I made a croissant! No – I didn’t completely make the dough – but I rolled it. It was at Dunns (the bakers in Crouch End) where I went to work for an hour yesterday morning – they said it was so good that if things didn’t work out in the future I could always have a job!

I was there to really show solidarity with our local shops and small businesses – as they face the dreadful economic downturn and struggle to survive. Now Dunns (owned and run by Chris Freeman – fourth or fifth generation bakers) has seen and survived many ups and downs and works tirelessly to make sure that all that can be done will be done.

All their staff will keep their jobs – and if things go better than expected – then they will reap extra reward. Quite frankly – keeping all your staff in work is the real key that will stave off the wolf from the door and enable people to continue paying the mortgage or rent etc.

Dunns is a fabulous shop – and although I have been in there many times and walked past many times – I have only ever seen the bright welcoming interior, stuffed with fabulous cakes, bread, rolls and everything patisseriewise you could wish for – somehow I never wondered how it all got done on the site. But yesterday I was allowed behind the scenes where the baker’s elves were all working – rolling dough, baking, shaping, decorating, cutting, making and turning out the array that everyone sees in the counters.

There are many issues facing our local traders, and we the people must try and shop as locally as we can so that as many of them survive the downturn as possible. After all – our areas are just fantastic – and they are fantastic because of our wonderful local traders. So – go local and be vocal! Meanwhile – I will see if there is anything that I can do my end to help.

And just a final note – having come from a family business background myself – Dunns reminded me of my family’s business and how the knowledge, experience and understanding of trading really makes a business work in a way that no amount of systems and tick boxes ever will!