How fledgling north Derbyshire business beat the lockdown

Gail Hannan relocated her vintage café business Cup and Saucer from Bolsover to Clay Cross in February.

When the full force of the pandemic struck the country just weeks later, Gail knew she would have to diversify quickly to survive and saw the advantages of teaming up with other independent businesses.

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“I could have gone home and thrown my dummy out of the pram, or thought of some other way to keep going,” Gail said.

“So, I got in touch with other producers to produce gift hampers. All are Derbyshire based businesses within 10 miles of the shop - apart from one from Derby.”

The hampers have allowed Cup and Saucer, based on High Street, to not only survive but to prosper with business now ‘booming’.

Gail now spends her mornings making up the hampers and afternoons delivering them, with ‘word-of-mouth’ keeping her business buoyant.

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There are various sizes and types available to buy, including Derbyshire Producers Gift Hampers, Tea and Sweet Treats Hamper and a Chocoholics Dream Hamper.

Councillor Carolyn Renwick, cabinet member for economic growth at North East Derbyshire District Council, said it was ‘amazing’ to see Gail’s business doing so well with such a difficult backdrop.

"It is so important to support our local businesses who live and work in our district to come out of this pandemic with support, enabling them to prosper,” she said.

“Shopping locally in unique businesses such as Gail’s, offers a personal experience that money can’t buy. It is so important we are all in this together to be stronger together and supportive of each other.”

Derbyshire companies which have contributed to Gail’s hampers include Rate Good Brownies, Liza Bakes, Petit Pithivier, Ashgate Preserves, Homemade at Haselmere, Jade’s Delights, Curry on Cooking, Cacoa Elora and Bear Cool Honey.

Products are available to order via Gail’s website on Etsy and via Facebook by searching for cupandsaucertea. Delivery is free within the Chesterfield area for orders over £10.

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