nternational Women's Day: here to pop your balloon on IWD 😝 not gonna lie, things are stacked against small businesses and we're all struggling right now
Between absorbing inflation, non-stop supply shortages, and the annual mid-winter upstate slump, many of us are having a particularly difficult time trying to run our individual shows
Spoke with a few ladies who own food businesses over the past couple days and we're all beat
The relentless pivoting and adaptation and creativity (when all we want to do is dial it in) gets exhausting
But we're all doing what we love, riiiight? 🤣👌
Running a business in a pandemic with the world being on the verge of a hot war feels like a lot
We were negotiating details on a space where we could bake, offer classes, do community dinners, and just have a kitchen that is not in our home (btw those baked goods are made in our house). This was the third year we were trying to make it work in this specific location and the owner pulled out...again
This has happened to us so many times over the decade since I've started Happy Belly
Probably thankful considering that rising gas prices will effect all of our supplies, shipping costs, and delivery costs. Maybe we dodged a bullet 🤷♀️ but it seems like I say that every time
Honestly it feels like we take 2 steps forward and 5 steps back
The $ needed to run, fund, and grow a food business is out of reach for many of us so we keep staying small
We wanted to buy an 800sqft building which was relatively affordable. Commercial loans require 25% down which meant $30k. Plus $10k for closing costs, tax amortization, lawyers, and permits. Plus the kitchen buildout at about $15k (if we budget) between equipment and labor. All to get into a $120k building (while funding operating expenses and not trying to temporarily close). Can't afford that, so we're left to the instability of renting
This is why small businesses go out of business. The movement upward cuts out many people who don't have access to funds
So fucking hug your fav small business owner the next time you see her because the weight of keeping things together in this climate are suffocating her more than you can imagine
