Client
Bella May Crafts is based in Wolverhampton and owned by Julie Morris. Julie specialises in making bespoke handmade jewellery, brooches, vintage and unique giftware.
Julie originally got in touch with the Black Country Growth Hub in 2019 and attended a business surgery appointment. The BCGH business development team suggested that she create a website to showcase her unique products and that she should raise the prices of her handmade jewellery.
Following the advice Julie increased product prices and launched her own website which she made herself using Wix. Wix is a platform the team suggests to up and coming businesses as it’s free and easy to use.
COVID-19 - impact
At the beginning of the Coronavirus disruption Julie contacted the BCGH team for advice and guidance as she had started to rent her own space within a craft emporium but the owner had to close the store due to COVID-19.
The BCGH team signposted Julie to a variety of free online support. BCGH also advised her to diversify her business and keep her products relevant during the disruption.
COVID-19 - response
Julie turned her attention to helping during the COVID-19 pandemic putting her design skills and equipment to good use producing clips for facemasks with a 3D printer, using a design she found online from a company based in Canada.
Julie plans to donate them to the NHS and other key workers such as paramedics and is now using a clip design developed during lockdown by her husband who is an engineer.
The mask clips are currently awaiting feedback from nurses and carers to see if she can improve the clips in any way before donating in bigger quantities. She has plans to produce and distribute more face mask clips as soon as possible.
Alongside diversifying her products to support the NHS, Julie’s core business has remained active online and on the Bella May Crafts Instagram account