Businesses focus on what matters

The COVID-19 pandemic has cut a swathe through our communities for the best part of the last two years. As many of our customers emerge from this period of uncertainty, at ANZ we’ve been struck by how many of them have successfully adapted their business models.

Almost every business, from small to medium enterprises, has had to change something about the way they operate. For some, those changes have worked really well while others have found it more difficult to adapt due to trading restrictions.

{CF_VIDEO}

The next phase

As some businesses move back to a more traditional model in the next phase of COVID-19, what’s interesting is many of them plan to retain some efficiency they adopted during the pandemic.

Incorporating these changes as they emerge from the pandemic and pursuing what really matters to business will be a perfect springboard for many to take their endeavour to the next level.

One business able to adapt its model to keep operating throughout COVID-19 is Melbourne-based jewellery design and manufacturing company Windfall Jewellery.

The company was started ten years ago by founder and creative director Lani Williams from her bedroom. She began designing and making bespoke jewellery after the birth of her first son.

Revelation

While holidaying on an overseas trip, Lani realised she didn’t want to be in her full-time ‘day’ job and that her life and career needed a change.

“When I came back I decided I was going to quit and put everything into this business and see where it takes us,” she says. “I always we knew we had a really unique product and a really unique visual, it just took a few years for it all to pan out.”

Needing flexibility and unsure of the demands of a retail shopfront, the business initially began as a pop-up studio store.

“People loved it. It’s a tactile kind of experience, right? People want to try jewellery on in the flesh. So, the studio space worked really well for us,” Lani says.

COVID-19 required the team at Windfall to begin offering customers “virtual” consultations and they plan to retain this feature after the pandemic.

“It was an easy adaptation for us. And now we’ve really focused on bulking up our stock in-store. People can experience the shopping experience a little differently. Place your order and then get the item the next day,” she says.

As the business grew, despite the uncertainty of the pandemic, in February this year Windfall decided to buy its studio space in the inner Melbourne suburb of Footscray.

“It’s just nice to know that this is ours,” Lani says.

{CF_IMAGE}

A sustainable future

At ANZ, one of our key areas of focus is to help people sustainably run and grow their businesses. Sustainability and the footprint you leave is not far from the mind of any business owner, and Lani is no different.

In the coming year she wants Windfall to focus on its supply chain to that it reflects her principles and those of her staff and customers.

“We’ve got a big focus on sustainability, so we want to make sure our suppliers have that focus and that ethos as well. But we also like to support local. So anything from our printers, our flyers and also our supply chain with a lot of our stones and our materials are all based in Australia,” Lani says.

Where you shop matters

The other issue on the mind of every business is the looming Christmas shopping period. The success of this short window is vital to so many businesses because it can account for a large percentage of their annual turnover each year.

This year ANZ and Windfall Jewellery, are supporting the ‘Where You Shop Matters’ campaign which asks consumers to support their local traders and buy local wherever they can. It’s vital we get as many of these small enterprises back into the best shape they can be.

And for many that includes getting customers back on-premises to enjoy a retail experience many have missed during the pandemic. So far, Lani says the signs are promising.

“We’ve hit the ground running. People have been itching to come in. A lot of people are really excited to be able get out of their home and come into the space. It’s awesome to have people back in here,” she says.