I’ve had it easy in lockdown: I live in a two-bedroom apartment with my husband, we have no children, and our work is doing well. Even for us, though, lockdown has been tough. Here’s a look back at some of the distractions we’ve found, given marks out of 5. Baking & Cooking 5/5 Growing up in a half Italian, half Texan household - food was comfort, the dinner table a sanctuary. Tough day at school - let’s make a tiramisu; boyfriend trouble - you won’t be able to think about it while enjoying this steak In lockdown I made three course meals, extravagant desserts, Whatsapping my mum for Nonna’s Italian recipes, trying every TikTok trend (that tortilla wrap challenge is so dumb and so addictive), to scouring the internet for recipe for a Peruvian stew I had once 10 years ago so I could remake it for my husband to try.  A recipe we’ll be taking out of lockdown, and into [...]

It's 9:15 at night and I'm sitting on the sofa with the cat for company, looking at a blank page. It's not because the muse has suddenly struck, there's not a screed of brilliant prose which I just have to get out. No, in common with millions of others, it's because it's the first chance I've had today to do some work. The house is far from quiet - upstairs I can hear my eldest girl getting in and out of bed to chat to my wife, who is working in the office, and I'm expecting the youngest to arrive here any minute. The cat is snoring, and the floor looks like a skip full of Lego has been dropped from a helicopter. Lockdown number - well, I live in Wales so I've lost track of which number I'm on now - sees Daddy School back in operation again. As well as the two primary school age girls in my [...]

We made it to the end of a very tough year. The challenge we’ve set ourselves at Gingerhead is a really easy one – to make 2021 better than 2020. In the UK, we’re heading back into another lockdown for an unknown timeframe, we’re going through Brexit (at last with a deal), we’re preparing ourselves for more economic strain and the continued challenges and fears of the pandemic while also watching the chaos and devastation across the pond. It has never been clearer than with Donald Trump just how much damage a terrible leader can cause. So…2021 hasn’t exactly started as we’d hoped. But we remain optimistic. Here’s a couple of resolutions we’d like to share: Be flexible and adaptable: every business struggled with their operations in some way during 2020. We must always be nimble and ready to change strategy, technology, or services as needed. Support each other: many of us have been moving away from big businesses in [...]

I’d like to take a moment to say thank you to all of our clients, colleagues and supporters. All of our Gingerheads are hugely grateful to be in business during these challenging times. We wouldn't be here without you.  Gingerhead is closing the year on some lovely projects where we’ve helped businesses refresh their brands or develop new ones, worked on digital and national campaigns, developed several websites, and helped our clients to discover new and creative ways to keep in touch with their customers. It has certainly been an interesting year! We’ve been working hard throughout the pandemic, some with children at home for much of the time. I think everyone is ready to say goodbye to 2020 and to look forward to the opportunities of a new year after a much-deserved rest. During the festive season, our plan is to spend time with loved ones and recharge our batteries. I’d also like to thank all of my fellow Gingerheads. In addition to [...]

During difficult times, it’s important to try and stay positive and look for opportunities to excel. As entrepreneurs and business leaders, we all have an opportunity to decide two things: Whether we will let these challenging times get us down and derail key decisionsWhether we allow them to adversely impact our wellbeing or find a way to rally But we cannot do that alone. And it’s about more than business. Difficult times bring opportunities as well as challenges. But we have to stay true to our values as well as balancing cashflow. It has been particularly difficult when faced with the challenges of COVID-19. Though thinking differently, acting fast, and innovating have meant that many businesses are finding positives within the new normal. Even in the sectors hardest hit by the pandemic we’ve seen inspiring examples of innovation, determination and true grit. Some have pivoted their services, using the time to develop new offerings for clients. Some have set up [...]

As a mother, one of the things you want most for your children is their physical and emotional health. There are many families struggling with hardship, this year more than ever, not able to give their children enough food. Schools play an important role in ensuring that no child starts the day or spends any part of it distracted by hunger or poor nutrition. For many families who normally receive free school meals, providing additional meals during holidays can be a struggle. With half term coming up, and no free school lunches or breakfast clubs, some Liverpool families may need a bit of extra help. Local people help local people. We've teamed up with a couple of local providers – Fruit 'n' Veg Liverpool and Florrie Food Union – to bring free fruit and veg boxes and other essential food to local families who need it over the half term. Fruit ‘n’ Veg Liverpool is a great local fruit and [...]

It's been nearly six months since many companies told employees to go home and start working remotely because of the pandemic. In Gingerhead, we’ve been championing home working since 2016, as well as rethinking the concept of a 9-5 working day, understanding that remote work doesn’t mean less productivity, and that more meetings aren’t always the answer to a problem. It helped us adapt quickly to the early days of lockdown. Even with new work colleagues at home with us. Reflecting on recent months, it has been challenging, but also unifying. We’ve all giggled our way through moments of children / cats / dogs popping up on zoom and teams calls, given presentations in our slippers and baked enough banana loaf to never want to see another.  As the schools go back this month, I know that many parents are balancing worries about the pandemic, with a desperate need to have a semi-normal working day. Many are also embracing home [...]

It has been 5 months since my family caught COVID-19. We don’t know where from. While our two children had different responses to it, both fully recovered within two weeks. My husband and I did not. We still have a low tolerance for exercise, but are otherwise doing well now. Symptoms included: Severe headachesInability to concentrateDizziness AphasiaSOBRacing heart Pain – chest, kidneys, limbs Nausea / Loss of appetiteExtreme fatigue Gingerhead specialises in hospitality and tourism. Like others, I was worried about the effects of the pandemic on my employees, my clients and my business. Any business owner knows, you can’t just stop when you are ill. So, what do you do to break on through to the other side? Well we are not there yet! But you don’t give up. My team were incredibly supportive. We made decisions together. When I couldn’t focus, couldn’t write and essentially couldn’t do my job, they helped. I now work part-time. My team has [...]

This month marks four years of running my own business and our 50th client. A milestone I am incredibly grateful to have achieved. I started it in an attic room in London, scared but hopeful. The attached picture was taken by my first employee, on our first day in the London office. Our brand is named after the person who inspired me to start – my elder daughter Lottie. She changed my life in so many ways. She inspired me to want something better out of my career, for myself and others.   So many successful and fantastically good women that I have worked with over the years are side-lined once they have children, or work ridiculous hours trying to pull back the remnants of a once promising career. Always with guilt about everything that they are not doing as well as they would like. The best companies are now recognising that they are losing good people to old-fashioned working [...]

This month, we’ve been busy making bespoke social distancing signage and other safety information, as city centres, retailers and some businesses prepare to open.  With 1-3 seconds to capture audience attention with out of home signage, and 1-6 seconds for social media, we believe the difference between getting noticed and fading into the background is beautiful, effective creative. The impact of your visual marketing can make or break the perception of both your brand and your message. We’re here to make sure your creative cuts through the noise and gets to the heart of your brand’s personality. It is our aim to make your customers love what you do. This matters with important safety messaging just as much as your classic advertising campaigns. We’re so pleased to have helped our clients with social distancing signage. You can see some of our work in the coastal town of Southport, Merseyside, as they get ready to welcome people back to visit, safely. [...]