It is only with the gift of hindsight that we now get a sense of what we, as individuals and businesses, have gone through. The last four months have been tough, to say the least, as we got to grips with this new, and frightening world. Thankfully, there is now light and with that optimism, that life will slowly return to something close to normal. However, back on the 23rd March when Boris Johnson instructed us to stay home and for non-essential businesses to close, the future looked very bleak indeed.
Archway Carpets’ Darrell and Graham Smith before lockdown
Over the years Archway Carpets has weathered credit crunches, recessions and competition from national brands. In 35 years, the door at 7 Church Street in Woodbridge remained open. So it was with a heavy heart that father and son team, Graham and Darrell Smith, closed up shop and went home.
In 35 years, the door at 7 Church Street in Woodbridge remained open.
Lockdown, depending on your family set up, meant very different things. If you were on your own, or a couple, it was an opportunity to take it easy, catch up on those box sets and maybe consider starting a hobby. For families, lockdown was a cacophony of childcare, home-schooling (or attempting to) and meeting work deadlines your children had no patience for or understanding of.
Lockdown beard!
For Darrell, with a wife furloughed at home and two older boys - who could look after themselves – meant there was time on his hands. With the home and garden DIY jobs completed early on, and with the beginnings of a lockdown beard well underway, the question was what next?
Archway Carpets supporting the community
With Archway Carpets supporting several local charities and with the Archway van empty of carpet and flooring materials, Darrell got to work helping them out. In April, Jane Billing of Billiebox, the secure storage container company, commandeered Darrell and his van to deliver food donations for FIND, Families in Need, who people in need here in Suffolk. Darrell also helped out Age UK Suffolk by shopping for the elderly who were shielding.
Food donations for FIND
Homestart is another local charity dedicated to helping families. With opportunities to raise money for the charity at events now closed, focus turned to replicate this online. In May, Darrell was called on to lead an auction as part of a lockdown party online which raised nearly £1500. If this wasn’t enough, Darrell found time to volunteer for the NHS, helping out in the call centre at Ipswich hospital.
Archway Carpets back open!
With the lockdown easing, Darrell now returns to his ‘day job’ selling carpets and flooring. The Archway Carpets door is back open for one-on-one appointments. Darrell tells us he’s very busy with enquiries from new and old customers adding “there’s been a lot of DIY over the last few months and people now need companies like ourselves to complete their projects.” Darrell adds “Our customers are very loyal and we’re very grateful for that.”
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