Why Not Growing My Business Is A Benefit To My Customers
Image credit: Jake Janes | Hair pin: Mollie
As I deleted another email this morning informing me that someone could triple my website traffic, blah, blah blah, I decided to share my thoughts about the whole growing a business thing.
I started Elsa Rose back in 2013, and it has evolved so much since then. But the biggest shift for me this year is that I’ve realised that I like being small when it comes to my business, and it comes with benefits for my customers, too.
I’ve lost count of the number of podcasts and courses I’ve subscribed to to help me crack some magic code to make what I do more viable. I spent hours creating reels for Instagram, slicing clips to tracks to get more views and talking to camera to “build connection with my audience”, but this ultimately felt really…meh. I felt like it was more about the sales than connection, which is what I actually value, and everything I was putting out didn’t feel authentic to me, so I felt like I was selling a lie.
To be honest, I actually spent so much time overanalysing everything that I did and getting anxious about the lack of results I was seeing that I ended up doing less for my business anyway.
“I would rather have a handful of customers who feel safe putting their trust in me than stock flying off my shelves.”
Taking some time out these last few months has given me space to think about what really matters to me, and none of it came down to having hundreds of headpieces going out every month, trending Instagram posts or turning over huge sales and smashing quarterly targets.
The bottom line is that I love designing and creating headpieces. I even enjoy writing these blog posts too most of the time!
But what makes it all come to life for me is the stories I get told that make design details come together, the colours of bridesmaid dresses and flowers defining the colours and sentimental additions that transform what I’m making from a headpiece to an heirloom.
“Focusing on fewer clients gives me the time and space to do my best work and really honour them.”
I would rather have a handful of customers who value what I do and feel safe putting their trust in me than stock flying off my shelves and being on the hamster wheel of remaking the same items over and over again. I know, for some people, having the same item that sells over and over is a winner, but for me, I love that people want to change elements in my designs or create something from scratch. And I’m proud that I have the skills and time to offer them that.
My business is built on connection and communication. I attend wedding fairs to connect with and educate people about what I do, rather than to make sales, which some people may argue is wrong, but I believe otherwise.
Because by building a connection with you, I can offer you more than you’d get elsewhere, with less stress, and this makes me feel like I’m providing you with an experience that you’ll enjoy and value.
I can show you what’s possible and let your ideas and imagination run wild, without the restrictions of following a pattern or fitting in with a trend. And if I can’t create what you have in mind, I’ll suggest someone who can, because I would rather help you to get what you actually want than make a half-arsed attempt at something that’s not my forte for the sake of a sale.
Focusing on fewer clients gives me the time and space to do my best work and really honour them. When someone puts their trust in me, I don’t take that lightly and I know that if I were inundated with orders for the same headpiece, I wouldn’t enjoy what I do.
“Let your ideas and imagination run wild, without the restrictions of following a pattern or fitting in with a trend.”
So I’m celebrating a slower pace, with valued customers who share their stories with me and put their trust in me every year.
Success comes in all shapes and sizes, and this is mine.
🧡