We love that you all are as mad as we are.

For the entrepreneurial spirit and small business owner, it's often said that it's the toughest job you'll ever have, and it's so very true. I’ve worked a myriad of jobs and put in 80-hour weeks, but nothing can prepare you for the grind it takes to lift a small business off the ground and carry it to prosperity.

We strive to be an open company. You can always talk to me about our business journey—where we are, what we’re trying, our goals, and the roadblocks ahead. Sharing these experiences helps both of us learn and grow.

Understanding Ripple Effects

This year began with a strong stride—a new store, a thriving holiday season—but then a Valentine's Day storm brought everything to a halt. A significant portion of our sales happens the days leading up to Valentine's, and losing that business had ripple effects that we felt long after.

New Location, Old Shackles

In our new location, we encountered challenges from the start, including customer misconceptions from the previous business that occupied our space and complications with our landlord. Despite these obstacles, we kept moving forward.

Gotta Keep Swimming, Swimming, Swimming

Dory: "Hey Mr. Grumpy Gills… When life gets you down, do you wanna know what you gotta do?"
Marlin: "I don’t wanna know what you gotta do."
Dory: "Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim."

Despite setbacks, we entered the rest of the spring with determination, leveraging Mother's Day, Father's Day, and other key moments to boost our business. We continued to gain awards and recognition, turning customer love into local accolades.

The Arc

Our financial difficulties continued throughout the year, exacerbated by the city's seasonal rhythms. In Charlotte, the summer brings a dip in business as people head out of town, leaving us to navigate financial challenges without the usual savings cushion.

When You See the Ants

Without sufficient savings, we took on debts from Square and OnDeck to keep going. These financial moves allowed us to scrape by, though they came with the cost of future drag—payments that slow down our growth.

Financial Drag

Financial drag from debt burdens can feel like boat anchors, turning forward momentum into a struggle. These debts were necessary for survival, but they must be managed carefully as they can threaten future success.

The Season, Our Light

The holiday season, though not yet on consumers' minds, is already on ours. Corporate orders will soon return, and we’re excited about new opportunities and pilot tests that could propel us forward.

In All of This, a Flood

On top of our financial struggles, we faced a major flood in our shop that halted production and created further challenges. While the full impact is still unfolding, the important thing is that we survived, and we’ll share more lessons learned once everything settles.

50% of Small Businesses Last Less than 5 Years

There are many reasons small businesses fail, from poor planning to unexpected challenges. We strive every day to create products that delight our customers, and we appreciate every bit of support we receive from our community. Your local dollar means more than you might realize.

Plans Writ in Water

We continue to look ahead strategically but understand that daily tactics must be flexible. We genuinely appreciate each of you—our gratitude is heartfelt, not corporate lingo. We wouldn’t be here without your support.

Life is uncertain, eat dessert first.