A Brighton-based start-up is trying to spread hope and support the creative industry amid the pandemic with a poetry subscription service, delivered straight to people’s homes.

Poems by Post commissions local poets and talented artists to share their work to their subscribers, who receive their printed or hand typed poetry and artwork through the post.

Profits are then invested into supporting and offering opportunities to the artists and poets they connect with.

Alex Wilkinson, founder of the company, came up with the idea as lockdown forced him to stop performing as a street poet.

He said: “I always came across so many talented artists really endeavouring to pursue their craft and I saw how much people were struggling to make a living out of it.

“I just thought there had to be something somewhere that offered people opportunities in some way.”

After getting a call centre job to make ends meet, he wondered how he could help make art work in a pandemic - and Poems by Post was born.

Since starting in August last year, Alex now sends poetry to hundreds of people every month from 14 different countries, including Thailand, India and New Zealand.

“People have been enjoying the experience of receiving a different poem each month and we’ve had our subscriber base create different things off of the back of the poems we have sent out.

“That has been really good - it is nice to know that we’re not just supporting artists but also encouraging art from other people.”

The Argus: Alex Wilkinson founded Poems by Post after lockdown stopped him from regularly street performing poetryAlex Wilkinson founded Poems by Post after lockdown stopped him from regularly street performing poetry

As the company has grown, the support that they have been able to offer poets and artists has also evolved, Alex explained.

“Initially we were using the revenue that came in to buy people’s existing products and then sending them on to our subscribers.

"Now we’ve evolved to actually commissioning different artists each month to design the envelopes in theme with the poem and the A6 card which comes with the poem.”

He added that the business has acted as a springboard for some of the poets he has worked with, with one being commissioned to have their poems featured on gift vouchers for a chiropractor.

While Alex admits that starting a business from scratch has been challenging, he said that the feedback and difference it has made has spurred him on.

Alongside business partner Reuben Singer and typewriter Erika, he added he has big plans for the future to continue their drive to make poetry, art and creativity more accessible.

“We’ve grown by having conversations with people, so keep an eye out for us knocking on doors!”

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