Happy Father's Day dad, Geraldo's is expanding!

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For those of you who have followed our story, you'll know that 15 years ago today my Dad, Gerald (aka Geraldo), quietly passed away on Father's Day after a long illness with cancer.  In memory of his name, I rebranded my business and have never looked back.

March 2020 was supposed to be a celebration of our 20th year of trading but instead, the world gradually went into lockdown and I went into self-isolation for 2 weeks after a short break in Italy wondering what the heck was going on in my business when I returned, just before the UK quickly closed down too.

These last 3 months have been an absolute roller coaster of a ride with the shop floor converted into a production line and a small team of staff working very long hours to pick, pack and process a massive increase in website orders and Louise, our 'Digital Superstar' working behind the scenes at home to help us introduce a home delivery and click/call & collect service via our social media channels in order to help clear our perishable stock and keep the business going.

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The A-Team: Katrina (Kat) on the left and Moira on the right packing orders.

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The support we've received from our local community and beyond has been incredible with goodwill messages coming from all over the UK for the service we've been offering to loved ones living in lockdown in Largs.  Then, with the introduction of our ice cream delivery service, our Box Deals became the new birthday/celebration cake for all the family to enjoy together and our ice cream cabinet became a holding station for all the orders that came flooding in.

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Our phone line was ringing off the hook every day from the minute we announced lines were open from 10am with my fiancé Ian, stepping in to take calls, requests and orders for local delivery offering a 'kiss, kiss' on every message card with my brother Maxwell, and his son Logan, volunteering as our delivery drivers. On the 26th of May, Alison Nelson of Largs became our 1000th caller for an order and we chose to mark the occasion by presenting her with a bottle of Champagne.

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Local suppliers have been fantastic too, with many of them doing anything they could to help us out and get much-needed stock and supplies to us, even on Sundays.

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On top of this, visitors who'd been in the shop before or had taken a look at our website enquired about gift hampers to send to family, friends, carers and loved ones to cheer them up.  We've always provided a gift hamper service with free local delivery but the truth is, we've been very limited because of a lack of space.  

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Our gift hampers have been hugely popular at Christmas and last year saw such an increase Kat, our hamper girl extraordinaire, was so busy she was on the floor behind the counter struggling to prepare them. At least during lockdown she's had the space to be creative and add something extra to every hamper that's gone out over the last few months.

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Lockdown has brought about another dilemma: how to move forward with the new services we've introduced when restrictions are lifted?  The truth is, the business has grown steadily since our rebrand and has outgrown the space we're in.  Stock has been stored in garages, hallways, my home; literally anywhere I could find space, making stock control a logistical nightmare. I've spent many sleepless nights wondering how to continue whilst making enquiries locally about vacant storage units.  Sometimes, you can't see the wood for the trees and don't realise the opportunity is staring you right in the face - literally!

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There it was, right on my doorstep!  I've owned the shop next door to Geraldo's for a number of years and bought it as an investment, never intending to move into it.  Coast Hair Salon has traded successfully for 10 years and Karolann couldn't have been more understanding or gracious about my situation.  Thankfully, she's acquired larger premises in Aitken Street in Largs and is preparing to move in early July - a double good news story of expansion during lockdown!

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The salon has now been cleared and local man Andrew Burton, IT genius and 'jack-of-all-trades' of ASKR Services has been appointed as our Project Manager to oversee the refit and refurbishment with the shop hopefully being ready to open mid-July once our main shop is cleared and lockdown restrictions permit.  

A lot of people have been instrumental in getting us to this point; namely our customers, our suppliers, our team of staff, my fiancé Ian and my family; so many individuals and too many to mention.  My Dad, I'm sure, is looking down on me.  Perhaps this is how we were supposed to celebrate 20 years in business?

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INSTAGRAN - Where Old People and Technology Collide

In case you've wondered, Sweet Caroline, (Mama Mia) has been safely behind closed doors until recently when she just couldn't stay at home any longer and wondered how on Earth does all this social media stuff work?

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So there it is.....our journey continues!  Who would've thought that a worldwide lockdown would bring about this opportunity?  If you've any other plans for us Dad, give us a chance to catch up eh?

Happy Father's Day Dad!

Toni x

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