Verve chats with Larissa Hamilton, co-founder and owner of Corcovado Furniture & Homewares, to see what’s been happening during lockdown.
What’s changed about your business?
Both our Auckland and Christchurch retail stores have had to temporarily close due to the Government’s requirements to prevent the spread of Covid-19. However we can sell online again at Level 3, and we’ve steadily built our online presence over the last few years, so we’re making the most of this time to actively seek ways to engage with our customers on a more personal level. We started Corcovado with the goal of creating close relationships with our customers and that hasn’t changed, even though our stores are temporarily shut. To achieve this we’re creating what, we hope, is helpful video content on interior styling and design and sharing this across our social media channels. I’ve also recently added a live chat tool to our website allowing us to actively engage one on one with our customers, in real time, to answer questions or offer recommendations to help solve our customers design dilemmas.
Do you see yourself coming out of this with a better idea of changes you wish to make in your business?
100% we do. Although clearly not planned, the forced lockdown has given us a unique opportunity to step to the side of our business, pause, and look at the direction we want to head in, including how we can reach our customers on a more personal level. It has presented us with the opportunity to improve aspects of our business model that may not have been working as optimally as they could have. We have chosen to keep a positive mindset through this uncertain time. Our aim is to find ways we can improve and grow our business, connect more authentically with our customers and utilise the skills of our team.
How are you handling all this extra time at home?
We are walking a lot! We are lucky to live by the beach so have spent a great deal of time there. I’ve always enjoyed cooking, but usually it’s a mad rush, so it’s nice to take my time with dinner prep and enjoy family meals together. My friend Georgie kindly shouted me an online membership to Masterclass, so I am loving listening to some of those incredible businesspeople and thought leaders.
Soundtrack of choice whilst working at home?
I work best in a quiet space, so no music for me when I am working. But as soon as the laptop is closed, we listen to Spotify playlists my husband Andrew has created.
What’s for breakfast?
An Americano or two, Home St Paleo Bread, toasted, with avocado and poached eggs.
Where do you like to get your news from?
Always online, flitting between Stuff, NZ Herald, The Spinoff, BBC and CNN.
Lockdown larder essentials you can’t do without?
Chickpeas, egg noodles, coconut cream, tamari sauce, lentils. Not all in the same recipe though!
Dinner venue you can’t wait to get back to (post lockdown)?
This has to be Ozone, who are our neighbours at 18 Westmoreland St West in Grey Lynn. Not only the best coffee and brunches in the city, they also have a fabulous dinner menu, too. There is lots of spaced out seating inside Ozone during the evenings, which will be great in a post-lockdown world.
Evening beauty or betterment routine?
I love a deep bath, and a pile of interior magazines to flick through while I soak. I was gifted a FRESH Black Tea face masque that I try to use once a week too.
Your look for working at home, what do you like to wear to get into the mood?
I’m spending a lot of time working on our business planning for Corcovado so it’s what I feel comfortable in. This usually consists of a jeans and jumper look. I keep it pretty casual. But I do always straighten my hair as it’s long and can get frizzy, and I pop a little makeup on in the morning, as it makes me feel better and ready to face the day.
Least favourite thing about working from home?
Actually I love working from home as I can achieve so much in such a short space of time. The quiet allows me to focus and it also means an unlimited number of coffees in the mornings!
Listen to the Corcovado Acoustic Playlist here.
corcovado.co.nz
