09/05/2024
To my stationery people:
When I had to make the decision to close my store, I was really concerned about disappointing those of you who I have come to know and love. There are so many good people I’ve met along the way who share my love of a pretty notepad or a beautiful journal, and it brought me so much joy to listen to people vocally appreciating the beauty in simple details, or laughing at a good card, or gasping when they tried a great pen.
In having to give up on this place I built, and feeling a deep sense that I would be letting down the customers I’ve grown so fond of, I was pretty down.
In chatting with other business owners who were also feeling the pinch, a plan began emerging and the hope of carrying on, even in a small way, gave me so much hope and a renewed confidence that I could keep those loyal customers satisfied and keep doing what I love. I started telling everyone I recognized, don’t fret, I’ll be back!
So I carried on with closing my business with the hopes that this wasn’t the end, but just a change.
However, after being away from it, a new reality presented itself to me.
1. This business is tough, and making a living off of selling a few products somewhere else isn’t sustainable in our current economy.
2. I worked very hard to curate a brand at parcel + prose, and I simply don’t have the resources to create a new business with, or within, another business right now.
3. I’m tired. I’ve been grinding all on my own for 6 years and it’s taken a toll on my mental health.
To those shops who reached out to me and presented me with an olive branch, I am so grateful for you giving me hope when I was desperate. Being away from the grind gave me clarity.
If I do take this leap again someday, I need it to be the way I dreamed it would be. No compromise.
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