initially, I created this fundraiser to assist with the buildout at a new location I’d found downtown Duluth. this building was in an area with way better foot traffic than our previous store but the rent was also almost double what I was paying and because it wasn’t a retail space prior, it required a lot of work. Unfortunately, I became extremely sick on my 30th birthday and was hospitalized about 3 weeks later.
the fact that it even took me 3 weeks to be able to go see a doctor is heartbreaking. Tj and I live in Georgia and we don’t have any family around and hospitals won’t admit you with a child there and no one to supervise them. Life has been lifing to say the least and while I’m usually very private and very prideful(about my personal life), I’ve been trying to open up a little - because I realize that life is lifing for most of us right now, one way or another. I’m used to being the helper and I know the givers reading this can relate. It’s so hard to reach out to people but y’all have proven time and time again that at the end of the day, you understand we’re all human.
I opened a brick and mortar and kept it open for 2 years with no help (on the backend, I had no clue what I was doing). I had 3 full time employees I ensured were paid on time, every two weeks and the overhead killed me since the store itself wasn’t bringing in any money. Lessons learned, I’m prepared to start over and be as transparent as I’ve always been about this pivot so that people can learn from my mistake vS making this mistake on their own. I sure wish someone did that for me.
I was completely self funded for 6 years but I am reaching out to my network now to help us rebuild. Help us get back to the brand that you knew and love that could deliver orders in 3 days because we had employees and inventory consistently on hand.
thank you as always for rocking with us.
stay 🔥
