Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Stars, Spring, and on Being Overwhelmed.

+ SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE +
{The original source to this is broken, so if you took this, rad!}
Since our move, I have had to adjust to a number of different feelings that I am not really accustomed to. We really do live in the middle of nowhere. The only noises I hear at night are distant gunshots, and stray dog barks in the dark. It is quiet and when I walk out onto my front porch into the night air, and look up, the sky is larger and heavy with thousands of stars I never knew existed. I wonder now how a person goes for so long not knowing each and every one of those stars exist.

We have become overwhelmed with our small business. I know that it is just about every small business owners dream that their business "blows up" and they have too much to handle, but I can only be 100% truthfully honest, it's really hard. I have been living with a constant knot in my chest, and the stacks of shipping boxes are looming. I said daunting earlier when describing how it feels to be this overwhelmed. I am scared we will never catch up. And not only that, but we have had back ups with all of our suppliers. It takes about a week longer than before to get EVERYTHING. And well, i'm just not used to it. So adjusting has been a slow process. I keep asking for understanding from customers, and I keep saying hurry to our suppliers, but today was a little too much.

I think it's safe to say that I am not the only one. I have been with Doug long enough to read him, to hear his silence, and we sure are working hard to keep work from smothering us. Working to work. I am excited to focus on our spring collection, in which we will be more concerned with unique, ready to ship pieces, rather than made to order items. It will be a game changer.

I just wanted to share some thoughts. I am here. I am full of worry and a heavy heart, but I am here. We are working. The stars are so dang bright.

xo,
Beca

21 comments:

  1. It's so great that your business is blowing up! But i can understand that overwhelming feeling. I work with local vendors in my job, and one of them has be selling out of control in my store! Every time I send the girl who makes the stuff a new order I make sure to let her know that I'm down for whatever she can get to me, I can almost hear the panic in her voice whenever I order!

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    1. I always sound panicked. I cant wait to get caught up. xo.

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  2. Hey grrrrrrl-
    I'm not sure what your stats are but, I work (like, as my day job. that's how big this is) for my friend who has a incredibly successful etsy shop (imyourpresent.etsy.com). We are often behind. In fact, I cannot remember a time when we were "up-to-date". I just checked our stats and as of this morning there are 52 unanswered conversations and 3 pages of unsent orders... and this is GOOD for us.

    What I want to express is that while things might not get any less demanding, you guys will totally get better at handling the stress that comes with having such a successful venture. And, hopefully, your customer base will learn to understand that your quality product is worth the wait it takes to arrive. Also, having an intern who can answer emails and do mundane tasks is worth its weigh in signing off on those college credits.

    Doing this is damn hard and having to answer to a barrage of "I ordered this 2 days ago. Where is it?"-type questions every morning doesn't help a whole lot. If you ever gotta vent, feel free to turn that vent towards me.

    -Liz

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    1. you're amazing liz! Thank you so much for your comment, and you might be getting an email from me very soon. xo!

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    2. send away, lady! so many things and people on the internet perpetuate this aura of effortless perfection and it's always nice to have someone who will pause for a moment and say, "Listen. I am but a humble human being and this shit can be damn hard." personally, I find that too be way more inspiring and compelling than hearing about some asshole's perfect movie night or the bounty of their latest trip to the farmer's market (and I say this last part as a person who likes movies and loves delicious, delicious food.)

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  3. oh yeah, and I meant to add, i hope people are understanding with you. I know that people feel like every thing they buy should be to them immediately and don't stop to think about the PERSON who is making something handmade for them. I hope the kind customers out weigh the mean ones.

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    1. sometimes they do, and sometimes I cant even see past the river of emails asking where their package is. we have good days and bad days, but I'm thankful to say most of them are good days.

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  4. Beca, I love your guts. Your business is amazing, you two are amazing, and it will all work out. Keep on chugging along. You have SUCH a good thing going on, and I am so happy for your success. Email me if you ever need to vent! I love yooooou!

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    1. I cant wait for us to go caraVANing together someday. Maybe when we both retire! Thank you! Love!

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  5. Beca! I'm rooting for you guys! I love your stuff and you should see how many people find my blog every week searching for 'wooden sunglasses'! Like a million.

    I have no idea how you ... or any small business owner for that matter ... do it. But if you need a sympathetic ear I'm all yours! I wish I could help out somehow.

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    1. Thank you Nova! And I am glad to have a pal like you!

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  6. Amazing photo.

    Things can be really overwhelming sometimes. Just remember to breathe and tell yourself you CAN do this!!

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  7. i know it's so overwhelming knowing that people are waiting on you, but anyone who gets a quality product knows that it's worth the wait. you'll get everything finished because you're motivated and you know that you're doing what you love!

    also, i think you need to take a vacation to my house where there aren't any lights or noises, so i can lay out on my trampoline and watch shooting stars and satellites all night long!

    love you, friend, and i know you'll be fine :)

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    1. we'll get there soon. and we';; jump on your trampoline for days.. days and days. your friendship got me through that funk yesterday and I appreciate you! love!

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  8. I hear you with being overwhelmed. Honestly, my CAPow shop is at the point where I could quit my day job. Trouble is, I love my day job so much that I never want to quit! And I try to squeeze what should be the full time job of running my shop into the tight spaces around my 40 hour a week full time job. It's overwhelming. And I know that it's also risky to talk about because you don't want to sound ungrateful for the success. It's a problem that many people wish they had. But just because it's a "good" problem, doesn't make it any less stressful. I hear you, girl! I am SO on the same page.

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    1. It does feel risky! I dont want people to think i am complaining, but it isn't always a good thing to be overwhelmed as a small business because the quality of your product and customer service and organization will all suffer. Thanks for understanding and letting me know I am not alone. we forget sometimes that we're not the only etsy shop that is terribly behind. You and liz really reminded me of that in your comments. so. much. love.

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  9. umm can we both take a vacation to danielle's house? also, i heart you and this post really just made me want to be like "sorry andrew i am going to go stay with beca for a while and help her out" ... i agree with danielle though that people need to recognize!! i mean, that they're getting a quality and handmade product and they just gotta wait. i feel like as long as you have good communication (which is what i always appreciated as a customer when i didn't realize i'd have to wait so long) people should understand. then again, you're always gonna get some meanies, don't let them bring you down!! xoxo

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    1. DIZZIE!!! Youre the best and your email made my whole night. I miss you and cant wait to vacation together....to danielles house. haha. but seriously, thank you! love!

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  10. FRIEND! You guys are awesome, and I know that you will figure out a way through this ( you always do). You both put everything you have into your work and it shows (but I know that it can be quite overwhelming). I'm here if you need to talk or vent :) miss you!

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