Tag: small business

Adjusting…

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So after the initial plan of moving just the manufacturing over to the new location, we have now completely moved.

This means that I am now adjusting how things will look and work here. I am adjusting to this as this was not my plan. We were going to be sharing a space with another Vendor but he felt the space didn’t work for him with my products in it. So we decided to pull out completely. I feel betrayed and am in a bit of shock but I am getting there.

At least I am away from the daily drama and don’t have to deal with certain issues anymore. I know that I am part of the issue as I am someone who will speak my truth and sometimes I don’t have the best filter.

I am not someone who adjusts to change easily and it will take me sometime to get there. Also not someone who can understand the way people treat each other. The negativity is not what I work well in and I am a mediator type of personality so I am always trying to fix issues that are not mine to fix. I do understand where that comes from but have yet to be able to walk away from doing it.

I know I am feeling hurt and betrayed but I don’t believe that was anyone’s intention. Trying to wrap my head around this is going to really take me some time and energy to keep going.

I just have 1 more load to get from the Market then we are done.

On the home front John and I are still continuing with COPE part 2 (part 2). We are now doing every other week sessions with our Coach and we are moving to complete some of our goals.

1 Being that we are decluttering the home and making it more of a comfortable space for the both of us. I have my Mental Health Worker every other week and Home Support weekly.

I know I don’t ask for help easily and that is something I am working on. Part of the reason I don’t ask is because I can’t seem to be clear with my words as my brain is racing, and I can’t tell them what I need at that moment. The other reason is that when I finally do ask… I fail to get the help I need ( such as what just happened at the Market).

2 Finances are being openly spoken about and we are moving together on completing some of the goals we had set for that.

3 Being closer is also progressing and we are finding more enjoyable moments together. We are creating time just for us and that is working. We are as always talking to each other about our needs but the conversations are constructive now and I feel we have found a way to understand and meet each others needs and wants.

So I use these type of posts to calm my brain when I am stressing and having it written for me to later read and understand where I was mentally.

For those that are reading this please note this is for me to sort my thoughts but also for you as the reader to understand how someone like me with Depression/Anxiety Disorder as well as PTSD copes day to day.

Thank you for your kindness and support.

1st Week

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We have moved over the equipment and supplies to the new location. Started to organize, connected to internet and have most things up and running.

It feels great to start working with everything in the same space. I was able to plow through my to do list today.

I am very grateful for the support I’m getting as I grow. I need to focus on developing a business plan now and continue to work on growing.

Moving Along

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Unpacking

We have started to move our Store over to the new location. As John brings in the many boxes I am trying to figure out where everything is going to go when I finally have the cabinets and shelves in.

Tomorrow the final pieces should be coming and I can finally have it all in one room again.

Unpacking all the shirts I realized I have a great selection of different sizes,colours and materials for ab awesome promotional sale when I get the new printer in. I’m so excited that I can do full graphics Hugh quality prints myself and start doing up promotional bundles for local businesses close to us, as a way of introducing ourselves.

I am in process of adding the new location to my Google and Wish Local.

On the home front John and I continue our meetings with the life coach from COPE. Last night we discussed communication. We had a conversation this morning that was quite difficult but I think we are moving forward.

I’ll leave it at that for now as my brain is rushing with anxiety and I can’t find a balance at the moment.

Move started

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We were able to start moving stuff into the new space today.

Excited to see how this space will work for us to grow and expand. I love all the windows and clear line of site over the neighboring farm fields.

This week I have a few things to finish and then I can focus on packing the rest of the equipment and moving it over next weekend.

I put larger decals on our van. I realized I should have put the QR code on it but I can add it. I printed them a little larger than I should have so we put them on the side window. I’ll print them again so they can go on the other side.

I also started getting help from my mental health worker with getting through my anxiety attacks when I’m decluttering at home. She referred me to housing support.

I had my first meeting with housing support and we have set up a weekly session of an hour to move through the house. We have it set for 1 year.

John and I continue to meet with our life coach through the COPE program. We are working towards our goals and starting to work together better. We really didn’t have huge issues but we were both having difficulties individually and this has given us a way to support each other and come together as a stronger couple.

I am thankful for the support we have been getting and for John taking the help.

2022 New Beginnings

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The year has begun and already we have some big changes happening.

1 Probably getting a new dog to join our home. His name is Brody and he is Johns uncles dog. Unfortunately, Uncle Fred passed and that has left Uncle Mike alone with the responsibility of caring for him and he is a Doberman Pincer so a large dog. We are unsure of when this will happen but it will be a big change for him as he is born and raised in Victoria BC. So the climate is very different than here. All the same we will give him a loving home to be in. Honestly, I am excited to have a large dog again.

2 We have decided to move the manufacturing part of Uniquely Ys to another location for growth, the new location is in Arnprior and that means I will have an extra hour a day to work in between bus runs. The space is the upstairs with lots of Natural Sunlight and lots of room to move around in. John will take one of the rooms and Stan will be taking the other. There is a huge property that we can make use of. This is a big change but movement into progression.

3 Christmas break has been extended till Jan 17th so far… So I’m using the time to do up straggling orders but also going to be working on the website and preparing for the move.

4 Mental Health is so far stable, I have support from Community Mental Health and still continuing with COPE (Couples Overcoming PTSD Everyday) We are fortunate to have these available.

5 Mom has a Tumor on her Thyroid Gland and is waiting to find out what they are going to do about it. In the meantime she is down to 87 lbs and very lethargic, weak. I am hoping that after the surgery (whenever that may be) that she will start to get better again.

