Spring Cleaning And New Beginnings

Spring cleaning! What images does this bring to mind? Is it something that has been relegated to history, conjuring up images of womenfolk of bygone years throwing open their cottage doors, thoroughly sweeping each room, washing all curtains and bedding and bashing the dust out of rugs hung over washing lines? Or it might be long-braided pioneer girls drying freshly laundered linen by running across the prairie grass and waving it in the gentle, warm air, rejoicing that the long months of bitter cold and snow are finally over. Maybe some of us are old enough to remember our own mothers or grandmothers giving their homes a good “doing over” when the warmer weather returned. Many will feel this whole concept is simply relegated to times past, while others might sense a pang of guilt as spring cleaning is not a part of our yearly routine.  

We are not the only culture to throw open doors and windows to give our homes a good scrub as soon as the temperature warms up and the lighter days return. Both Iran and China prepare for the New Year by giving their houses a thorough clean. In Iran, Nowruz, the New Year, is celebrated on March 21. Its rituals, based on regeneration and new life, are rooted in the country’s pre-Islamic culture. In preparation, the house is “shaken down”, with all bedding, clothes and other textiles washed and aired. In China, superstition plays a role in the thorough cleaning of the home prior to celebrating the New Year. It is believed that it is necessary to physically sweep all the bad luck out of the old year and then to enable good fortune to rest upon the home, cleaning is then prohibited for the first couple of weeks in the New Year.  

Competing for the oldest traditions around spring cleaning is the Jewish ritual of clearing the house of any remnants of bread, prior to the Passover, or Pesach, in April. Jews eat only unleavened bread during this festival to remind them of the time they had to leave Egypt and slavery in such a hurry that they only had time to make bread without yeast; hence the complete cleaning of the home, including cupboards, to ensure no crumbs are inadvertently left behind.  

Whatever the origins of spring cleaning, the return of longer, lighter and warmer days instills in most of us a desire for fresh beginnings, whether this is throwing our woollen jumpers in the wash and hanging them out in the spring-flower scented air to dry, garnering some charity shop finds to upcycle for a long anticipated project or simply buying a multi-coloured bunch of tulips to brighten our table.  

There is a biological reason as to why we feel more invigorated as we tentatively poke our noses out of winter hibernation and welcome in the spring. The limited daylight hours of winter trigger the release of melatonin, which makes us feel sleepy and lethargic. So, curling up on the sofa with a steaming mug of tea and a good book might not just be laziness, but our bodies being in tune with the season. However, there is no such excuse as the daylight hours get longer, and this can explain why we often feel a fresh burst of energy and a desire to declutter, clean or start a new project. 

This urge to refresh and renew can be harnessed through our craft businesses. Are there physical areas which would benefit from a good clean or sort through? This could be the time to do it, spurred on by newly lowered levels of melatonin. Maybe there are some new lines which you have planned, but the sluggishness of the dark, winter months has made it particularly difficult to find the energy to pour into a new project; now is the time to get going and release some renewed creativity. Or, have you been putting off some of the admin tasks needed to ensure you have a secure business footing? One of these could be researching a comprehensive handmade enterprise cover to ensure your craft business is properly protected. If so, now is a good time to spring into action and get it sorted. 

If you’re new to selling your beautiful handmade products, insurance could seem a little overwhelming. However, be assured that here at Craft Insurance, we do everything we can to ensure you have the right cover at a competitive price. As a small family business ourselves, we know the importance of valuing our customers, and as such we communicate directly with each one of you…no anonymous call centres.  

We sell a number of handmade enterprise cover insurance packages, the most popular being product and public liability insurance. Product liability covers you for any claims made that a product of yours has caused harm or damage. Public liability covers you against any claims made against you, an employee or a volunteer that you may have inadvertently caused injury to a member of the public. For instance, a trip hazard at a craft fair or a slip hazard on your premises. It covers you for legal defence costs and any compensation required; even if it is not your fault, you will still be covered. Many craft fair organisers ask that you have them in place before you book your table. We often call them our sleep easy insurance as they protect you from the unforeseeable and hence unavoidable, thus allowing you to focus on what is really important: creating stunning handmade products and growing your business around them.  

We also provide employers’ liability and business items cover, so whatever type of handmade enterprise cover you require, pick up the phone or drop us a line and either Sam or Naomi will be here to answer your questions and ensure you have the best package possible for your unique business requirements. 

As our days lengthen and lighten, harness some fresh surges of energy and creativity to give your business a spring boost. We look forward to hearing from you.