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It’s been a bit of a chaotic few weeks behind the scenes at Any Green Will Do. There has been extreme heat, a computer that decided it had had enough of life, an email platform moving the goalposts, a market that turned out to be rather more expensive than profitable, and a rather embarrassing discovery involving far too
many men’s socks.
Oh, and somewhere in amongst all of that, Miya managed to suffer second-degree sunburn, recover, return to swimming and proudly pass her Level 5 swimming certificate.
So, yes. It’s been busy.
But that is often the reality of running a small independent business. Things don’t always go to plan, technology has a habit of misbehaving at the worst possible moment, and sometimes you accidentally order stock twice because you can’t find the first lot.
You learn, you adapt and, hopefully, you eventually laugh about it.
There had been a little gap between newsletters recently, and not because there was nothing to say.
Firstly, it was simply too hot. Sometimes there comes a point where sitting in front of a computer and trying to
form coherent sentences feels like far too much effort. The heat had completely drained any enthusiasm for social media, emails and, if we’re honest, doing very much at all.
Then, when the weather finally cooled down a little, the computer died. Completely. An expensive second-hand computer turned out to be not quite the bargain it had originally appeared to be, and it was back to using the old computer that had been due for retirement.
Then the email platform changed its terms, meaning another search for a new way to send newsletters.
Nothing is ever straightforward, is it?
And just to add to the general chaos, a simple trip to sort out a tyre turned into a lesson in the fact that apparently you can’t always just pop in somewhere anymore. Perhaps this is one of the joys of getting older.
More and more things become unnecessarily irritating!
Running a small business involves keeping track of a surprising amount of stock. Sometimes, however, the stock wins. After being unable to find some men’s socks, it was assumed they hadn’t been ordered. So naturally, more were ordered. Then the original socks were found. Which means there is now a rather impressive collection of men’s socks waiting for their moment.
The good news? Christmas is coming. The bad news? There will be absolutely no need to order any more men’s socks for quite some time! It’s one of those classic small-business moments. You can spend hours organising stock, carefully keeping track of everything and still somehow end up with a mystery box appearing when you least expect it.
At least they’re useful. It could have been 200 novelty garden gnomes.
Markets and events can be unpredictable. Some are fantastic. You meet lovely people, discover what customers enjoy and come home feeling as though the day was absolutely worthwhile.
Others are not quite so successful. The three-day garden show at Rookesbury Park turned out to be one of those events. Despite all the preparation, the cost of attending and the time involved, takings were less than half of the previous year’s. And sometimes you have to be honest.
Supporting an event is lovely, but a small business can’t continue to lose money. That doesn’t mean the event was a complete waste of time. Every market teaches you something. You learn which products attract attention, which locations work and, sometimes, which events simply aren’t the right fit.
Thankfully, the Arundel craft fairs have been a much more positive experience. The hydroponic herb kits have been proving particularly popular, and the basil has become something of a celebrity in its own right. Customers have been able to pick leaves and have a taste, which has created plenty of conversations. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the ones that get people talking. There was also a rather amusing incident involving some canvas bags supplied with a chocolate order.
They seemed perfect for carrying the herb kits. Until someone walked away with one. Only then was it noticed that the bag was branded Dirty Cow.
Not necessarily the image originally intended for a lovely, wholesome herb-growing kit, but sometimes you just have to laugh and carry on!
One of the more serious events of the past few weeks involved Miya. A day at the beach resulted in what initially appeared to be severe sunburn but was actually second-degree burns across her chest and shoulders.
There were hospital visits, dressings and a rather unpleasant experience when one dressing had become stuck and needed to be soaked off.
Thankfully, being young has its advantages, and her skin began healing remarkably quickly. She has since returned to swimming and has been doing brilliantly. In fact, she was absolutely thrilled to pass her Level 5 swimming certificate and move up to the next group, complete with a new dark blue swimming hat.
It’s been lovely to see her confidence return.
But the experience was also a very stark reminder about sun protection. The heat might feel wonderful after months of grey weather, but skin can burn far more quickly than we realise.
Sunscreen, shade, covering up and reapplying protection after swimming are all important. And if we’re making choices with the environment in mind, looking for products that are kinder to marine environments can be another consideration too.
