also be helping keep money in the local economy, supporting those businesses who need it the most and of course being part of a community that supports, cares and helps one another.
So on that note, we’ll leave you with this very true and poignant quote about Christmas:
“As you grow older your Christmas list gets shorter because the things you want can’t be bought.”
Until next month, have a wonderful Christmas whatever you get up to and whoever you spend it with – and stay safe!
Nicky and Lauretta