Pondering

You may have noticed that the last week's posts were short and sweet. That's because I was away. I took a short but much needed break up on Tasmania's gorgeous north and west coasts.

There was thrifting to be done and some thinking. Lately I've been hoping for a moment of clarity; for an epiphany, but also so far none has come. I'm really in two minds about where to take Notions.

My sabbatical from creativity earlier this year lasted about a week. I need to be creative. I need to make. And that's fine, but I find making for myself is not as satisfying as making to sell. I don't experience the same enjoyment just making for me. I really do thrive from the anticipation that comes from making something for sale. I guess you could call it the thrill of the chase; the search for finding that (illusive) product that satisfies myself and customers. I do derive quite at lot of satisfaction and self worth from a successful sale. Doing markets also comes with a sense of anticipation and a good measure of anxiety (the good kind). Working at home alone is great, but you really are in your own world. It's nice to get out and interact with the customer- not only for the business, but for my own sense of value. The validation that comes from a happy customer is immeasurable. It also necessary. At least it is for me. As they say, no woman is an island. You cannot exist alone. I need to know that what I am doing has meaning (if only in a small way).

 When I first started Notions getting those first few stockists was so exciting. A real feather in my cap. And validation that I could make this work as a full time business. And it was fun. But earlier this year it ceased being fun and became stressful. Sales dropped off and it became harder and harder to make ends meet. I was faced with the dilemma of outsourcing production and becoming a much bigger business or folding up altogether. I chose the latter. That didn't last. Since then I have done one market and I'll be doing a few more leading up to Christmas. In the past few weeks I have been contacted by new potential stockists as well as some of my favourite existing stockists about ordering from Notions.

Now I have to decide if I want to go down that road again. Yes, it would be great to have more money coming in, but at what cost? I really was unhappy earlier this year. There is not only the financial aspect to consider, but the emotional one. For me the two are inextricably linked.  Would I have the same experience? Would I struggle for sales?

Anyway, so that's where I am at the moment. For the next week I'll be gearing up for next weekend's Apron Design Market. I'm really looking forward to it. I have some great ideas for my stall and new products to test out. I'll be really interested in seeing what people's reactions are to some of the new stuff. It's quite different to what Notions has done in the past. Fingers crossed...