Amidst the challenges faced by small businesses lately, even those that seemed to have all their ducks in a row (speaking of DUCKS, remember the Puddle Duck Collection releases March 19th!) I wanted to share my insight as I come from a family of small business owners - my brother runs a successful tree service business, while my parents have been running their manufacturing business for over 35 years.
Because of this, I am well-versed in navigating the ebb and flow of the economy. However, in 2023 I encountered a setback when the platform where I showcased my products, Instagram, took a nosedive. Instagram, once a thriving community for handmade businesses, has now pretty much become obsolete. While this was disheartening, it was also a wake-up call. I had always known that relying solely on one platform was not the best strategy - putting all my eggs in one basket. Unfortunately, my basket broke and my eggs were cracked 😂 However, I want to share that during times of adversity, such as the one I faced in 2023, one can pivot, look beyond oneself, and make the necessary changes to better their situation.
I am thrilled to announce my new blog series, "Unapologetically Me: Getting Over My Fear of Failure." Sweet As April was once a business that was a "huge success" (it still is, just have to reel in your idea of success...) - people would "line up" outside our online store just to get their hands on our handmade products. We sold over 600 units in under 10 minutes, and it felt like we had hit the jackpot.
But over these 8 years, I've watched other brands grow and learned valuable lessons from my wise parents. One of the biggest takeaways was the importance of living within your means. Although we still have a successful business, the hardships of the past couple of years have created some debt and there's always room for improvement. I'm proud that we never grew too quickly and then struggled to keep up. Instead, I made a conscious decision to stay small, keep costs low, invest in tools that could fit in our space, and build a tiny studio that could meet the needs of our slower yet still thriving business.
The day we moved in to the new studio in May 2020
And present day - like literally right now (this blog post open on my screen!)
That's not to say that it hasn't taken a toll on my mental health. But although I was struggling creatively I remained steadfast in my commitment to producing the same quality product we've always been known for. In 2023, after the birth of our third child, I have to be honest - I truly felt like giving up. But looking at our 8-year-old daughter Leia & knowing her love for sewing & these bonnets - I refused to let the struggle defeat me. I found the inner strength to keep going and overcame the obstacles in my path.
This series will not only cover how I rebuilt my brand but also why I persevered. Running a business that is fueled by your creativity can be both fulfilling and draining. I realized that I had to find a way to make things work, or I risked losing SAA altogether. So, I delved deep and explored a different aspect of my creative self.
In my upcoming post, I will discuss the decisions I made for our business and the reasons behind them. Additionally, I will share some free downloads that were helpful in charting our future course. I am thrilled to share our new endeavor with you all, as it offers an opportunity to reconnect with our community and find fulfillment through my art.
love, bonnets & so much more. See you for the next post on Friday ❤️
-----
Thank you for making it this far! It means a lot to me that you've taken the time to read this. I have something special to share with you - a set of unique art prints that I've created. You have the freedom to use them in any way you like, and they're perfect for story highlight covers. Simply tap on the image below to access the download page. Thank you again for your support, and I hope you enjoy them!
