Looking back: The year no one had ‘2020 vision’

‘A year in review by our Managing Director, Graham Hunstone’

It was about this time last year that I was writing my ‘year in review’ for 2019, talking about all the exciting things Visual Print and Design had planned for 2020.

Well, we all know what happened next (maybe I shouldn’t have made all those ‘2020 vision’ jokes at the start of the year!)

Like for many business owners, it’s been a challenging year that has tested us all. I’ve had to make some difficult decisions and sacrifices that I never thought I would have to do; but I did so because I wanted to ensure I was doing everything possible to look after the most important people in my business, my employees.

In the middle of March when I sent my staff home to work remotely, they remained positive and full of smiles, and that’s exactly what has gotten me through the year. They adjusted so quickly, coming up with some fantastic and inventive ideas to help generate sales and of course, continued to look after our wonderful customers who have supported us throughout the year.

I never thought one of the biggest sellers of the year was going to be floor stickers, hand sanitiser stations and face masks but as a business, you’ve got to adapt and innovate and even in the middle a pandemic, we got to celebrate some positives such as:

• Becoming an approved print and design supplier for six different local authorities from across the UK
• Being awarded a six-figure local authority project
• Launching our new website
• Being named as a Crown Commercial Service approved supplier for COVID-19
• Offering free print support to Age UK Lincoln & South Lincolnshire
• Being finalists for two awards at the Lincolnshire Technology & Innovation Awards
• Working with Visit Lincoln to sponsor Lincoln Sausage Festival as it went online
• Opening a new office in Glasgow
• Raising £700 for LIVES through our fundraising challenge

I’ve ridden the ‘corona-coaster’ a few times this year, but with the support of my team and the customers that have stuck by us as we adjusted to the ‘new normal’, we’ve made to end of 2020 and I just want to say thank you.

I’m looking forward to the day when we can attend events in person, enjoy an after-work drink and don’t have run back in my house to grab my facemask because I forgot it again, but until then, I wish you a wonderful and ‘socially distanced’ Christmas break and a Happy New Year.

Now it’s time to get ready for Brexit!