As the UK awaits the government’s roadmap out of lockdown this week, there seems hope that out of the ashes of the economy a new wave of post-pandemic start-ups will arise. The past year’s lockdown has created a seismic shift on the High Street, with the demise of many traditional British favourites such as Debenhams and Top Shop. Lack of foot fall and inflexible and expensive rents created a problem that just could not be solved, leading to the creditors being called in.
Moving forward out of the lockdown, there will be innovation and a new focus on sustainability and lean business models for Start-up FMCG and clothing brands. QHQ are supporting these new ventures with all-round flexible support, via their supply of specific consultants skilled in design, grading, and manufacturing consultation. There will be no financial commitment or retainers put in place for start-up businesses, instead there will be the opportunity of continuous support needed through the initial growth period. Starting a company remotely has its challenges - for example, creating a culture, sourcing packaging and organising product photo shoots are reported to be tricky, but with the right support in place, they are far from insurmountable issues.
Kate Berry, QHQ Director: “Although the past year has been brutal for the retail economy and their supply chains, we are now seeing a more positive path forward with many Start-ups taking the opportunity to reach customers via new routes. The move away from bricks and mortar to online business-to-consumer sales models provides more opportunities for sales without the traditional financial commitments of retail unit rents to pay. New business are finding resilience by embracing e-commerce and reaching customers via social media presence and influence on Instagram. At QHQ, we are committed to helping these new businesses throughout their initial stages of product development. We have a wealth of experience both as a team and via our temporary consultants and we are passionate about helping these startups succeed as we come out of this pandemic into a new working model.”