09/06/2025
I don’t want to be that type of small business owner, but it’s needs to be addressed as it’s getting to the point where I’m thinking of closing my small business down and only doing the odd ones for family and friends who want them occasionally, the reason being, most people are only interested in FREE things, when I’m doing giveaways I get more people engaging, reacting to and sharing my post, and I only started doing them because of the fact of giving back to people who have supported me but as soon as it comes to posting something to do with money nobody’s interested.
For example: I’ve had a bonus ball up now since the very start of April for a large grey and white bear at £1 a number… these bears are meant to be £25 each and they take me 7-10hours to do at a time, we are now in June and I’ve still got so many numbers left, I’m not asking everyone to spend their money but even if you just share the post it helps me out.
I’ve noticed that a lot of people look on Amazon and websites like temu for the things I handmake, things that take me hours and hours of my own time, mine don’t have gaps, mine consist of 250-800 roses depending on the size of the bear you want, mine are made properly by hand not by machines. My original prices used to be much more than what they are now and that was £20 for a standard bear, but because I understand people struggle and because of the cost of living I lowered my prices massively, I lowered the standard bears to £12 each (£15 holding a heart), these take me 3-4hours to do on their own, large bears should be a much higher price than £25 (£30 for extras wanted), they should be at least £35-£40 because of materials aswell as my own time and effort. I spend my OWN money on my materials, and undercharge everyone for what I do, bare in mind I do not work, so therefore I have no money of my own, yet I still do it for people who are actually interested.
I start a new job soon which is going to take up the majority of my time Monday- Friday yet I was still willing to continue my small business while I’m already going to be rushed off of my feet working, but nobody is willing to even just share my posts and my work to help me out unless it’s for a giveaway. I sit here and constantly support small businesses, on TikTok shop, Etsy, and other social media platforms because I own a small business and I know what the struggle can be like and I’d rather know I have bought something made properly and with care than something machine made. I know I’m not the only person who has this issue because I know people on my personal Facebook who have posted a statement just like this because they deal with the same thing.
Last thing…My business contributes to awareness aswell and not just hand making pretty things for customers, I make autism awareness bears for £15 each and donate £5 of my earnings to the National Autistic Society, I don’t have to do that but I do because I’m a good person and I know people, and have family members and friends who have autism and I wanted to spread awareness for that and I wanted to donate to that society because I know how important it is.
Thank you to the people who have supported me in this venture, and if I do close down my business (I will update) please feel free to message me as I will be more than willing to still continue making them for you. I will no longer be doing giveaways unless something changes.
