There are so many things to think about when you run a small business. Perhaps this is something which you are thinking of doing but it all seems quite scary. Well I want to say to you, you can do it. I started Artantics April last year which was right bang in the pandemic which of course we are no way out of. Despite the chaos which was going on around us it was so exciting to finally have a website and to register as a sole-trader. At last I was official, nothing big happened at that point but I knew eventually it would go somewhere.
It takes a long time to build a business but the thing I would say to anyone who is thinking about it or in the middle of it like me is don't give up. Breakthrough is around the corner you never know when you will get that break.
I remember right before Christmas, I had just designed all these Christmas card paintings. I was ready for orders, I had, had a few towards the end of November but already they seemed to be drying up. I also had a big order cancel on me as well so it was all a bit disappointing.
I thought to myself well that must be it for this year. At the advice of another business friend I decided to put my cards on every facebook group I could think of. I did this a few days passed and still nothing.
Suddenly I had a revelation that whether I was making money or not out of the Christmas cards I had produced they were being seen by many because I had put them on so many Christmas online fayres and so many facebook groups as well. Really that had already been my desire for the masses to see my work and be touched and transformed by what I had painted. My images which God had given me were all over the internet for both believers and non-believers would see alike. At that thought I rejoiced and thought well job done. I then prayed for every person who would see the images which God had given me to paint.
The next morning I had a massive order from a friend in London which I really was not expecting. From that point on the orders kept on coming. This friend bypassed the order I had put out and paid full price even when I said they didn't need to. Friends must have seen the Lowering of the price and with a few messages on what's app to some friends I was inundated with requests from friends and family. I didn't get any orders from anyone I didn't know but this is how it all starts I guess. Next year and throughout the year I expect to get orders from quite a few people I know.
During that time I had quite some hurdles, I had issue with ink, I was buying quite a lot of it. Then I found right after I was given a couple of rather large orders that both printers stopped working. In the end I had to source a local printers to help me out, thankfully they were a really reasonable price and only round the corner.
The last few orders were for people who wanted to take advantage of the offer and stock up for next year. Now had my printer been working I would have continued to market the Christmas card offer for next year. But I had to call it a day when both of my printers were not being reliable and I wasn't even sure whether the local printers were open.
In the end I even took some gift orders as well so from nothing it felt like my house was the card factory for a little while.
I will need to look into getting a decent colour printer I am told that Epsom are really good so that is something I will be looking into over the coming months.
I now have a wide range of Christmas cards that after some advice from another business friend I may next year be adding in a third range which is of lighter colours but watch this space. I learnt a lot this year, one thing being is that I need to start on Christmas just after the summer to get everything ready.
Before then I am going to be having lots more campaigns and projects on so stay tuned to Artantics, do drop by the forum or drop me a message on Facebook Insta or wherever you find artantics :)
See you soon and God Bless
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