I cannot believe we are nearly at the end of January 2024! I have been trying to write this blog post since just after Christmas. The year is already flying by!
A huge thank you to all of my lovely customers for their support again this last year. It is so lovely to see my website is slowly picking up new customers and repeat customers, which is amazing! A real positive step for my small business.
2023 also saw the launch of two Hand/Body Lotions and Hand/Body Soaps in Dark Plum & Rhubarb and Peony Delight. These have done really well and it has been great to add some more variety to Tranquil Flame......it is all about us all having some tranquility after all! We deserve it!
The last year has had some ups and downs with Tranquil Flame. It has been great doing Markets and Fayres, but overall sales have been down on the previous year. I think with the cost of everything going up like it has been recently, people have been having to think more before spending, I know I have been! So it gave me some things to think about over the Christmas period.
One of the main reasons for setting up Tranquil Flame was to try and give me a better work/life balance. I feel I have struggled with that a bit more over November/December. As lovely as it is doing markets, they tend to be at the weekend, which means I miss out on time with my family. I do also believe that you are the best person to sell your product, and therefore face to face sales, with a small business are so important, particularly in the early years for brand awareness and to build a customer base.
This year has also shown me that the winter months and Christmas period are the time to sell candles and my products. Markets throughout the year can be beneficial, but naturally with the type of products I have, not so many sales are made during the summer months.
This has made me think that this year, I need to make some changes. On reviewing my product costs as well, I cannot believe how much these have changed and increased over the last couple of years. When you decide to bring out a new scent, there are so many tests that need to be done with candles, the percentage of fragrance used, the type of wick, the burn time, the scent throw etc. Once you have got that part sorted, it is then on to the labelling, branding and and packaging costs. This usually takes months to perfect and has made me realise, that I need to consider this more this year, when launching any new products, on top on other growing costs.
Also, there are lots of other candle businesses out there. When applying for my markets for the year, I have missed out on so many because I have not been quick enough! This is where I make the majority of my sales and meet customers, so this has a big impact on my small business.
I do believe though, that everything happens for a reason! This has made me realise that I need to take a step back! When I say step back, it does not mean the end of Tranquil Flame. What it does mean, is that I am going to reduce the amount of markets I do throughout the year. Really, this decision has already been made for me, but I do want to make sure I spend more weekends with my family. My boys are not going to be young forever, and with my husband working full-time during the week, weekends are precious to us as a family. Health issues have hit a couple of my family and friends as well recently, and when things like that happen it really does make you realise...life is short and we need to enjoy each day and each other!
So..........I have an idea of which Fayres/Markets I wish to do this year, and have also applied for a few new ones. Watch this space to see where I pop up! It is definitely going to be more seasonal for me this year, apart from some events in the summer and I am happy with that! I am really hoping to do a local village fayre again this year, that I have done the last 2 summers. So, please do not think that I am only going to be open in the Winter, that is not the case at all.......I am still open all year round!
Another thing this last year has made me realise is that I cannot rely on my business at the moment as my sole income. In November, I had been all set up and ready to go at a 3-day Christmas Event. It was my biggest one to date, and I had spent weeks making, making, making, up until midnight most nights, only for the Event to be cancelled after half an hour of trading! I am lucky that at the moment, Tranquil Flame is not my only source of income, but I felt so sorry for the small businesses, particularly those with fresh produce, all to go to waste! At least I could just pack up and my stock is still there (my soy candles and wax melts will last for 2 years).
I wanted to let you all know what I am planning. I don't want anyone to think I am stopping.....not at all! I am just getting back to what Tranquil Flame should be about. I want to enjoy making my products, enjoy selling them, meeting my lovely customers and sharing times with my family and getting that work/life balance back to how it should be. I am still here and looking forward to seeing what 2024 has in store.
I have some ideas for some new products, but equally, I am going to be sensible and take baby steps to grow my business! Thank you all as always for your support.......it really does mean so much! We will see what this year brings and I am excited for the year ahead. I am a real planner and it is so nice to now have a plan and for me to share it with you! Let's do this!