When starting this venture I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. It will be a lot of work, a lot of effort, and if I want it to succeed it will all rely on me. That is the territory that comes with being a sole proprietor. No surprise. I am lucky in that I have had past experience and education in business administration and marketing. Yet the tasks of accounting, even with the guidance of a family member, and managing all the various hats is exhausting. Thank goodness for coffee and tea!
While these realities are no shock. They are just that, realities that I have to face head on. I have found myself sitting and staring at an excel sheet for hours on end with the hopes that it will look less daunting. I have stared at the 2025 calendar and forced my brain to race on the various ways I can make my shop relevant to national and global calendar celebrations. I have opened my heart to pour whatever good lies within it to the public. Hoping to draw in the community of Oshawa. It may never seem like I am doing enough, or that I am organized enough, but I feel the appreciation of those that come into the shop.
The few that have attended socials, the first KAL, and impromptu sit and stitches may not seem like much, but to me it is wonderful! I was able to provide a space for those individuals to enjoy themselves. A place to escape their worries and create. I wake up every morning with the hopes that my actions encourage others to learn something new without having the feeling of being alone in doing so. This is what I mean by ‘I feel the appreciation’. I see those that enjoy the space and activities as much as I do and it makes my heart grow.
Regardless of the uncertainty around us all in the world, of the expected reduction of income facing my family and I from this venture, and the fatigue from the rollercoaster of energy to no energy and back. I am more happy, motivated, and empowered than I ever have been. I feel immense pride in what I have accomplished and hope to continue to accomplish in the coming months. I am a Canadian bi-sexual woman of mixed race with a chronic mental health illness who owns a small business in a niche market and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Best two months of my life thus far.
Thank you everyone that has graced my shop with your presence. I look forward to more encounters and good times.