The Derby husband and wife who set up a £1m personalised gift company during lockdown are celebrating a hugely successful year – and are preparing to launch a new range of wellbeing boxes to banish the January Blues.
Colleague Box – created by Spondon couple Adam and Natalie Bamford – are one of the Covid success stories and, as they approach their second year of trading, they have teamed up with Derby-based wellbeing specialists Peachy Mind to create bespoke boxes which offer a mindful experience for users.
Aimed at companies who want to send well wishes to their workers who may, as Covid restrictions are tightened in England, be working remotely.
Natalie said: “We saw Christmas parties cancelled again in 2021 and, as a result, Colleague Box HQ – known as The Smile Factory – had its busiest year to date. Businesses still wanted to thank their employees for their continued hard work and a Colleague Box is the perfect way to do that.
The year 2021 saw Colleague Box – Natalie and Adam Bamford – move from their first warehouse into a bigger one called The Smile Factory – image: AV’ IT Media
“This year looks set to be another year of growth for Colleague Box and fellow online delivery services. I think we are all more in-tune now when it comes to wellbeing and that is reflected in the new range of products we are launching with Rebecca Smith of Peachy Mind which aims to create a mindful experience for companies to purchase for their teams.
“Rebecca, who is a qualified psychotherapist and mental wellbeing consultant, has pre-recorded workshops where she talks through the contents in each wellness box, explaining the meaning behind each item, creating a practical and enjoyable experience with notes to takeaway.
“It will help with continuing the mindful journey as, in 2022, many more businesses and organisations take action on mental wellbeing in the workplace.”
Last year – Colleague Box’s first full year of trading – has been a roller coaster for Derby County fans Adam and Natalie, who have moved into a new, bigger warehouse and expanded their team.
They have developed their offering to cater for both corporate and consumer markets with commemorative boxes for St George’s Day, Mother’s Day and Christmas – and they launched a beers and business subscription service in the summer, which saw them welcome former Rams captain Jacob Laursen to The Smile Factory for a Q&A session.
Natalie and Adam Bamford welcomed former Derby County captain Jacob Laursen to Colleague Box in 2021 for a Q&A session – image: Penguin PR
Adam said: “It incredible to think that, less than two years ago, Colleague Box was just an idea we had so that employers could stay in touch with staff who were either furloughed or working remotely due to the first coronavirus lockdown.
“This past year has been a huge learning curve. Moving into The Smile Factory, expanding our team and creating new products ranges, it’s been an adventure.
“One of the best things which we’ve been able to do, though, is to work with other small businesses – the likes of fellow husband-and-wife Made 4 Drink, So Good Kombucha and Derby fashion designers Mr Shaw – at what has been an extremely challenging time.
“We have also given back by supporting charities including Safe & Sound UK and signing up to Too Good To Go; an app which lets companies sell surplus stock straight to consumers to help reduce waste. That’s perhaps the most rewarding part of being small business owners.”
On a personal level, 2021 was the year that mum-of-two Natalie was named Business Woman of the Year and opened up about her battle with meningitis aged 10, which has left her with short term memory loss.
Colleague Box have raised thousands for Derby charities including Safe & Sound – image: MiniAperture Photography.
Natalie said: “I document my life with journals and thousands of photographs and videos, and to cope with Colleague Box orders, I’ll also make endless lists to test my brain.
“I continue to live life to the full because having that brush with death, although I remember very little about it, has made me live more in the moment. I’m all about making the most of every opportunity which comes around and I’m very grateful that in a year full of uncertainty, I have the love and support of my family and friends, and that Colleague Box has continued to be such a huge success.”
Colleague Box offer free UK shipping, and personalisation is also included with each gift box.
Each box is ordered online and for bulk purchases, Colleague Box offer a quick turnaround. Packaged using sustainable and recyclable materials, the boxes arrive at the door within a few days.
To find out more, visit www.colleaguebox.co.uk or connect on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
ENDS
For further information, contact Kerry Ganly at Penguin PR on 07734 723951 or email kerry@penguinpr.co.uk
