My Business Journey, Chapter 8: The COVID Years
In Chapter 7: The Pivot, Finding My Niche, I shared why I chose to refocus on organic skincare and facials. By 2020, those facials had become the most sought-after treatment in my business, and everything felt secure.
Then came COVID-19. Welcome to Chapter 8 of My Business Journey, the story of how lockdown changed Karen Alexandra Beauty and Well-Being in Tonbridge, and how an online shop and the first At Home Facial Kits grew from an uncertain time. In Chapter 9: A New World After COVID, I share how changing routines and conversations with clients shaped the next stage of the business.
When treatments stopped overnight
On 23 March 2020, everything changed. Like so many businesses, mine had to close. With nearly half our household income gone, we suddenly faced a very different situation.
My husband’s work remained largely unaffected, but waiting for support for the self-employed felt endless. When the grants finally arrived, they were a lifeline.
That security gave us some breathing space to think about our children and the future of the business.
Family life in an unfamiliar world
Both children were preparing for their GCSEs during the COVID years, and I discovered a level of patience I hadn’t known I had. Their outcomes were positive, something we are incredibly proud of.
Alongside the uncertainty, there was time to reflect, be grateful and make memories. Some of the haircuts were memorable too!
The conversation that started our online shop
Without the usual demands of appointments, Paul and I had time for proper conversations about where the business was heading.
I still remember him saying over coffee, “Why don’t I try setting up an online shop?”
And just like that, he did.
Until then, clients had usually ordered products during treatments or by text. With treatments on hold, we needed another way for people to browse and order.
The online shop quickly became a vital part of the business, what I came to think of as the third spoke in our business wheel.
A new way to stay connected with customers
The online shop reached customers locally, across the country and further afield. It gave people a way to browse outside shop opening hours and helped me continue sharing products and advice when we could not meet in the usual way.
I did not realise then how important that flexibility would become. It gave the business another way to serve customers alongside the treatment studio and physical shop.
Bringing a little of the facial experience home
With treatments paused, I kept thinking about how to bring a facial to my clients. That was how the At Home Facial Kit began.
The original kit contained six skincare sachets selected for each client’s skin type, providing enough for three full treatments. The packaging fitted through the letterbox, and we delivered the kits without face-to-face contact.
It was a way to offer a moment of calm and indulgence during an otherwise stressful time.
Our first At Home Facial Kit
I will never forget the weekend we delivered more than 40 kits, in the snow!
What meant the most were the stories people shared: mothers and daughters having spa nights, friends connecting over Zoom, and clients making a little time for themselves when they needed it most.
How the At Home Facial Kit evolved
The kit became more than a lockdown idea. It evolved into a permanent part of the shop, with extra treats alongside the skincare. It is no longer the original letterbox-sized package.
If you would like to explore it, the At Home Facial Kit product page explains the current contents and how to share your skincare preferences when ordering.
It remains a way to enjoy a facial routine at home, give a thoughtful gift or discover some of the products I love working with.
The At Home Facial Kit (2026)
Looking back and moving forward
The COVID years brought challenge and change, but also a chance to think differently. The online shop and facial kits helped the business become more flexible, while the support of my clients meant more than I can say.
I emerged with renewed gratitude for the people who stood by me, and a different perspective on how the business could grow.
Read all 12 chapters of My Business Journey
- Chapter 1: A Baby, a Beauty Couch and a New Beginning
- Chapter 2: Sleeping Babies and Homemade Price Lists
- Chapter 3: A Permanent Home
- Chapter 4: Discovering the Skincare Range That Shaped My Business
- Chapter 5: Finding Clients and Keeping Them
- Chapter 6: The Ultimate Juggling Act
- Chapter 7: The Pivot, Finding My Niche
- Chapter 8: The COVID Years (you’re here)
- Chapter 9: A New World After COVID
- Chapter 10: A Family Affair
- Chapter 11: A Huge Change
- Chapter 12: On into the Future!
Previously: Chapter 7: The Pivot, Finding My Niche.
Continue to Chapter 9: A New World After COVID, where I share what happened after the COVID years.
Explore Karen Alexandra Beauty today
Visit Karen Alexandra Beauty for skincare, makeup and wellbeing favourites, with personal advice from me in Tonbridge. You can also browse the Éminence Organic Skincare collection for your routine at home.
Thank you for reading and for being part of the journey.
Karen xxx
Written by Karen Sochon
