As Honest As It Gets

Someone said to me recently that it’s only hard work if you don’t enjoy it. Well, this past year has been more than hard work, it’s been an epic battle and often felt like I’m climbing a mountain covered in treacle. Rising rent, surging utilities and, more than that, HUMONGOUS and I really do mean HUMONGOUS material costs, means margins are getting smaller and smaller and at some point in time you have to start to question if it’s all worth it.

Two years ago, I decided, rather bravely, to move a larger studio as it would enable us to say “yes” to many opportunities that come our way. And this has happened, but the problem is, there’s no choice BUT to say yes now. I can’t pick and choose what I want to do, because bills have to be paid, so you find yourself taking on more and more, simply to enable survival.

So in October, I decided I had to make some decisions. I had three choices:  a)  Sell up, b) Walk away or c) Reign it in.

A. wasn’t an option I’d been down that route a couple of years ago and when it came to it, I just wasn’t and still am not, prepared to pass the mantle onto someone else, to watch them make changes to something I’ve worked so hard for. Likewise with B, I’ve invested 11 years into TWCC. That’s one fifth of my life , I simply can’t walk away in its entirety. So, that leaves C.

When I started this business, my personal life was completely different. The first 4 years, it was a side-line and ultimately I suppose, a hobby that paid for itself. 7 years ago that changed and I took TWCC on as a fulltime venture. I pushed it forward, invested heavily, moved it out from home and started to live the self employed “dream”. And I’m so proud of what I’ve achieved, remember this started from my kitchen table and now fills a large two storey studio.

2020 saw even more changes as Covid forced me to take the business online. Something I probably would never have got around to, as I’m so anti the “sloth like” existence that online has created, but it got me through and ultimately gave me my best year.

Although I bounced back relatively quickly, coming out of Europe had a hugely detrimental effect on materials, with costs absolutely sky rocketing, (and that was when you could get hold of them). Something I thought would possibly settle eventually, simply hasn’t. I had to adapt because of these issues, culling fragrances, reducing the product range and doing everything I could to keep my pricing at a sensible level, but still give me sufficient margin to make a decent profit.

Making the changes above helped, but what has definitely transpired over recent years, is that this business is increasingly becoming “a Christmas business”. All small product based businesses rely heavily on Christmas, but of course, we still have to endure and get through the other 9 months of the year.

To prepare for Christmas, we start making our products in May. The amount of investment in materials, supplies and printing, is astronomical. Without savings, I would never have been able to produce the amount of stock I need for the Christmas markets and fairs we book into. This, however, has left me feeling very vulnerable and I’m always aware that it only takes one illness, one fair closure, one broken limb, one Covid shutdown to literally break me.

When you experience stress like that, to go back to an empty house, with no-one to share the worry or the financial burden, it’s hard. Shouldering that kind of worry, on my own, is simply something I’m not prepared to do for another year.

So, this takes me to option C. Reign it in. I’ve worked on this for 7 years in a fulltime capacity, but it’s time to step back. I need to find a balance that works for me and I need to re-establish my love of this business. To do that, I have to take it back to part time and I have to take it home.

This means making changes as to what I do and when. So I’ve taken the last few weeks to really examine the parts of my business I love and have made some decisions.

Lavenham Farmers’ Market. This monthly market was the first I ever did after moving to Suffolk. It is really close to my heart and I’m so proud to be part of something that has grown to the award winning event it has. Not only that, but this has been majorly responsible for the growth I’ve had. Filled with the most loyal customers, many who have become friends, and attended by the best traders, who really have become my “market family” I will NEVER stop doing this market. Lavenham stays.

Bury St Edmunds Farmers’ Market I have a presence in Bury twice a month at both this and the Makers’ Market. For the timebeing, I will continue both, but sensibly it is likely that I will pull out of one of these in the Spring.

Clare Priory Handmade Fair. This is the event that even if I didn’t earn a penny, I’d always do. Run like clockwork, by the most fabulous group of kind-hearted, warm and genuine, volunteers, I cannot even think of giving this up. This event was one of the reasons I moved to Clare. Clare stays.

Ely Cathedral. Like Clare, Ely is an incredibly special place. It’s a hairs on the back of your neck, type place. I love everything about it. The smell, the silence, the enormity and the wonderful staff. It’s not a gimme that we get to do this every year and the time will come when we aren’t invited, but whilst we are, this will always be our first-choice, Christmas event. Whilst they’ll have us, Ely stays.

RHS Hyde Hall. A relatively new event for us, and the one that starts our Christmas outings. RHS Hyde Hall is just beautiful – not that we get to see much of it. It’s a fabulously well attended event, not a million miles away from home and a pleasure to be part of. Hyde Hall stays

Now I’m not saying that this is “it”. I’ve already booked into October at Trinity Park and I expect I’ll do the Hadleigh Show, but I know that Christmas is our most successful period, so my main focus has to be on that.

So what about the rest of the year? Well, clearly, I have to live but I also want to get the right balance and focus on the things I love about TWCC . I will keep my website open, but, will no longer be supplying to any shop except Derrants of Berwick Upon Tweed. I will also continue supplying to our lovely friends at The Boule In, Bildeston, for their Fete de Noel.

With regard to white label jobs – I will only be doing this again for Derrants, and Moulson Cors. If this affects you, I will be in contact with suggestions of alternative companies you can use, but do note of course, that your artwork is YOUR property so this would simply transfer with you.

I hope, by making these tough decisions, I’m able to get “Jo” back again, because somewhere along the line, I’ve definitely lost “me”.

Finally, as I shall be focusing far more on the Christmas period, I may well be looking for 2 lovely, bubbly individuals, who are not afraid of an intense period of hardwork, and have the ability to lift/carry, to run other Christmas events – as always, these events clash and, sadly, we can’t be cloned. Do note, this may well involve staying away at times. If it’s something you’re interested in, do get in touch. This is only a possibility at this point in time, whilst I firm up other details.

Whilst I hope to be out of my unit by the end of the year, I will then decide whether to build a studio in my garden, or find somewhere I can rent for just 3/4 months of the year – more details on that soon.

Sorry this has been such a long read. I want to be honest and transparent. It’s a real struggle out there and if I can urge anyone to do anything to help – it’s use your local businesses. Put on your coat, brave the fresh air and go to your local shop or market. Have that face-to-face contact. Interact. People’s lives literally depend upon it.