So as you see lots of things going on. I’m trying my best to stay healthy mentally. As I know I can put myself under a ton of extra pressure trying to do everything all at once.

oh and side note Covid Finally hit our Family. Steven and Rain had it. Thankfully they are both Vaccinated and it didn’t effect them to bad. They are both fine. It has hit a few of my friends as well but no one we normally associate with so for the time being we are ok.

Stay Safe and Healthy as much as possible.


Fall 2021

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So much has been going on since the last time I rook the time to post.

Currently we have Dylan living with us with his Dog Sid and her 9 4 week old pups… trying very hard not to get attached and beg John to keep one haha… trying…

Store is starting to pick up. I have a few orders and more are coming… Truckers Tourettes is going to build up. Needing new equipment to support the demand.

Replaced a mug press with the next one that does so much more. Ordered many more blanks.

Working with Jon and Vera the artists in house. To help sell their art but also increase the awareness of what can be done.

We are finally going to the COPE program on November 14. Will be away for the week. So will no bus or store for the full week. Looking forward to it as we have been on the waiting list for over 2 yrs.

I finally have a mental health worker again. Cassidy. Will work through the workbooks from bounce back with her.

Lots of moving forward…

I need to record that I’m still in a ton of pain from my left achiles tendon. Getting worse and sciatica is starting to act up again.

Uncle Jim is in hospital again. Prostate cancer and not sure what else. John is preparing for a funeral. I won’t be able to go with him.

Jaimie is coming to inspect again… we hired Rhonda to get house back in order. Mel is going to come up and help as needed. Dylan is building a space in the barn for him and Sid.

I think I have most of it caught up now.

Projects getting done

Emotional wreck…

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This last weekend it seemed that everything set me off. I was either crying or angry. Had a hard time staying ok.

Friday I tried to pull off a Vendor Meeting and it seemed like we were getting somewhere even though half of the invitees didn’t show. Then when we shared what we had come up with they did not like it. So accommodations were made.

Sat I was not in the store but while I was away even more changes were made. I feel discouraged.

The main goal is to come together to come up with a marketing plan that will work for all of us. We are all independent businesses but under the same roof.

We also decided to move things around in our booths. Causing alot of extra stress but in the end it will be so much better.

Display room

Today is a new day, new week.

1st Week Back ✔

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So we went back on Tuesday. Mostly the same as usual. Road work, silly drivers, great kids, stressed out on the silliest of things…

I have 2 of my students back from online learning and 3 new students. One of them I have not even met yet but I know he will be on the bus. I’ll be doing up the name badges tomorrow.

Vera and I are sharing the driving from Ottawa back and forth between bus runs. We are helping each other at the store. I spoke with her today to let her know that if she feels crowded or imposed upon to let me know. She told me that was not even a thought. We found out we both have the same internal self speech and anxieties. We will help each other grow.

Charlene flew to Edmonton this morning. I made sure she knew that my saying that I won’t miss her was just a facade and in fact I will miss her dearly. I feel like another Sister has left me. I want what is best for her. I feel that being with her family out there will be such a great blessing for her. How lucky she is to have Grandchildren and the opportunity to be with them as they grow. She has her daughters in-laws welcoming her with open arms. She will finally have the love and support of family that she completely deserves.

Fred has brought me some backgrounds for my displays and things are starting to look much better. I need to focus on my website this weekend but tomorrow getting the space cleaned up and visually pleasing again.

I spoke with Jon and told him to go ahead with any resin art that he wants and if he needs anything to let me know. I want to focus on the CNC skills right now. Get that going before the Christmas rush.

I lost a sale today. My Square would not connect and as we were trying the lady put her card away twice. I had Vera come and try with hers and the customers card failed. I think she purposely put the wrong pin in. It was a spontaneous order so… I think the delay made her change her mind.

I have a tumbler that a customer gave me the art it was from a teen daughter that is now deceased. I decided not to contact the family to ask permission to sell it as it as it was ordered as a gift to the mother of the deceased as a gift.

So I will offer other possibilities to the person wanting it. Not sure if this is the best action but I believe so.

I’m mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted.

Back to School

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My last night before going back to work as a school bus driver. Feeling excited, and nervous. Have not had to wake early for about 9 months. Hoping I’ll be ok in the morning. So excited to see the kids.

So many emotions!

I have been working on my website as I changed servers. It is quite daunting as I need to redo all my products. I am lacking in product descriptions but I will figure that out.

So my busy days are starting again. 7-10 bus, 10:30-2:30 Store, 3-5:30 bus

This is Charlenes last week here. She flies to Alberta on Friday. She is staying here with us.

Our house is full. Dylan and his dog Sid are also staying here till he figures out what he needs and gets sorted.

John is feeling a bit overwhelmed but we are managing.

Ok time for bed

August

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Well that went fast. Next Tuesday I go back to work driving the bus again. I can’t explain how excited and happy I am to be with the kids again.

I have 3 new students that I’m excited to meet. I am going to do up the name tags this weekend.

I have switched hosting sites for my website so I am going to work on building it over the weekend. I am happy I will be saving some money but wish I didn’t do this switch at this time.

I am building healthier relationships which is great.

I am working on my mental health with the Bounce Back program. I did the first couple workbooks and am going to work through the next one on being assertive and building healthy boundaries.

We had a great visit with Grandma and took the dogs with us. The trailer was comfortable for the most part. We were in a heat wave so it was a bit hot in the afternoon but thank goodness for AC. Rusty and Sasha are great travelers.

Daryon and Taylor looked after Ester and Dylan looked after Mya, Rio and Copy Cat. Everyone survived lol

So now onto working the store and driving the bus. Getting my bookkeeping up to date with Wendy. Starting singing lessons to build up my confidence again.

Really trying not to overload myself as I am not wanting a crash. So I am trying to build a safety net of support to help me through this.