What's the biggest challenge on your plate right now?

[LaurenClev]

One of the best things about being part of a community is getting help from people that have lived similar experiences and know what you're going through both good and bad.  💙

Let's jump into the comments and share one business related challenge on your plate this week/month/etc. What's our your mind? What's keeping you up at night right now? 

Together we can commiserate (being a business owner is TOUGH!) and share actionable advice, tips, and ideas to unblock you! 

[maxpete]

Thank you for starting this thread @LaurenClev, so important ❤️

For me, my big challenge is trying to sit in stillness. I am constantly bouncing from one thing to the next that my mind is actively racing a lot. Finding calm and stillness AND being okay with it is something that I am struggling with now. 

I'd love to hear from @MudFire_Dex, @JessPoynter, @SSB_YVR, and @LaineKat 

[MudFire_Dex]

In business my biggest challenge right now is whether to open a second location - I have finally found a space that fits the bill and we have a super long wait-list but I am not sure about my energetic commitment to a second space. Trying to work out a plan that includes delegating some things and still maintaining what makes MudFire what we are as a community. I'd love to hear some thoughts from those who have opened second locations. 

A secondary business challenge - I'm considering a name change. I recently changed my Seller Community name to D - which is how I have been named at work for the past year - but that feels unfinished and TBH a little juvenile but I can't decide what to do in relation to all my published works, articles, book, and just the media related to MudFire if I change my name to match what is right for me personally - I have concerns over that causing confusion for the business and customer base.

[maxpete]

Thank you for sharing this! I imagine opening a second location can be a bit daunting to say the least. 

Tagging @JessPoynter, @Donna04, and @Arelove3 to add more insight on opening a second location.

[MudFire_Dex]

Talking with an architect and contractor this week 🙂✨

[GeekInStitches]

Its been a challenge balancing my 5 year old handcraft business, while still working full time in IT at a large university. 

Waking up before 6 am to work on my things and working every weekend until around noon.

That challenge is about to be completely alleviated, because I'm retiring from on May 31st. 

[maxpete]

Happy early retirement!! That is so exciting 🙂 

Are you going to be focusing full-time on your craft business now?

[GeekInStitches]

I need to create a whole new balance first,  but it means I will have more than enough time to think more deeply on new mixed media artwork.   I'd already decided to stop making all of the practical items.

I'm going to take up jogging again, finally deep clean our 2 year old house, re-organize my sewing room and the rest of the house.

It also means all that paperwork that I'm perpetually putting off can be done as a I go.   I literally still have odometer photos on my phone that I need to record, receipts to record, sales figures and taxes to record.    It's been such a slog!

The best thing of all...I don't have to rush all of these things! 🙂 

[maxpete]

Love this! 🙂 

[jenniferpatters]

I am struggling to find TIME my jewelry business is 30 years old this year, I sell mainly at events, but also off my website. I decided to cut back my events by 1/2 this year, and took my social security (I am 65) so I would have more time for me, but then my dad developed Alzheimer's and now along with my sister I am a part time caregiver. Which takes 2 to 4 days out of every week. I don't mind doing it, but it sure cuts into making product, keeping up with business, just basic housekeeping and the gardening I had planned. 

Business struggles right now include attracting new customers to the website to help offset the events I canceled. 

Ugh

[maxpete]

Sorry to hear about your dad ❤️

Happy 30 years of your jewelry business, that is incredible to staying in business for so long!

Hopefully things start to open up a bit more for you to spend more time on what fulfills you. 

[Incantations]

I completely relate as I have in fighting cancer for the past year and a 1/2. And half had to take my events down to half or more of what I'm used to doing.  I also have a handmade jewelry business.

Also I struggle with getting new business in keeping everything together while trying to make more money.

[maxpete]

Sorry to hear about your cancer diagnosis and hope that you have better days ahead ❤️ 

[rtfulk]

Ours is not really a challenge, but a necessary evil.  May and June is our down time for fairs. July we start a 5 month road trip working fairs across the country.  So now we are putting up items on the website, tagging and racking clothes getting ready.   The problem is the weather is great in Florida and we are stuck inside working ☹️.  

[maxpete]

But on a positive note, are you excited for your upcoming road trip? That sounds a lot of fun!

[rtfulk]

@maxpeteThats funny you should say that.  We enjoy being home, but we have been doing this for so many years after these couple of months we can’t wait to get on the road.  We enjoying being on the road, a lot of our customers have become good friends and it’s good to see them.  We get to see a lot of the country and some times we get to work in a 1 day side trip. The setting up and tearing every 12 days can get hectic, but we love the life style.  The fair community is a tight knit group, but we are always there to help each other out.  

[TCSlaguna]

We are trying to figure out the most effective approach for social media marketing and advertising. Seeing what content we post leads to the greatest engagement, and where to best spend money on advertising. It’s not really our area of expertise, but we know it’s probably best if we learn it ourselves rather than randomly throw money at outsiders indefinitely. 

[maxpete]

Excited to see this develop! 📈

[Bronze_Palms]

Right now, I am looking for 1-2 more staff members to join our team.

We have some great applicants but I struggle to hire friends of current staff because I worry performance will be impacted. Curious how others deal with this. I have only hired mutual friends, not the besties who apply together which also feels unfair. But, I worry, they are like a package deal - can't hire one without the other being offended.

[maxpete]

Definitely can be a bit of a tricky situation! But also exciting that you're growing!

Tagging some members who have done hiring in the past who might have more insight to share around this. @dharmasrest, @JUYBoutique20, @LaurenM, @alexandriak, and @ThtGrl 

[alexandriak]

Thanks Max! 

This is def. tricky. I also would be cautious about hiring friends. If they are fighting how will they work together in your business? 

I ended up putting signs up around my store and found a great part time employee that way. She's been with me almost 2 years.