A Year Since Lockdown - Kieran Hughes

By Kieran Hughes, manager of Boiler Room Records, which is based in Poole, Dorset. Boiler Room Records is an independent record shop on 27 High Street in Poole. They buy and sell vinyl records and CDs across all popular music genres.

March 23rd marks a year since lockdown began and the reality of the pandemic hit the UK. What are your memories of that day?

There was obviously a bit of panic regarding the uncertainty of the situation, but we've been able to adapt by making our website and offering a click and collect service.

Thinking back, how did you anticipate the way forward for your business over those first few days?

At this time during the pandemic we knew that we needed to set up our online store to be able to continue trading, so that was our main priority to start with.

What actions did you take to save/change/pivot/support your business?

We immediately started to work on our online social media presence and began filling our website with all of our new stock.

Name up to three positive outcomes of the last year for your business?

1. We have our new website which will continue to help us grow as a business long after covid.

2. We have taken the opportunity to grow our social media presence, something that will also help us to grow long- term.

3. With the shop being closed to the public we've had the fantastic opportunity to get to move things around and really take the time to see what displays look best in our small space.

Name up to three positive outcomes for you personally over the last year?

1. I've seen that the business can survive through times like these and it gives me a sense of stability in my work.

2. I've had to adapt to selling and working online more than I'm used to. This has given me a lot of new skills that I look forward to using once lockdown ends.

What do you most look forward to doing IN BUSINESS as we slowly move out of lockdown?

Having the opportunity to open the shop back up to the public and get things running alongside our website as smoothly as possible.

What do you most look forward to doing IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE as we slowly move out of lockdown.

Socialising with friends and being able to travel.

What are your predictions for business generally in late 2021 into 2022? 

Hopefully things will get busier as we all open back up, but it really depends on how quickly people feel comfortable going back to normal.

Name one business which has been heroic for you or your community over the last year?

I don't know if i'd have survived the last year without takeaways so I think they have to be my heroes haha!

Find out more about Boiler Room Records by visiting: https://www.boilerroomrecords.co.uk/