Alessia Miceli

Tag: Female entrepreneurs

  • Have You Started Shopping Again?

    Have You Started Shopping Again?

    Non-essential businesses are back to their standard opening times. People are slowly starting to go back to the shops, but what is different in this new reality? Did we change our perspective of shopping? Project Women asked a boutique owner and Redcar and Cleveland Ambassador how the first week of reopening was.

    I have then noticed that people are around. Customers are slowly back to normal, no madding crowds, but still, people are around.

    Which is optimistic for the recovery of our economy. According to the Centre of Retail Research, 176,718 retail jobs were lost during the coronavirus pandemic. This impact was mainly on women; due to (14%) of women employed in the wholesale and retail trade industry.

    But now that we come out from the third lockdown, how has the way to do our shopping changed? Do we feel safe? Have we lost the joy to spend Saturday afternoons doing shopping and trying a pile of clothes?

    There is much more than the simple act of buying unnecessary clothes or items behind the facade of shopping.

    Jo Bell, in her boutique Audrey Alice, Saltburn by the Sea -Photo courtesy of Jo.

    SMEs contribute 47% of revenues in the UK, having a vital role in boosting productivity, so it is fundamental to understand the connection between small business and the economy.

    The entrepreneurial ecosystem needs to be encouraged and supported by all of us.

    Beth Hodgson, RCA (Redcar and Cleveland Ambassador), which during the lockdown kept encouraging SME entrepreneurs, said: “Last Monday I sent messages to everybody I have worked with, just to wish them good luck and it seems that everybody has a successful first week.”

    Jo Bell, Audrey Alice boutique owner in Saltburn by the Sea about her first week, reopen said: “It’s brilliant we got people coming into the shop, just coming in and touch the clothes, I allow them to try on obviously being very careful, still being very careful around the limit of people inside the boutique as well.

    “So nice to speak to somebody no in front of the doorstep.”

    Beth Hodgson, during Insta live supporting local businesses- Pghoto courtesy of Beth.

    Boosting Productivity

    For the past last year, we have missing, getting around shops get inside, have a chat with the owner, and that feeling of touching and trying clothes on.

    But must address another aspect of this pandemic, and it is online marketing, which many entrepreneurs had to learn from scratch how to sell.

    Jo Bell said: “I didn’t have a clue about social media. I could do my personal account.

    “So I quickly learnt all of that pretty much in one night; I developed a website, now has been improved and launched in February this year.

    “Selling through Facebook, Instagram, Google and Google Searches.

    Audrey Alice Boutique, Saltburn by the Sea- Photo courtesy of Jo.

    “It has been a difficult time, very challenging, but it worth it. The website sells all day, and we had some International sales and people messages you because they want to know about products.”

    “Been online allows your brand to reach everything that you could not get before, but when the boutique opened, it was hectic and did it very well, and so was the online.”

    Beth Hodgson said: “Because I have been furlough for so long, it’s hard to remember what. I kept myself busy with all the features I have done online with my Ambassador work.

    One of Beth behind the scenes on her Insta account- Photo courtesy of Beth.

    “Because I love doing it, I could work every hour, every day building all that side of things.

    “However, been back in the office today for the first time over a year, it was brilliant. We were the only people in the business centre. We are in only two days in the office, which is a nice balance.”

    “I didn’t realise how much I can physically do.”

    Supporting Small Businesses

    Jo`s Boutique in Saltburn by the Sea- Photo courtesy of Jo.

    In the first week of back to normality, we have learnt different ways to produce. Maybe by accident, we have discovered how to be more present on online sales.

     Some sectors learnt how to boost productivity, especially in those where the average productivity is low, such as the food and beverage industry, or the so-called from statisticians’ `allocation effect.`

     In economy, it refers to the process by which economic resources get apportioned, assigned to their particular uses for directly or indirectly satisfying human wants.

    However, outside, the sunshine shines, and we all slowly back to normal. The first week was a big success for everyone; in Redcar and Cleveland, most businesses showed resilience and adaptability, and their strength has been reworded.

    Supporting local businesses after lockdown- Photo courtesy of Beth.

    Beth Hodgson said: “Redcar and Cleveland businesses are innovative, they adapted, Jo is a primary example.

