Bittersweet turned twenty - one in April. It seems surreal that my little business has been going for that long. I'd never imagined in my wildest of dreams that back in 1997, I'd still be making soap and sundries under the name Bittersweet. What's that saying? When you do what you love, it doesn't feel like work. That's true.
I remember years ago when Bittersweet offered their wares wholesale and I hired sales reps with branding and selling. One of the reps told me that I was green. Today you'd think that meant, recycling and eating green, but back then it meant that I didn't know what I was doing! She was right, and through each trial and error. I've learned a lot.
Significant in that learning is the fact that baby steps versus jumps will save you valuable time and money. Sometimes I'd plunge into something, only to learn that entering into it with baby steps really makes more sense.
When I stop and ponder all that has been learned over the past two decades my mind tosses and turns.
What's the difference between solar salt, sea salt, pink salt, etc.?
How many bars of soap is needed to fulfill an annual market?
Where on earth do I get this paper, ribbon, packaging?
What is sodium hydroxide?
How on earth do you build a website?
How much does this bar of soap cost me?
What profit margin will this product have?
If I open a shop here, will they come?
I'm broke!
I'm prospering!
This packaging has been discontinued!
Thirty-day net accounts require a lot of data.
Making over one-hundred things and keeping up with manufacturing supplies. Whew!
Finding good people to work. Whew!
The list goes on, and it's a long one, but it's all good.
Hey, I'm not green anymore. Well, I guess so, but in a different way now.
When you do something you love, you'll never work a day in your life.
This is true, I believe.
Happy Anniversary Bittersweet!
Jill
