Starting a Business in a Recession

So, it’s not exactly the best time to do it, and my luck doesn’t seem to run well with big things like this, considering I had a baby during a pandemic too. But we do what we can with the cards we’re dealt.

After going through some pretty-serious life events, I’ll not go into, I realised what I wanted to do with my life was to follow my passion as a Jewellery designer, I set up my social accounts, and designed my logo, business cards, flyers and ads.

I’ve gained a pretty good following and lots of compliments on my work, but the thing I’ve noticed is, fewer people can buy things like Jewellery, so my page views and comments aren’t converting to sales as much as I’d hoped. It’s a difficult time to run a small business and I know I’m not alone in saying this.

I’ve been so close to giving up. So many times.

But I can’t. I’m doing this for my son, and I’m doing this for the girl I was a few years ago who wouldn’t believe the steps I’ve taken over the past year.

Last month I told myself, “You can do this! You’ve got this far, you can’t give up now!”

I jumped at the opportunity to take part in an Exploring Enterprise course with The Princes Trust. The course was fantastic, the atmosphere was both relaxed and professional, and everyone got a chance to speak their minds about their business. Now me and that group of amazing individuals are moving forward in our future endeavours to run the businesses of the future, with the support of our mentors.

So before you give up on your dreams of starting a business. Even in an economy like the one we live in, instead:

- Take every new opportunity presented to you.

- Work hard to get your business off the ground.

- Network! Network! Network! Every chance you get. Utilise social networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and others alike.

- Set smart targets! Don't expect more than you're capable of.

- Stop Procrastinating! You can do this.

- Be patient but consistent.

- If like me, you're starting a business online, please, learn SEO. It is one of the most important things to know for driving people to your site, whether you're using Etsy or any other site.

But don’t forget to take breaks. Look after yourself and your well-being. You can’t run on empty.

You aren’t going to start making millions overnight from a small business anyway, it does take a while to fully progress in any sort of business. But if you put in the work, you’ll start to see the progress I promise. The economy will get better, and small businesses like mine will finally get their day to shine.

Another suggestion is don't put all of your eggs in one basket. I've found it easier to split my time between different activities than just concentrating on my small business. If you focus too much on one thing, it's going to stress you out. So I suggest doing some other things on the side, like a little side hustle or two, maybe a part-time job if you can.

Working for yourself and by yourself is tough, especially when you're running every part of the business, but it's worth it.

Either way good luck to you all xo

Relevant Links:

The Princes Trust Course: - https://princes-trust.ac.uk/explore-enterprise-course-greater-manchester

Business link: - https://www.facebook.com/KittensCuriosities23