What We’ve Been Up To|Business Adjustments
It’s been busy around here since the shutdowns associated with the Corona Virus. That sounds like it shouldn’t be the case. Fewer stores being open, fewer places to go, fewer gatherings to attend made it all seem that we would slow down.
Not the case here in our business. Please don’t take this as complaining. It is just a fact.
shutting down
In Delaware, things started shutting down in Mid-march. Quickly, my hubby and I realized that we would have to make some serious adjustments and changes to how we run our business if we wanted to stay in business. So we kicked it into gear!
opening up
First, was setting up our online shop. The setup process really taxed my brain. The tech side of running a small business is one of my biggest challenges but after several weeks, our online shop was open for shoppers!
We have a nice selection of furniture for local porch pick up, home decor (some pieces can be shipped), candles from Antique Candle Co, and Watercolor Cards for sending to friends and family. Hope you check out our online shop!
in the news!
During the time that it took to set up the online shop, we also participated in a mask-making endeavor with Red Land Cotton. I was thrilled to help out and as a bonus, an Alabama local news service highlighted our mask-making endeavors on their Instagram and on their website!
Check out the credit towards the bottom left side on the website 🙂
Facebook lives
We branched out of our comfort zone when we started doing weekly Facebook Lives. We completely dismantled one of our spare rooms and transformed it into our “Stay at Home” Shop. Each Saturday at 3 pm EST, we host a tour of our shop as well as highlighting some of our reinvented items for sale.
Hubby films the Facebook Lives and I show our products. It is a team effort!
It has been going well and we are considering continuing this type of Facebook Live each week! I would love to know your thoughts and your suggestions about it! Share in the comments!
first podcast!
If all that wasn’t exciting enough, The Zibra Blog Podcast contacted us to be on not one, but two of their episodes!! The host, Lane Ball, asked us on our Instagram if we would like to share some of our reinventing tips and tricks.
I said yes, of course! And then I got nervous! Not sure why I did – I am on IG Stories quite a bit and I didn’t think I would be nervous but I was 🙂
We set up the call – the podcast is recorded then editing and scheduled. We chatted on the phone like any other phone call. When he started recording, my heart started pounding. I stuck to the script I had written – and I am so glad I did because my mind went blank!!
Our six tips can be heard in two episodes: S2 – E10 and S2 – E11! Hope you give them a listen. If you are into furniture makeovers, this podcast is a must!!
Anyway, it was a great experience and it really was fun in the jumping-out-of-an-airplane kind of way 😉 Be sure and click those episode links to listen in 🙂
blogging buddies
Last but certainly NOT least, I was asked by one of my blogging buddies, Karen, if she could share about some of the reupholstery projects we have shared here on the blog. Karen, from The Slipcover Maker, wanted to highlight ideas about dealing with exposed wood when making a slipcover (and in my case, upholstery.).
Her blog is amazing and her skills are far beyond amazing. In fact, I just told her that she has ‘killer skills’ when making slipcovers! Be sure and check her blog. She has many tried and true resources for making slipcovers and has become my own source for supply shopping!
new place in business
I am looking forward to this new place we have found ourselves in business. We love to reinvent furniture and home decor so why not reinvent our business as well!!
All the changes and adjustments we have made over these last weeks of quarantine have been challenging, sometimes tear-producing, but ultimately good for our business. Sometimes it takes the hard things in life to bring about growth. For that I am thankful.
Thanks for stopping by to hear about our latest happenings! Your support of our blog means alot to us 🙂
Cindy & Steve
UPDATE:
If you are interested in hearing more about out business, what we have learned during our five years in business and how we manage business tasks, check out these posts:
Haven Conference 2018 (PS – We are going to the conference again this year!!!)
What We’ve Been Up To | Business Adjustments
Bullet Journal for Small Business | Part One | Part Two | Part Three