Life of a Store Owner pt. 1

So, today is day one of blogging what it is like to own your own store. Let me tell you, it's rough. After my post yesterday. I started to feel down. I feel like I am putting in so much effort for so little. I woke up this morning, still feeling down. I got a message in group chat saying they wanted to extend the craft fair, but they would take a few days off first. This craft fair ends on November 30th, so they will start it back up on the 4th thru the 16th. This sounds like a great idea, but they wanted us to pay the entry fee again and add 50 more people. Considering that its only 10 dollars to continue the craft fair, doesn't seem so bad. The problem is that I had been posting and doing lives since Tuesday, today being Sunday, and only had one sale, equaling less than 10 dollars. I brought this to their attention when I said that I really liked the idea but financially, it wasn't a good decision for me.

Some of the other vendors tried to encourage me, saying that its not just about making money but that its also about publicity. I Would normally agree, but I haven't really received any new people liking my page or joining my group. Also only had 1 or 2 people watching my daily lives and they were usually friends or other admin in the group. The way I saw it, My marketing wasn't working in that group, I wasn't getting any publicity, and I wasn't making sales! But saying this to them would probably make them think I'm weak, or ungrateful. In reality, I was getting depressed. I got up to start my day and announced my live for later in the day.

I spent the next hour or so, just trying to mentally prepare myself for the live. I made a few tiktoks but I eventually ended up back in bed, crying. I kept wishing my brother was home because he always has a knack for getting me out of that mindset. My mom came and talked to me. She only had a few minutes because she was only on a break. She works from home. My dad decided to be proactive and get me out of the house. He asked me to order lunch and pick it up. If I did he would buy me food too. I am always up for free food. So I ordered the food and my sister came with me so that I could talk to someone. I know that as much as I like to be alone when I feel like that, being alone makes it worse. So I try to surround myself with people.

They day went on and I did my live, only 2 people popped in but didn't stay long. A while later I was on my phone and noticed the I had a sale notification. One of my friends bought something! I can almost guarantee they didn't watch my live or anything involving the craft fair, but it was nice to have another sale so soon. Maybe I am starting to get noticed. Maybe I do have a chance. I know I haven't even had my shop up for 3 months yet and the verdict is still out. But the sale courage and conviction to keep going. Something about a sale strengthens my resolve. I have to ignore the fear and dread of wondering how long till the next sale. Each sale is a fight that I must win. I will keep fighting, I just have to keep trying and slowly but surely, it will pay off. You definitely haven't seen the last of me!