Mac's blog

Hiya all, I know that I haven't posted for a long time. I just went back and read through my previous logs so glad I did them I can see the huge progress I made from the start of the project to the present day and also the stresses I was under.

Well been trading now for four months, have been so busy with everything that haven't had much time to get online. It's going really well and since Christmas we have been taking a few hundred pounds a week over my projected figures in the biz plan, which is just great! I am living the dream as they say. Being my own boss is great and the business has really taken off. Starting workshops soon teaching childrena nd adults various crafts so I am using my qualification after all.

Well, it's been great. I am not a millionaire but don't ever think I will be. Business is doing ok not quite hitting my targets but managing to stay in profit and at least pay myself and another staff member. We have had excellent feed back from the customers and have been busy in the lead up to Christmas. I still can't believe that I am actually doing it - how exciting! Being my own boss is great and after the stress of setting it all up I now get lots of time to spend with my darling daughter and hubby - yay! It's hard sometimes and I am a worrier but it seems like it will be ok.

Well I did my first day yesterday 22nd Oct. It went extremely well, we were really busy. Everyone had positive things to say and I think I already have regular customers. We opened at 9:00am and nervously awaited our first customer who came in at 9:20am. From then on the shop was only empty twice in the day for a couple of minutes. How great is that? I was absolutly buzzing with excitment and so was hubby. We couldn't stop smiling all day and when it came to cashing up we were well chuffed as we'd doubled my expectations. Hope tomorrow goes as well - fingers crossed. I must admit I did have a tear at the end of the day just because I was so overwhelmed and when you work so hard for something your emotions are all over the place, but it was tears of joy and not frustration and sadness as in previous months.

Horray! I have got there at last. Daffodils Crafts is opening on Saturday October 22nd. The sign is up, stock is coming in thick and fast and my staff are now available. It's very exciting and can't believe it's happening. I look at the shop and think - WOW! I did this and I am proud more proud than when I have achieved anything before. If any of you live in South Wales or are eva in the area pop in for all of your crafty bits.

...is bloody hard work! I had the keys on Friday, spend the weekend cleaning, although it wasn't too bad. The shop is fab and looks great. I introduced myself to the neighbours (a newsagent) when I went in though and told him that I was setting up a craft shop, he said 'oh stuff like us, is it?' I hate any confrontation and honestly couldn't see where he was coming from, there was no crafty bits in the shop, only some stationary sundries. He continued to tell me that he stocks a few bits of card etc in the back. I would have never known! Felt a bit bad, but at the end of the day he's a newagent and I'm a craft shop BIG DIFFERENCE. Anyway, by the end he was quite friendly telling me all about the plans for the area and eventually admitted that another shop to the area only strengthens the town. Pheww!

I am writing not so much to infom but to let off a bit of pressure that has been building all week. I have paid all the solicitors fees etc etc and am on track for the keys next Thurs. Now into the crazy few weeks before opening and have to order all my stock. I am finding this a huge task (what do I order) and am running out of money - what do I do????????? Also, we are renovating out house, building four garages in the street behind, buying land, running my ubbys business and I am still working and I have an 18 month old. I feel so stressed!!!!!!!! I love my daughter to bits, but I try to do something like ting a supplier or send an e-mail or just sit and think and I can't because she needs me - to change her, feed her, play with her, the list goes on.... and rightly so, after all she comes first. Should I be doing this at this time in my life??? I ask myself - too late now your opening in a few weeks. I have just come in from loading a skip with my hubby - to empty the back garden, so now totally knackered.

Things are going well, should have keys to the shop on the 29th - the day I officially leave the 'day job'. Busy sorting stock, shelving, advertising, suppliers etc etc etc. My mind is working overload - can't sleep properly at night - I still have difficulty believing that I am actually doing this. I hope this works for me - fingers crossed. This is going to transform my life - thanks Steve for giving me the motivation to do it!

Today I resigned...well sort of. The thing is that I am waiting for the official lease to come back on the shop (I have read the draft one) and wanted to make sure that I signed before resigning, however my boss goes off on holiday today for two and a half weeks (so I discovered today), so I would have had to hand in my notice when she was away. Great you may think, and I did too as I find the second in command easier to talk to. However, I started to feel a bit of a chicken and didn't want her to think that I had waited until she was away to hand in my notice. So I came back from a meeting and was told that she was leaving in 1/4 of an hour - so I didn't think about it, I just got up and walked straight in. She was shocked, but said that she didn't blame me for wanting to give it a go, but would be sorry to lose me. I suppose it went as well as expected (going to give official written notice next week) Once the boss had left for her hols, I then went to talk to her deputy and explained the situation - she was lovely, extremley supportive and said that if she had been more involved with me and my position she would have allowed me to take on more responsibility and progress further and is gutted to lose me as part of the team. She said that she knew it would work out for me cause I always put 100% into everything I do - how nice!

Just wanted to say a huge thank you to Olga for her positive comments and the others that responded to my last log - you really gave me a well needed lift. Well, things are shifting now after a long wait. The fees have now been reduced from £1100 down to £500 just my making myself heard and standing my ground. Also, I have the get out clause in the lease after 12 months incase all goes wrong. At the glitch with the internal/external repair thing has sort of been resolved. The landlord has agreed to waver these terms for the first 12 months. Then he says it has to go in. (but i can look elsewhere as I have my get out clause) Well slightly nervous but very positive and happy that things are moving forward. I have very positive friends and I know that this is something that I have to do with my life. Thanks Steve for giving me the push I needed. Cheers All!