10 Things I learned in 10 Years of Business

Hi Everyone,

It has been nearly two years since I created a blog post, I have no idea where the time has gone!

Today, I have a very special post. This summer, 2019, will mark T E N years of business for me. Yep, ten.

I opened my little business in June 2009, I was only seventeen years old but my heart was filled with so much passion.

I started my business through a program called My Summer Company. I learned SO much that summer. The program required you to maintain your business for one summer, and part of me cannot believe that I am still here, still running the same little business. Except, it isn't really the same at all. My business has changed so much over the years, which I suppose happens when an individual grows from the age of seventeen to twenty seven. You learn some things about yourself as a person and you learn some things about business.

Here's ten things I learned, in ten years of business.

1. It is okay to change.  Let's all say that again. It. Is. Okay. To. Change. When I initially opened my business, I was in high school, and my goal was to teach summer camps to children. At the end of the summer, my business changed for the first time. That fall, I decided to teach lessons only on Saturdays. I started by teaching two classes, then eventually added a third. During this time, I was getting phone calls from people inquiring about lessons, but for adults! My business changed again when I made that shift from teaching only children, to also teaching adults. It didn't take long before I was teaching five classes a week, while still finishing high school.

Fast forward to my university years, which is when markets became more popular. I did my first craft show in 2011, just two years after I started my business. For about five years, I played a balancing act of teaching 3-4 classes a week, creating stock for my craft shows, and studying full time.

2011, one of my first craft shows!

Approximately two years ago, I made one of the hardest decisions of my life. I gave up teaching my classes (which meant no weekend classes and no summer camps). I got to a point where I realized that I wasn't a student anymore (and hadn't been since completing my undergrad in 2014) and that it just simply wasn't possible to run any sort of summer camp while working a 9-5 job.

I think the hardest part of this, is the feeling that you are letting people down. But I think that its important to understand that its OKAY for the priorities of a 27 year old to be different than the priorities of a 17 year old. I am at a different life stage than I was back then and my business reflects that.

I still operate my business, but in a way that best suits my "adult" life. I now only participate in craft shows (and do custom orders) which allows me to "squeeze in" that sewing time when it is convenient for me. (Which usually means at about 6am before going to work, in the evenings after work, and on weekends).

The takeaway here, is that it is not only okay, but necessary, for your business to change and grow, to reflect your personal growth.


(The below photos are from 2009, the summer I started my business)

2. It is okay to say "no". You know, I'm still working on this one. But I think its important to acknowledge that I understand the importance of having the choice to say no....even if I still sometimes have a hard time saying it. I feel like this lesson goes hand-in-hand with the one above. When your business is only your side-hustle, and you have (MANY) other priorities, it is important to sometimes sit back and say no to others, if it means saying yes to yourself.

Summer 2009. 

3. You have to love what you do. I think that this is self-explanatory, but if your heart is not in your craft, it will show in your work. I think I put more hours into my business (especially during the busy season) than most people will ever know. And for those who do know, and ask why, its because I LOVE it. I would never do what I do if it didn't bring me joy.

14 year old me (I can almost guarantee this was probably at 11pm on a school night)

4. People won't "get it", and that's okay. This is a tough one for me. When I was little, I took sewing lessons and some kids at school just didn't get it. I remember being teased about it. It got to a point where I just didn't bother talking about it anymore, because they didn't understand (or care).
 I can remember being in a fabric store when I was 12 (we won't talk about which one) I was carrying a patchwork bag that I had JUST made (pictured below), and the employee in the store got angry with me because she thought I was lying when I told her that I made it myself. She obviously didn't get it.

When I was in high school, I started working in a store, helping to teach lessons and serve customers who were purchasing fabric. I can remember not bothering to explain (to certain people) why I would "give up" my weekends, every single weekend, because I knew they just wouldn't get it.

Even now, when I spend nearly every spare moment in my sewing room, working on stock for shows, I know a lot of people don't get it. They don't understand why I would want to give up so much of my time, and that's okay. Not everyone will get it, but the ones who do are the ones you want to keep real close. And the others, well, one day they're going to require your services and maybe then, they'll get it.

12 year-old me & my patchwork bag...and my hamster's cage, bottom right haha

5. Remember where you started. For me, my passion for sewing began as a hobby. Sometimes, I get a little overwhelmed, maybe even feel a bit frustrated that I have ZERO time to work on sewing projects or quilts that are just for my own personal enjoyment. All of my sewing time is my precious spare time and that gets used on my priorities, which is the sewing I do for my business. In 2017 and 2018 I created quilts to be entered at a local fair. (Pictured below) I can't tell you how right that felt for me. So I think that its important to try to make time to enjoy your business as it once was, just a hobby, but that (as I mentioned above) you need to remind yourself that you're doing this because you love it.

2017 Brooklin Spring Fair entry

2018 Brooklin Spring Fair entry

working on my first quilt, at age 12

6. Do not compare yourself to others. This is another hard one for me. I think every person, whether you're a business owner or not, experiences self-doubt. I have definitely been noticing myself feeling anxious when I see certain things on social media. I am guilty of comparing myself to "successful" homemade businesses. Constantly wondering if I'm doing enough, too much, the right types of events, in the right towns. Am I selling what people want? Am I posting to my social media accounts enough? How do I grow? Where do I go from here? Am I good enough?
I can't tell you the amount of times I have felt sick at night thinking about all of these things. But I am teaching myself to focus on me, realize that I AM doing the very best that I can, and that I couldn't possibly fit any more in my day than I already do. And when all else fails, I take a bubble bath.

The time I was on TV in 2013

7. Find your circle. You know the phrase, "it takes a village to raise a child" ? Okay, well, it takes a village to run a business too. Even if you are basically a one-woman show, you NEED a circle. I have the most amazing and supportive "business partner" EVER. She wakes up crazy early with me to travel to shows, she sweats with me while we load, unload, set-up and tear-down booths, and reminds me to eat. (She also supports my coffee addiction)

My life-partner (going on nearly 9 years now) is quite possibly the most supportive person, ever. And let me tell you, he puts up with A LOT of sh*t. Together, we've accomplished some pretty awesome things. A year ago, we purchased our first home, and we've had our little rescue doggy for about two years now. These two bring me so much joy, and are often the motivation for me to keep going.

First home! 2018

Our rescue dog, Amy

I have a circle of friends who are my personal cheerleaders, I have vendor friends who put the pep in my step on market days (when we've all had zero sleep and are drinking ALL the coffee), and people in the industry who are so encouraging and have helped me achieve some pretty amazing things, like publishing patterns in magazines, being on TV, or being a guest-artist at weekend quilt shows, to name a few.

8. Its okay to "fail". If you think I've never attended a market and sold absolutely zero items, you're wrong. We've all been there. My favourite lady in the world used to say "you never fail, unless you stop trying". So just keep trying, business isn't easy and nothing will work the first time.

Trunk show presentation, Port Hope

9. Kindness is contagious. If you participate in vendor shows, smile. I swear that is the best way to build a relationship with your customer, to communicate your enthusiasm, and to set the tone for your day. Just smile.

Trunk show presentation, Simcoe County

10. Keep learning. This is so important. Outside of my sewing hours I spend a lot of time researching. This can be researching new products, new tools, new techniques, dreaming up a better way to do something, researching markets that you haven't done before, perfecting your craft, etc. I've been sewing for nearly twenty years of my life, and there's still so much to learn.

So, there you have it, my friends. The top ten things I've learned in ten years of business. If you read that entire thing, you're a rockstar.

I can't wait to see where the next ten years takes me!

-Tiffany xo