04/25/2019
As a small business owner, of handmade accessories, I “get” the effort, time, skill, motivation, and hard work, day in and day out, it takes. You have to know or learn skills in so many different areas. Technology, marketing, social media, accounting, analytics, SEO’s, customer service, current and upcoming fashion trends, self-promotion (which I hate), building a brand, creating a logo, packaging, shipping, pricing, inventory tracking, wholesale purchasing, taxes, licenses and liability... that’s just the tip of the iceberg
You will fail, more than you succeed. Choosing fabric, thread, elastic, shipping materials, even tissue paper... all of those decisions have to be made; and you will take it more seriously than anyone will ever realize. You will pour your heart and soul, into every stitch, every cut, every product. You will feel the highs, and you will feels the lows. Both feelings will be magnified because it’s your passion; it’s what makes you, you. Your desire to create, will drive you, inspire you, keep you up at night. When you fail, you will question if it’s all worth it; or if this is really what you were born to do. Every time, you will come back to the conclusion, that regardless of failure or success, fame, fortune, or poverty, this is who you are, this is what you were born to do
I get it. People who are not “makers”, or who don’t have a passion for creativity, have no clue. They don’t understand how saying, they could get the same thing at Target or off Amazon, for a cheaper price, is the equivalent of telling you, you are worthless. They have no idea the hours spent thinking, researching, designing, measuring, cutting, sewing, photographing... They have no idea the sacrifices you’ve made, the money you’ve lost, or the years you have spent developing, honing, mastering your craft
So, to all the other makers, small business owners, or anyone with a passion for creativity... keep doing what you are doing. I respect and admire all of you😘
I made a stop motion film to document to entire process of making a handyed, hand-sewn, handmade ribbon scrunchie, from start to finish 😘