We recently explored some of the questions surrounding sun exposure and sunscreen in a separate blog, because, as with so many things, there is often more to the conversation than simply one-size-fits-all advice.
But one thing remains very simple.
Don’t burn.
There has also been a rather unexpected milestone for Any Green Will Do. After selling the remaining leather handbags, which were originally made from leather remnants that would otherwise have gone to landfill, the product range is now almost entirely vegan.
That wasn’t necessarily the original plan. But it does feel like a natural progression. The idea behind Any Green Will Do has always been about making ethical and sustainable choices accessible to as many people as possible.
Choosing vegan products doesn’t mean that only vegans can enjoy them. It simply means that people have an option that hasn’t involved animal testing or animal- derived materials. And hopefully, it also helps to demonstrate that choosing a vegan product doesn’t necessarily mean compromising on quality or usefulness.
There is, however, one exception.
The stationery made from elephant dung.
Technically, that might not meet a strict definition of vegan. But considering the elephant isn’t harmed, isn’t asked to provide it and probably isn’t even aware that its poo has gone on to become a notebook… Well, perhaps we’re happy to make an exception!
Sustainability isn’t always about dramatic changes. Sometimes it’s as simple as thinking about the products we use every day. Using bamboo or recycled toilet paper, for example, can be one small consideration.
Finding alternatives to traditional wet wipes is another, particularly when trying to reduce unnecessary plastic waste.
One product recently discovered is a gel that can be applied to toilet paper as an alternative to disposable wet wipes, supplied in a recyclable aluminium pump bottle. It’s these kinds of ideas that are always interesting to discover.
Not because everyone has to immediately throw away everything they own and replace it with an eco-friendly alternative. That wouldn’t be sustainable either. It’s about making changes gradually as products run out and finding alternatives that genuinely work for your lifestyle.
Another exciting development has been the opportunity to start contributing a percentage of monthly income towards climate action through Carma Earth. Supporting environmental causes has always been an important part of Any Green Will Do, and it feels good to be able to make regular contributions as the business continues to grow.
The projects supported through Carma Earth also have a social element, helping to create a positive impact beyond environmental action alone. It’s a reminder that sustainability and social responsibility can often work hand in hand.
Sometimes supporting one positive change can have a ripple effect much further than we realise.
The recent heat and lack of rain have also made it difficult not to think about the wider impact of changing weather patterns.
Dry soil can affect more than just our gardens. There have been reports and discussions about how extremely dry ground can move and affect underground infrastructure, including water pipes, potentially contributing
to leaks.
And while we’re busy trying to keep ourselves cool, it’s worth remembering the impact that extended periods of drought can have on wildlife too. Birds, insects, pollinators and plants all have to adapt. One interesting area to explore is drought-tolerant planting. Choosing plants that can cope with drier conditions while also providing food and habitat for pollinators could become increasingly important in our gardens.
A garden doesn’t have to look wild and overgrown to support nature either. Even a few carefully chosen plants can provide valuable food for bees, butterflies and other insects.
One of the wonderful things about running a business like Any Green Will Do is that there is always something new to learn. One week, it’s how quickly a chocolate bar might melt at an outdoor event. The next, it’s discovering that dairy-free chocolate seems to cope with heat slightly differently. Then there’s the ongoing conversation about artificial intelligence and the environmental resources needed to power the technology we increasingly use every day.
Or learning that Borneo has elephants and discovering more about the pressures their habitats face. There is always another question to ask. Another product to discover. Another small change that might make a difference. And that, really, is what Any Green Will Do is all about. Not being perfect. Not pretending we have all the answers. But staying curious. Learning as we go. Supporting better choices where we can.
And occasionally laughing when life throws us an unexpected box of socks.
There will be more markets. More sustainable products. More experiments to see what works and what doesn’t. There will probably be more technology problems too, because that seems inevitable.
But there will also be more opportunities to meet people, share ideas and discover new ways to make everyday life a little kinder to the planet. Because sustainability isn’t about suddenly changing everything overnight.
It’s about the small decisions.
The products we choose when the old ones run out.
The businesses we support.
The questions we ask.
The things we learn.
And sometimes, simply taking a break when the weather gets too hot and the computer stops working.
After all, nobody said saving the planet – or running a small business – was going to be straightforward.
Check out The Eco Edit to get my expert advice on easy swaps you can make with your existing products.
