Here we sit again. This time in my living room at the crack of dawn. I’ve been awake for hours, restlessly turning over thoughts. My entrepreneur friends call this entrepreneur brain—and it’s definitely a newish experience for me. I’m not sure if "rested" is even the right word to describe how I feel, but it’s like my body is ready to go while my mind is racing ahead of me.
Laptop opened, email checked, website analytics scrutinized. Honestly, it’s mostly the same as it was eight hours ago. So… what do I do next? Well, I decided to write. Writing has always been my way of processing, especially when I can’t turn my brain off or figure out what I’m feeling.
For over a year, I’ve been wrestling with the question of "what’s next?" But if I’m being honest, it’s been more like four years. And if I'm being really honest with myself it's even longer then that. After spending fifteen years at a job I LOVED, I left and ventured into the world of various businesses, taking on new roles, learning, and growing. Those experiences have solidified something I already knew deep down: I am passionate about retail, small business, and the real, genuine connections I’ve made along the way.
And yet, there’s this growing feeling that something is missing from the retail world as it exists today. We’ve lost something in the experience of shopping—the human connection, the authenticity, the meaningful interactions. So much of retail has become transactional, impersonal, and sterile. It’s all about speed, convenience, and checking boxes, and less about creating something that feels special, something that brings people together. I know because I’ve been on both sides of it: as a consumer, and as someone running a small business.
Community is so important to me—whether it’s family, friends, colleagues, or the relationships I build with guests and clients. I love the way those boundaries can blur, making every interaction feel meaningful. It’s all part of creating something real and personal, and I feel a tug in my heart that says I’m ready to take it further.
What I want to bring to the world of retail is something that feels real. An experience that isn’t just about making a sale, but about creating lasting connections—where clients feel like they matter, where the exchange is personal, and where you leave not just with a product, but with a sense of belonging. It’s about building a community, not just a client base.
And that’s what keeps me awake at night—because, on the one hand, it’s exhilarating to feel like I’m on the verge of something big. But on the other, it’s scary. There’s a voice that says, What if I fail? What if I don’t have the answers yet? What if the opportunities that are opening now come to a stop?
But then, I remind myself: This is what I’ve been doing my whole life for others. Now it’s time to do it for myself. It’s time to take everything I’ve learned, trust my gut, and create something meaningful from the ground up. Quit getting in your own way!
I know these feelings of doubt and fear are common for any entrepreneur, but that doesn’t make them any less real. They are a part of the process.
So, maybe all of this is just my way of saying thank you. Thank you to the people who show up. To the ones who like, share, and comment on what’s happening. To those who book a workshop, support us at the market, or make an online order. You’re the ones who make all of this feel possible.
I’m going to keep practicing gratitude, listening to my gut, and paying attention to your feedback. Together, hopefully, we’ll build the kind of community I’ve always envisioned in my head. We’re going to create something different in the retail world—a community built on real relationships, authenticity, and a sense of belonging. Something that has been missing, but is so very much needed.
Let's do this!
Bethany