The Honest Reality of Growing a Handmade Business

Running a Small Business Isn't Always as Straightforward as Social Media Makes It Look

When I started this business, I don't think I realised just how many hats I'd end up wearing.

Designer. Maker. Photographer. Customer service. Accountant. Website manager. Social media manager. Marketing department. Order packer. Cleaner. Stock controller... and somewhere in between all of that, Mum.

Most days, it's just me.

My husband helps where he can, and I'm incredibly grateful for that support, but day-to-day the business is mine. Every decision, every product, every late-night idea, every order packed and every problem solved.

And the truth is...

I don't have all the answers.

Celebrating the Wins

I think it's really easy to focus on what still needs doing instead of stopping to look at how far you've already come.

I'm guilty of it all the time.

This year has actually been a really positive one for the business.

Back in January, I made a commitment to write weekly blog posts and spend more time learning about SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). I'll be honest—I wasn't convinced it would make much difference.

But it has.

The website is getting more visitors, people are finding my products through Google, and those extra views have led to more sales.

It's one of those things that doesn't happen overnight, but when you look back after six months, you realise all those little consistent steps have added up.

That's definitely something worth celebrating.

Not Quite Full-Time... Yet

One of my goals is to make this business my full-time job.

I'm not quite there yet.

Sometimes that can feel frustrating because you naturally compare yourself to businesses that seem to be flying.

But then I remind myself that I'm building this around my family.

My children are still young, and one of the biggest reasons I started this business was to have more flexibility. To be there for school events. To work around family life. To create something that fits us instead of the other way around.

That freedom is incredibly valuable, even if it means growth is a little slower.

Trying New Ways to Create Income

One thing I've been thinking about a lot recently is creating income that isn't completely tied to the hours I spend making products.

I already create SVG laser files for the products I make, so why not sell those too?

The work is already done.

It's something I've started, but if I'm honest, it's been a slow project.

Like so many things in business, there are only so many hours in the day.

But I know it's something I want to keep building because digital products can continue earning long after they've been uploaded.

It's a different way of thinking, and one I'm excited to explore.

I'd Love to Share More Behind the Scenes

Another thing that's been sitting on my to-do list is YouTube.

Not tutorials.

Not perfectly polished videos.

Just real behind-the-scenes moments.

What does a normal day actually look like?

How do products get made?

What happens before an order arrives at someone's door?

I love watching that kind of content from other small businesses, and I'd like to start sharing more of my own journey too.

Again... it's finding the time.

The Constant Questions

Some days I'm full of motivation.

Orders are packed.

The admin gets done.

Products are listed.

The to-do list gets smaller.

I feel like I've got this.

Then there are other days.

I open my laptop and suddenly don't know where to start.

Should I work on social media?

Write a blog?

Take product photos?

Do bookkeeping?

Create something new?

Clean the house first so I can think clearly?

Or ignore the washing up because today is supposed to be a business day?

It's amazing how quickly feeling overwhelmed can creep in.

Is There a Secret Formula?

I spend a lot of time wondering things like...

Is success about having more followers?

Should I be posting more on social media?

Does email marketing really work?

Is Pinterest worth spending more time on?

Interestingly, Pinterest has surprised me.

I have one pin that consistently gets shared, and it brings a steady stream of people to my website. It's shown me that not every platform works the same way, and sometimes one piece of content can keep working for months.

Then there are online courses.

Everywhere you look there's someone selling the secret to growing your business.

Sometimes they look brilliant.

Sometimes I wonder if they'd genuinely help.

But they're expensive.

People often say, "You have to spend money to make money."

But what if you don't have the money to spend?

Are those courses really worth it?

Do they work?

Or is every business so different that there isn't one blueprint that fits everyone?

I genuinely don't know.

Etsy or Your Own Website?

Another thing I think about a lot is where to focus my energy.

Selling on Etsy means paying fees, but it also gives me access to customers who would probably never have found my own website.

Running my website through Wix also comes with costs, but it takes care of so much of the technical side of things that I simply couldn't do myself.

Sometimes paying those fees isn't just paying for a platform.

You're paying for convenience.

For tools.

For support.

For an audience.

And sometimes that's worth it.

Maybe Nobody Has It All Figured Out

I think one of the biggest things I've learnt this year is that even successful business owners probably don't have everything figured out.

They're just taking the next step.

Trying something.

Learning from it.

Adjusting.

Then trying again.

That's what I'm doing.

Some ideas will work.

Some won't.

Some projects will grow faster than expected, while others will quietly sit on the to-do list for months.

And that's okay.

Here's Where I Am

So if you've ever looked at someone else's business and thought they've got it all together, you're definitely not alone.

Behind every Instagram post is probably someone wondering if they're spending their time on the right thing.

Behind every successful website is someone who's questioned themselves hundreds of times.

I'm still learning.

I'm still growing.

I'm still making mistakes.

But I'm also making progress.

And maybe that's the part we don't celebrate enough.

I'd love to know—if you run a business, what thoughts go through your head? What do you find yourself questioning the most? I'd genuinely love to hear because I have a feeling I'm not the only one thinking these things.