Winter Risks And Opportunities For Craft Businesses

January is renowned for being a fairly bleak month with maybe the odd exception (Burns Night comes to mind). Depending on which part of the country we live in, we may be presented with snowy blizzards, freezing fog, black ice or weeks of overcast grey skies. This being said, we may also get some delightful, frosty days, where blue skies form a perfect backdrop to the stark silhouettes of barren trees. Fallen leaves crunch beneath our feet and icy landscapes sparkle under the pale winter sun. January also invites us to curl up with a good book, a piping hot mug of tea and a slice of leftover Christmas cake. However, for the gardeners among us, vegetable patches and flower beds are calling for attention and a tidy-up after the busy Christmas period.

January is also a good month to take stock of our businesses and make any necessary changes. One of these will be a reassessment of the risks involved and how we can best insure ourselves against any related financial implications. Of course, life would be very dull if we never took any risks but it’s just as well to take a healthy and balanced approach! One of the great benefits as a small business owner of taking out craft insurance is that it allows you to go full steam with your creativity and flair and not have sleepless nights worrying about unforeseen accidents. 

There are added risks during the cold winter months which are not present in our warmer seasons. For example, icy ground is a slip hazard over which you have limited control and could potentially cause an employee or customer to fall and sustain an injury. Having some general craft business insurance will cover you for any claims made against you for injury whilst on your property. Our craft insurance will be tailored to your unique business but usually would include both public and product liability insurance. It also covers you for any claims or legal costs made against a product of yours, even if it is not your fault. 

As well as weather-related injuries, this is also the time of year when many of us succumb to coughs and colds and both you and your staff may need time off work. In a small business with tight margins, this can be problematic. You may be able to counteract this in some way through some forward planning and it is worth thinking this through and seeing if you can add some extra leeway into your systems for a couple of the winter months. Having an emergency weather plan, keeping an eye on external storage facilities and general cold weather maintenance of your business property can all help to minimise any damage caused by winter weather.  

January can also be a good time to reassess the direction and general health of your business after the Christmas rush. How are your sales doing? Which lines are faring well and which are less so? Setting up and running any business requires risk-taking and adaptability. The beginning of a new year might be an opportune juncture to pivot your business towards certain lines which are flourishing and away from others which are not. This may demand a change of mindset and letting go of a long-cherished concept – not all good ideas are good business ideas! However, for your business to thrive you need to follow the market and embrace a flexible attitude, seeing opportunities rise out of disappointments and adventure within the risk

One aspect of diversifying and promoting your business in the dreary winter months which you might like to consider is to invite people to visit your workshop, if you have one. It could be a great way to meet new customers, to showcase your skills and to share your craft with others. In an age when loneliness is high and many work from home, people are longing more than ever for relationships and community. People love to connect with other like-minded souls and it’s both interesting and inspiring to watch skilled artisans using their hands to create something unique.  

It’s worth remembering too, whether or not you intend to invite anyone to your workspace, January is a good time to think about your workshop business insurance. At Craft Insurance we can advise you as to the kind of workshop business insurance that will suit your business the best. As a family business which has been working within the craft insurance industry for several decades, we tailor insurance to fit each client’s unique requirements. We also communicate directly with you, so pick up the phone or drop us a line and either Naomi or Sam will be waiting to hear about your plans and will create a customised  workshop business insurance package

So, despite the cold weather and the increased risk of accidents and unwelcome illness associated with it, wintertime also offers a good springboard for those prepared to take some risks and make some new connections. We hope you are encouraged to look at new directions for your amazing craft business and know that we are here to ensure you have the correct insurance to minimise the risks and give you confidence to follow your dreams.