    “And this is how businesses are in this area.”

  • Becoming A Redcar and Cleveland Ambassador made me increase my confidence to help businesses in the area.

    Becoming A Redcar and Cleveland Ambassador made me increase my confidence to help businesses in the area.

    During the pandemic crisis, Beth Hodgson decided to help business women and shouting about the area. After following some mentoring programmes and becoming an Ambassador for  Redcar and Cleveland, Beth started a successful journey to support herself and others.

    As everybody was affected by the pandemic, Beth was as well from being furlough. But then Beth decided that have to do something about it. With no work, for the first time, Beth had the time to invest in her self.

    “I always struggled with my confidence; sometimes people think I don’t because I do come across in a certain way.”

    Beth`s Journey around the area that she loves.-Photo courtesy of Beth.

    “I have joined a few programme, courses and membership routes and been focused on self-love. I feel like a butterfly comes out from the chrysalides.”

    Before the Pandemic, Beth was a marketing manager in the music field.

    “I didn’t want to lose the skills acquired. Then, the mix of I don’t want to lose my skills combined with wanting to do something

    “I started looking at how I could help others, googling tons of pages and researching, when I came across the Redcar and Cleveland Ambassador programme.”

    Redcar&Cleveland Manifesto- Photo courtesy of Beth.

    Beth started working with  Camille Plews, a Redcar based business consultant, working together in the coaching programme and focusing on social media strategy and launch mastery, and self-esteem.

    “I had a look at the programme; I feel like I am in line with that, I love what it is about, so I am going to apply in January.

    But Camille said; No! apply now, get it done before Christmas, and I did.”

    Beth went in touch with Richard Baker, the ambassador project’s marketing manager and leader, who welcome Beth on board.

    “Now I am part of the team, and I feel part of the team. A bit of breaking news, I just had a conversation with Richard Baker, marketing manager and leader of the ambassador project.; all my feature will go on Enjoy Redcar and Cleveland website.

    “Being part of the team is so rewarding, the lovely comments for the work produced. It’s nice to have the recognition from the people that you did a good job.”

    “I want to celebrate women in our area who managing the juggle of running a home, organising child care and now homeschooling.

    Beth is ufficially an Ambassador for Redcar&Cleveland. Photo courtesy of Beth.

    “They juggled many tasks before the pressure of the pandemic, and now our lives have dramatically changed, showing  the determination that women have got.”

    At 7 pm, Beth, every Thursday, is online streaming on Instagram, promoting local businesses and looking forward to expanding her events network.  

    “As soon I ended my first live chat, the endorphins afterwards were unbelievable.

    “Every Thursday, I still get butterflies and a bit of nerve. But I like that because it shows that I still care, and I want to make sure it’s the best possible thing I am putting out for my audience.”

    Beth also runs a Facebook group to help local entrepreneurs get visibility on social media. She aims to develop a community for connecting and support not only women but also anyone who benefits from her freebies free to download.  In her long-term plans, the Professional NLP Coaching qualification to become a coach helps other women boost self-esteem.

    Beth`s Instagram online events- Behind the scenes and live chat. Photo courtesy of Beth.

    73% of Women Lack of Confidence at work

    A research carried out from My Confidence Matters Ltd about self-confidence in work over 300 women employed across various sectors, including voluntary work, found out that over 73% felt they lacked confidence in the workplace regularly.

    Most of the respondents directed difficulties in interaction with others; Appearing confident but not feeling confident (46%)

    Confidence in public speaking. – Photo by  Leon on Unsplash


    Forgetting what you were going to say or waffling (38%) and having a negative mindset, e.g. why should anyone listen to me? (31%).

     In terms of building confidence, the best service that women would use, according to My Confidence Matter research, two options were the most selected; being part of a community (57%) and one-to-one coaching (48%). However, other options also received a high level of choices, like bitesize online mini-courses (37%), and workshops (37%)

    What is the confidence gap between men and women?

    The graph below shows that women’s confidence increases more with age than men’s. But we need to consider the many opportunities we lose for our career progress in the early years because of fear and lack of confidence. We need to take the courage to take action and become like Beth to succeed in our career aspirations.

    Source: Zenger Folkman’s research