Damn is that beard new or am I just unobservant?
Damn is that beard new or am I just unobservant?
She's not a beard! I love her for reals
"One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."
OMG it's Bitter! Good to see you again, how the hell are you?! <puts on some ZZ Top in the background>
Man, how have you not written a book yet??
"One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."
BITTER HELLO!
Or rather, Bitter! Hello!
Hi GGT! I'm on top of the world right now!
Every year on the anniversary of starting my business, I have wanted to give ya'll an update, then I forget. And another year passes. Almost 10 years in, the story of my business would be a book. This whole experience has been insane!
The end of both 2015, and 2016 were very trying. Expensive equipment failure nearly did me in during both years, at xMas time...my busiest time of year. Anxiety, deep depression (which was always a struggle, but not to this degree), and suicidal thoughts were taking hold of me. It was sooo hard. Fortunately Stephen, my husband of 18 years, was my rock, and helped me through it. I had to make changes to turn things around, and they have started paying off in 2017. Last year was really strong, and this year I have made some more changes, and while early, it's looking like it's going to be the best yet!
Owning a business is very hard. Every time you turn around, something tries to kick you down. It's a constant struggle trying to get ahead. Let alone the dark clouds that have been looming from the beginning. Taxes was one of those clouds. A bad accountant started me off on a very bad foot. Trying to get ahead of taxes has taken 9 years. The two bad years really hit that plan hard. But it's been resolved, in that I got a reasonable payment plan for back taxes, and am on track to remain current. So that cloud has lifted. I mean, I'll be paying for it for a while, but it's not going to get worse now.
I still work 60-80 hours a week, but I love what I do still so it's not bad. Technology has changed the business a lot. CAD design allows many of those hours to be done at home. 3D printing gas increased production. It has also increased creative possibilities!!! It has also pushed my skill level even farther!
There is more drama than you would realize in the jewelry industry locally. I've been stepping on some toes, and some people aren't happy. LOL But, I have to do what I need to succeed, AND make money. So, F'em. I am still a trade shop, doing wholesale work for area retailers. Over the course of the 10 years, I've gone from getting 85% of my income from repair work to now getting 90% of my income from custom design. Which is what I love the most. There is more money in custom work than repair work. I've started a plan to go retail myself. Retail custom design. I have slowly built a little retail clientele base over the years strictly from word of mouth. But now it's time to really get myself out there. It's going to be hard though. Getting yourself noticed on the internet is a job itself. Trying to get yourself in front of potential local customers searching for a jeweler is key. Gone are the days of traditional advertising.
In my building, when I started up, there were 4 other trade shops competing for business. Now there are two of us.
They were never my competition though. I was always a step above them. I know it sounds egotistical, but it's true.
The quality of my work was always higher, but so were my prices. Customers of the other jewelers wouldn't come to me, because they wanted cheap work, and didn't care about quality. None of them adapted to the changing times, or took the risk to buy expensive equipment, like laser welders, microscopes for setting, 3D milling, and 3D printing.
I have also solved the problems of equipment I depended on by getting backups. So I won't face literally being shut down by 3D printer failure for two months like in 2015-16. All in all it's been one hell of a rollercoaster ride. I've learned I can't stand still and have to adapt and grow for the better. It turns out I have better business sense than I ever thought I had. To the dismay of a few current and former customers who felt they had some control over me. Especially the people who lent me money to start my business to begin with. They thought they had strings attached, and didn't think I had scissors! Over the years I learned I CAN stand up for myself, and I CAN make the rules.
10 years, I can finally say I think I got this. I know things can change. But I know I can change too.
Onwards and upwards!
Psst, Bitbit... I am, now and always, so glad that it is a success (but I knew it would be, because you are amazing).
We're stuck in a bloody snowglobe.
That's great, Bitter. Congratulations on your successes!
Thanks! I wouldn't say it's a success yet. At least by the numbers. That's what I'm working on!
I have thought about working for somebody else again. I would make almost as much, and work half as much.
But I don't think that would ever work. I like playing whatever music I want, as loud as I want, and I can dance when I feel like it! This is also why I would never have employees. They ruin everything.
The arrow is nocked;
the bow waits [im]patiently—
longing to be drawn.
Life is quite pleasant right now. Hoping it's just a couple of days more rather than a couple of weeks before we get to meet our mysterious butt-wiggler.
"One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."
Nice photo gallery!
The waiting (and wondering) is the hardest part. Congrats on rocking your world in the best way imaginable.
PS while we'd all love to see the photos of your newborn babe....I hope you *don't* post them publicly. Consent matters, especially in the digital era.
Cheers! \o/ Congrats!
That's a great photo as well.
I could have had class. I could have been a contender.
I could have been somebody. Instead of a bum
Which is what I am
I aim at the stars
But sometimes I hit London
Congratulations, Tim.
"When I meet God, I am going to ask him two questions: Why relativity? And why turbulence? I really believe he will have an answer for the first." - Werner Heisenberg (maybe)
He even cleans up to look exactly how you'd expect a Porsche owner to look
"In a field where an overlooked bug could cost millions, you want people who will speak their minds, even if they’re sometimes obnoxious about it."
Congrats!
Keep on keepin' the beat alive!
Many thanks peeps.
So. What am I to expect from this marriage business?
Oi
Naw, Porsche was sold back well over 2 yrs ago. A 2-seater in a one-car household proved too limiting.
I could have had class. I could have been a contender.
I could have been somebody. Instead of a bum
Which is what I am
I aim at the stars
But sometimes I hit London
Congrats Timbuuu!
That's pretty! I can't believe those piers last so long, but I imagine there's a lot of preventative maintenance and y'all don't have tropical hurricanes like the Muricans.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casino...urricane_Sandy
Kids 4 & 5
"In a field where an overlooked bug could cost millions, you want people who will speak their minds, even if they’re sometimes obnoxious about it."
Yeh we don't have the storms you guys have on yer east coast.
It ain't all plain sailing here though.
The West Pier in Brighton, which opened in 1866, closed in 1975 and fell into disrepair. It became increasingly derelict, partially collapsed in storms in 2002, then two separate arson attacks in 2003 gutted it with fire. It now remains a weird relic for the tourists to point their cameras at.
Snapped a few pics a couple of days ago.
... and here with the new pier in the background that I posted earlier in the thread.