COVID-19 has left the world in a state of “collective grief.” We are grieving unimaginable loss: lost jobs, lost businesses, lost moments, lost lives. This grief sowed the seeds of The Carriage House story. But it was hope that wrote it.

 

When we left for spring break, we expected to return in nine short days, rejuvenated and ready to tackle the end of the semester. We did not know that our nine days away from school would become sixteen, or that those first sixteen days were a prelude to dozens more. We did not know the majority of us would see our internship and job offers withdrawn. The next time we sat in class together, we would be naught but faces on the Zoom grid.

 

It’s easy to fold when you’re dealt a rough hand. But when the universe throws the Brandfam a curveball, we pride ourselves on knocking that sucker out of the park. And so the Carriage House was born, from little more than a vague dream. Two months later, we launched with an inaugural team of over 40 creative problem solvers working with 11 independent entrepreneurs to transform, develop, and pivot their brands at a time when budgets are slim and creative solutions are priceless.

 

We built The Carriage House without a guidebook. There isn’t one. Nor is there one for navigating the struggles of an international crisis. But the beauty of uncertainty is finding our way through it all, together.