During the past year, businesses big and small have had to adapt on an unprecedented scale.

Carlisle's Kelly Weedall started Bubba Boutique on social media sites such as Instagram and has been able to turn the page into a business in a canny example of entrepreneurial spirit despite the challenges that many have faced during the past twelve months.

"It began last summer when I set up a personal Instagram page to show the outfits that I had put together for my daughter," Kelly explains.

"From there, I had a brainwave and thought I could feasibly get my own supplier and start selling clothes. I then started Bubba Boutique on Instagram and Facebook and the followers grew seemingly overnight. To my surprise we got to over 3500 on Instagram.

"I'm very thankful that I've had something to keep me busy as I was on maternity leave at the time, so it was a godsend."

She has extended her thanks to the local community for their support for her business since it was established.

"I feel so grateful for the local support I’ve been getting and I want to thank people for that as that what drives me to work harder and makes me enjoy what I do so much more because of the support I receive."

There is a growing market when it comes to small businesses that have began by harnessing the power of social media to market and sell products, with Bubba Boutique a key example of what can be achieved in a relatively short space of time with the right vision and work ethic.

She now has plans to expand and has recruited her best friend who has already made a "massive impact," Kelly states.

"It's grew even further since my friend came on board and things really grew over Christmas. Our aim now is to set up our own website by the summer and have that working alongside our social media presence.

"Particularly during lockdown, online shopping has become so widespread across all age ranges and so this has presented us a real opportunity. I feel that the move towards digital is here it stay."

Kelly also has designs on eventually developing the business to be well placed to set up shop on the high street.

"It's a real long-term goal for us to set up a shop. I think that small businesses still have a real appetite for the high street, as do the public despite the troubles many larger companies have gone through recently.

I hope that small businesses can be given the support to try and revive the high street."