Business owners at the Makers Market in MediaCity are having to make changes to their everyday lives to combat the effects of the cost-of-living crisis.
Francesca Smith runs Francesca Smith Jewllery as well as working full time as a book editor.
Due to the impact of the cost-of-living on her day-to-day life she has had to start selling her products at markets as well as online.
She said: “The biggest thing about cost of living, especially for people our age is just desperately trying to find any other stream of revenue that you can.
“This isn’t going on fun stuff, this is going on energy bills. t’s very difficult for sellers especially those who make their full time living off this.”
Whilst the government have offered small businesses an Energy Bill Relief scheme that provides them with a discount on their energy costs, some are still left struggling.
Owner of Juel Charm, Carmen Gordon had to sell her house and downsize in order to carry on her jewellery business. She said: “I’ve moved into a house that needs loads of work doing, just so I can be mortgage free, so that I can carry on my business.
“That’s how I’ve made sacrifices, so that I can carry on doing this. This is my passion, I wasn’t attached to the house at, so I knew this was the right decision to make.”
Carmen set up and ran her business part-time during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
Recently she decided to take on her business full-time and travel to markets across the country, however because she is newly self-employed, she can’t claim any support from the government. She said: “Because I’m so new, unfortunately if you’ve been self-employed only for a small amount of time you don’t get any help.
“I think if they can help us in any way there should be some kind of little grant, even if you have just started, just to help.”
For more information about the scheme click here
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