I'm so sorry for not being around lately here on the blog, things have been more than a little hectic. It's only now that the crazy Christmas orders have finished I've found a moment to sit down and write a post.
I would never have believed those short months ago when I joined Not On The High Street just what I was letting myself in for. People warned me that Christmas would be crazy. I'm not sure I really believed them. And then when my products went into both of their catalogues, people sent even more warnings of even more craziness. And still I wasn't really taking it in.
Well now I can say with absolute certainty... it was completely crazy!!
I honestly still can't believe it.
Orders went from a bag full a day to several bags full. Then mail sacks full.
Reaching the milestone of sending orders out in mail sacks felt amazing. I couldn't believe that so many people were buying Clara goodies.
Two mail sacks quickly became four mail sacks.
And then the order piles started to look like this, and I got a little bit scared!
For just over two months I was working until between 1am and 5.30am every night, and then getting up with the little ones in the morning for school or toddler classes.
Rather than putting kits together in batches of ten, we were making fifty or a hundred at a time.
The dining table was covered in work almost all of the time, and the dining room itself quickly looked like this...
I was spending hundreds of pounds in the post office every week, and getting to know the post office staff very well.
I feel incredibly lucky, and incredibly tired, and so very very glad that I joined Noths when I did. At the time it felt like a huge risk, but really it was the best decision I've ever made.
It seems that people might quite like Clara products. Especially when one weekend the order pile looked like this...
Craziness!
Since joining Not On The High Street five months ago, I've sent out 1150 orders. And 550 of those were in December.
There is absolutely no way I could have done all of this by myself mind you, a lot of people helped and supported me throughout the whole journey. I am very lucky to be surrounded by such lovely people.
My parents, brothers and sisters took kit components home to make, came round at all hours to pack orders, and were generally amazing. Thank you xx
Some old and new friends were incredibly supportive, especially in the middle of the night when energy and confidence was lacking. Gabrielle, Elise, and Sue were particularly amazing. Thank you xx
Our local post office staff who didn't need to be so kind every day when I took in several mail sacks which in all honesty they must have dreaded. Thank you xx
The really lovely staff at Not On The High Street who were very supportive, helpful, and always there with virtual tea and lion hugs. Thank you xx
Matilda and Theo were patient and understanding (most of the time) when Mummy couldn't play or join in all the time, or the ever increasing piles of work were in the way of your toys. You're both such sweethearts. Thank you xx
And Tom. My never ending support. You are incredible. I would never have been able to do it without you. Thank you so very very much xx
