In this episode, we delve into Lynda’s hard-learned lessons on how you can weather a downturn in business and come out stronger and better.
When the economy dipped and customers disappeared, Lynda McGregor from the Little Bread Loaf bakery found strength in her roots, and baked her way forward. 🍞💪
From Chutney to Bakery: Lynda’s Story 🫙➡️🥐
It all started with a jar of chutney.
Several years ago, Lynda McGregor started foraging and preserving to get her through some personal tough times. Little did she know this simple idea would sparked something bigger for her. Her homemade preserves gained a loyal following, and before long, the Little Bread Loaf bakery was born. 🥖✨
Today, Little Bread Loaf is one of Wellington’s hidden gems. With a shopfront in Alicetown, a cosy cafe near the airport, stalls at local markets, and a growing wholesale arm, it’s become a staple for locals and a reflection of the woman behind it. 🏪☕🧺
But it’s not your average croissant and cupcake bakery.
A proud wahine Māori, she weaves manaakitanga (support), whanaungatanga (community), and tikanga (customs) into every part of the experience. 🌿🤝
From her famous rewena bread (the only traditionally made commercial version in Wellington!) to her cinnamon buns and hangi pies, Lynda’s menu blends classic European bakery vibes with Indigenous flavour.
The most important ingredient: authenticity. 💛🌍
How to Weather a Downturn in Business: One Baker’s Reality Check 🌧️📉
But, you would be deceived if you thought Lynda’s story is a fairy tale.
The last 12 months have been pretty rough on most New Zealand business. Lynda’s bakery was no exception. Like most, she has faced some serious challenges that took her all the way to the edge of the abyss.
“I’m an add-on business. At the moment, people don’t need a cinnamon bun. They need carrots and onions.” 🥕🧅
With her customer base largely made up of Wellington public servants, many of whom are now facing redundancy, spending habits have shifted. Essentials come first. Indulgences, like baked treats, are the first to go.
But, and here’s the good news, Lynda turned it around.
So, if you too are going through some scary times, wondering how to weather a downturn in business, you’re not alone.
And Lynda’s story offers real-world answers. 💡
Five Survival Strategies That Show You How to Weather a Downturn in Business 🛠️💼
1. Refuse to Give Up 🚫🙅♀️
Lynda worked. Hard.
We’re talking 12–16 hour days, 18 days straight over Christmas. Not ideal, but at the time it was necessary to get her through.
She couldn’t afford to hire more staff, and the banks wouldn’t offer a line of credit or overdraft. So she did it the old-fashioned way: sweat equity, grit, and honest kōrero with suppliers when bills couldn’t be paid on time. 💦💸
2. Look for the Cracks of Light 🌤️🧠
Even in exhaustion, Lynda recognised the importance of reflection.
- What could be trimmed?
- What could pivot?
- What new income streams could be explored?
Retail sales might’ve slowed with very little she could do about that, but diversifying was an option. Wholesale. Catering. New markets.
It wasn’t about reinventing the wheel. She was still making and selling her trusty buns and rewena bread. But simply asking the question, where else can this wheel roll proved the answer?
This mindset is key if you're learning how to weather a downturn in business: adapt using what already works.
3. Grow Step by Step 🪜🧁
“Let’s get your baking right first, mate. Make a really good bun.”
This is Lynda chatting to herself.
The business didn’t start with catering or multiple market stalls. It started with one thing done really well. Then another. Then another.
Today, her humble rewena bread has evolved into a burger bun now featured on cafe menus and set to shine at Wellington on a Plate. 🍔 That growth came from consistency, listening to her market, and pacing expansion carefully.
When it comes to how to weather a downturn in business without burning out, it’s easy to fall for the trap of trying everything at once and expecting instant results. The key is to show restraint, pick a strategy and give it the time and focus it needs.
4. Look At Your Views On Leadership 🧭👥
When it’s all about survival, leadership matters more than ever.
Lynda says: “Leadership is about making people feel safe.” 🛡️
That means clarity, transparency, and fairness. Lynda doesn’t shy away from hard conversations, but she always centres her team’s wellbeing.
“No one messes with my team.” 🧍♀️🗣️
That’s leadership. Not loud, but clear nonetheless. Not reactive, but rooted in care and authenticity. ❤️
And sometimes, it means calling it when things aren’t working. Even if it’s uncomfortable. That’s a vital part of how to weather a downturn in business: owning your hard decisions and leading from the front.
5. You Don’t Have to Go It Alone 🤝💬
When things get tough, many of us hunker down. Grind harder. Push through. But that only works for so long.
Lynda admits she’s private by nature. During her hardest year, she didn’t talk about how bad things were.
“That was a stupid thing to do,” she reflects.
“I should have spoken up.” 🗨️
Lynda now recognises that silence doesn’t make us strong. Reaching out does. Support is essential if you want to figure out how to weather a downturn in business with your mental health intact. 🧠❤️🩹
Lessons in Resilience for Small Business Owners 🧠📌
- Start small and do it well. Build your reputation one thing at a time. Don’t rush it. 🎯
- When sales dip, diversify. Look for new audiences or uses for your product. 🔄
- Be ready for change. The economy moves in cycles. Knowing how to weather a downturn in business can make or break your momentum. 📉➡️📈
- Look after your team. When the people working in your business feel you truly care, they’ll go the extra mile.
- Stay true to your brand. Trends come and go. Authenticity builds loyalty. 💖
- Value your community. Your regulars will carry you when others don’t. 🤗
- Find your support crew. You don’t have to carry it all on your own. 👯♀️
- Manage yourself like you mean it. That means your energy, mindset, and self-talk. 🧘♀️🧠
- Remember: seasons shift. When you lead with heart and strategy, you can learn how to weather a downturn in business and come out stronger on the other side. 🌈🌱
Final Thought: What’s Your Next Step? 🔍🚶♀️
Lynda’s story is a reminder that small business is a rollercoaster but one worth riding when you lead with values, grit, and connection. 🎢💛
If you’ve been wondering how to weather a downturn in business, know this: you don’t need all the answers today. You just need your next step.
So here’s your challenge:
What’s one area of your business that needs a fresh look right now?
Pause. Reflect. And reach out. Because sometimes, the bravest move is asking for help. 🤲💬
Get In Touch with Lynda McGregor
📧 Email: lynda.manaaki@gmail.com
🌐 Website: littlebreadloaf.co.nz
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/littlebreadloaf
📸 Instagram: @littlebreadloaf_nz
