These new online party boxes are the next best thing for lockdown
Despite the current coronavirus lockdown, people still have reasons to celebrate. Life still goes on, just more remotely.
Quarantine has inspired Manchester-based PR and events business owner Stephanie Ledigo to launch a new business - The Zoom Box. Steph has worked with a number of local independent businesses to come up with a range of boxes, based on various digital party themes from birthdays to hen and stag dos and wine tastings. Each box contains a whole heap of gift ideas including sweet treats, drinks and activities.
We also throw in a couple of extras to keep an element of surprise and make it more fun
Stephanie, who owns GO PR and Events, usually organises at least four celebration events a week. “It was heart breaking to see so many people missing out on their special occasions,” she said, “so we thought, why not bring the party to them?”
She came up with the idea for Zoom Box when she kept being invited to join online parties but felt they needed something extra to make them stand out. “It was making me sad seeing everyone missing out on special occasions so I decided to do something. I made the first Zoom Box for my friend Liz for her 40th. Hearing how happy it made her, when I couldn’t see her in person, made my mind up that I had to turn it into a business.”
The boxes are all £25 or £50 for a premium box, which contains double the amount of items. Every box includes sweets and chocolate, baked goods, a drink or mocktail plus more depending on the Zoom Box theme. Birthday boxes include a balloon, badge and banner. Pamper boxes are stuffed with skin care and scrubs made by local businesses and there’s even a kids’ Zoom Box crammed with activities and crafts, crayons and popcorn.
“We also throw in a couple of extras to keep an element of surprise and make it more fun,” adds Steph. An additional option includes having a bartender or cupcake creator on your Zoom chat can be arranged to help you create your perfect online event with friends, from your own homes.
The business only launched last week, so Steph is adding new variations of the box all the time. “We’ve teamed up with local brands like Zara Cakes, Nibble NQ, Two Brothers Coffee, Tracy Melts, The Coffee Scrub Company and Lollypoppin to try and keep all these fantastic independent businesses going. They seem to be really happy with all the orders so far.”
In the first four days Zoom Box sold 400 boxes and received a large corporate order along with celebrity support. Hollyoaks start Kieron Richardson surprised his husband Carl for their five year anniversary with a very special Zoom box full of treats. Other local celebrities including comedian Jason Manford have also ordered boxes so far to keep the party spirit alive.
