the fam

the fam

Monday 26 May 2014

Down To Business...one from the heart

I wasn't sure how to start this post. The last few months have been a rollercoaster of emotions but I needed to write all this down for my own sanity if nothing else.

Quote by Mandy Hale

Since Christmas, I've not been at all happy with the business. The stress of running a small business has really been taking it's toll on me physically and emotionally. My health has suffered as a result and I've been struggling with the fact that most of my waking hours are taken up by work.

I've wrestled with the guilt of not spending enough time with the kids and I've felt angry at putting so many hours in with so little to show for it. This year financially has been a shocker and I'm not ashamed to say it. With the pressure of keeping sales up to a certain level in these recession-hit days, has been no mean feat. Take the mortgage, endless bills and household outgoings, add rent for premises, staff, VAT, massive commission charges on a certain marketplace website, tax, insurance (for everything!), huge amounts for supplies, even bills to listen to your own goddamn radio while you work...you get the picture.
This is our job, we don't have any other income.True, it was our choice to start the business (out of necessity at the time) but we've worked our arses off over the years.

Nobody can say we haven't tried.

Painting til 4am with tonsillitis takes dedication. Crawling out of bed with the norovirus to deliver the post takes dedication...something me and Steve have no doubt about it!
But there comes a point when all that dedication and hard work should pay off.

Don't get me wrong, we've achieved so much and I'm proud of us. Proud that we've won awards and our products have been featured in virtually EVERY national home magazine, wedding magazine, newspapers, blogs and even on the TV...we did all that. When we started the business sitting on craft markets at 5am earning peanuts, we never imagined we'd get this far!



 
 


We've bought a house and had two beautiful kids and we try our best to have a nice family life but I've had enough.


The amount of hours we work far outweighs what we earn. To be honest, I desperately need a change.

We've tried every outlet to sell our work but making everything from scratch to order, hand painting and hand finishing each item takes time. These days it seems far important to 'some' that orders are delivered within a couple of days, nobody wants to wait, everything has to be instant, there is no alternative.

Well, actually there is. It's our business and we're making some changes. We can't compete with mass produced imports taken straight out of a box. We have no problem with imports but we can't sell on the same terms. What we can do is try to appeal to those who appreciate the time it sometimes takes for a handmade product.

We're taking control back and going our own way. This means cutting back in different areas but so be it...this is where we have no choice.

Last week, we said goodbye to our office manager Charlotte. It was a heart-breaking decision for us but sadly necessary while we decide on our next step. We will miss her more than I can say.


We're not giving up, just giving in to the intolerable pressures and changing things for the good of our family.
We have a little something up our sleeve for the Summer and we're taking on new ventures. For now, we're going to see what happens.

We know for a fact that it's tough out there for small businesses. The ones that speak to us privately prove that. Publicly, most business owners will put on that brave face and say that everything is fine. Nobody wants to be seen as a failure. Some days I've felt exactly that but then it dawned on me, that actually it's ok.

It's not failing, it's changing and change is good.


13 comments:

  1. I admire your honesty and am proud to have been a stockist back in the day. Always happy to tell people about you xxx

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    1. Thanks so much Nellie, you've been such a support to us and we can't tell you how much that's appreciated. It will all work itself out...maybe it's time for that book ; )

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  2. An incrediblely honest post, but as you said change can be a good thing. I wish you and Steve loads if luck in whatever you do. A saying I live by is that its better to be scared than bored. Thinking of you both and look forward to seeing new ideas take shape xx

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    1. Thanks so much Zoe. You're another wonderful soul who's always been on our side. It is hard to take but we will make it better somehow. When you've asked for help from the people you thought were there to support you and they basically turn away, you know it's time to move on.

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  3. Wonderful, lovely Heidi. It sounds strange, but I'm so pleased to see this post. I know you have been making really tough decisions 'behind the scenes' for ages now. I really feel for you. It is bloody hard work out there, especially when you get undercut at every corner. You guys are such brilliant people & you work so hard, but you're right... when something is no longer working properly, or rewarding you in the same way that it once was or still should be, then it needs a change, a shake up. You two are the best people for that. Never doubt your decisions. You are doing the best you can. Big huge hugs xxxxx

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  4. You are making the right move Heidi!! I did something similar two years ago - No more commissions, no more cheap bulk orders. I sell (& work) less now, but I make more! Things get better when you stick to what you are good at and don't try and compete with the masses! We only get one life and we need to remember the things that are most important in our lives - Family.
    Wishing you luck. I know you will do well, you just need to change direction slightly.
    Love to you and the family
    Rachel XXXXXXX

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    1. Thanks so much Rachel - it actually feels quite liberating now we've made the tough decision. We can move on now and make things better xxx

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  5. This is what this government don't tell folk about being self employed...it is incredibly hard both emotionally and physically...and the returns are often only just enough...I have a very good friend who runs her own business and it is a 25 hour a day job..and the older we are getting I see the toll it is taking on her...I wish you well and hope you find a happy balance...

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  6. Thanks Jane, it is so true. It can be bloody hard work and self-employment isn't an easy way to go. We've put everything into this but I'm not prepared to put my health at risk xx

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  7. brave blog post, brave life move - well done you :)
    i know how all this feels, we have just lost everything and i am returning home at the grand age of 42 to live with my parents - now i am over the shock it all seems wonderful!
    change is shocking and hard at first but change must happen
    be kind to yourself and those that you love, this is what is important - the rest will all fall in to place xxx

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    1. Oh Tracy, bless you! So sorry that all happened to you. Hope you're ok - thank goodness for lovely parents! Ours would have done the same for us. Family is so important, stuff everything else. We'll be ok..rough months ahead but I still believe it will all work out xxx

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  8. I completely agree with Rachel, and it's really hard to find advice and support to help make those really important changes - from people who actually understand the problems because they've been there. I'm sure you will find the strength for the next leg of your journey and I wish you well. Xx

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    1. Thank you so much Penny. All the support we've had from everyone has been amazing and it makes us feel that we can go on to bigger and better things. Better things at least xx

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