A business which enjoyed huge success after being launched in the wake of the pandemic has announced it is to close.
The Ugley Mask Company was formed by Craig and Jo Osborne in July 2020 to offer good-quality, reusable masks that felt comfortable to wear, were easy to use and looked good too.
The couple, who met while working in the fashion industry, moved from Hackney to Ugley in 2017.
Jo left her role at Ted Baker that year to concentrate on being a full-time mum to daughters Florence and Marnie while Craig commuted to south London for his job as menswear design manager at The White Stuff.
When coronavirus hit, Craig was furloughed – and ultimately made redundant – so the couple began to think about what they could design, produce and sell online from home. Having been disappointed by the quality and high price point of masks they had bought online during lockdown, Craig decided to design his own.
And the pair thanked their “amazing” customers for supporting their business after taking the decision to shut down.
“We always knew this day would come and we feel great sadness because we’ve absolutely loved running our very own small business,” they said.
“We are so proud of what we achieved over the last two-and-a-half years, building a business quickly from the ground upwards – with little experience – and at a time when we knew we could make a difference.
“Great customer service and a great product was the lifeblood of our business and we carry that forward to the next chapter.
“A massive thank you to each and every beautiful Ugley customer who placed an order with us during this time. We think you are all amazing.”
