April 3, 2020

An update on changes due to COVID 19

COVID-19 has changed so much in our lives and as Founder and CEO of Navygrey, I just wanted to update you on some new initiatives we have launched as we navigate a new way of working and our new lives at home.

Our warehouse

Our family-run Devon based warehouse continues to operate, adhering to strict social distancing and hygiene rules. We have had lots of conversations with them and they want to continue to work during this time. It's a small dedicated team down in Devon. No one feels any pressure to continue to work and we are reviewing this on a daily basis.

The warehouse will now be closed on Fridays but deliveries and returns will continue to be processed Monday through to Thursday. Our main courier providers, DPD, UPS and Royal Mail continue to operate and deliver an exceptional level of service. As a small online brand that relies on them - this really means so much right now.

Our office team

We are a small, female team spread throughout the UK. We are all working remotely and we're all juggling a mix of work and childcare - be it home schooling or figuring out how to entertain a toddler when all they want to do is go to the park with their friends.

If it takes us a little longer to respond to any queries, please do accept our apologies. We're very grateful if you can bear with us as we figure out the new working norm.

Our Italian Mill

As I mentioned in my previous post, behind myself and our core team are a number of small businesses and suppliers, including our Mill in Italy. In line with increased lockdown measures, our Mill, based near Milan is closed up until Easter, with the potential for this to be extended.

They continued to operate for as long as they could safely and we can't thank them enough for their hard work in spinning wool for us, right up until the day they closed. The team in Italy are utterly dedicated to what they do and it's been incredible to see them keep up their morale, wellbeing and motivation at such an incredibly demanding and challenging time.

Our Portuguese Factory

Our factory in Portugal remains open. The restrictions in Portugal are very similar to what they are here in the UK. They do, at times have a reduced workforce, as a number of the team have children and like here, their schools and nurseries are closed. We are in touch with them regularly and we're thrilled that as we speak, they have just completed a new spring jumper for us, which will be available in a few weeks times.

Inspiration

While of course right now, there are more important things than jumpers, we hope that in our own very small way, we can continue to bring joy to people in the form of cosy knitwear as we hunker down and learn a new way of living.

And if you're trying to decide whether it's right to keep on buying during this turbulent time, we understand. As well as being a business owner, I too am a consumer. I personally found this article in the New York Times incredibly helpful for the way in which it articulated the moral question surrounding consumerism at a time of crisis. Read the full piece here.

Treating NHS heroes

We've teamed up with Original Travel and a host of other wonderful British brands for their #AtYourService raffle. We're donating a selection of our jumpers which NHS staff can win. You can read more about it here.

In addition, we are asking for our Navygrey community to nominate an NHS worker to receive a £100 Navygrey voucher with which to treat themselves. If there's anyone you would like to nominate, please write to hello@navygrey.co with their name and NHS email. Our nominations close on 5th July and then we'll pick 10 workers to gift.

We know it's a small gesture, but we hope it goes some way towards expressing our collective gratitude to the NHS.

Thank you so much for supporting us during this time. Stay safe, stay well and stay at home.

With very best wishes,