Oh dear oh dear oh dear

What can I say? We’re closing in on three months since the last blog… *hangs head in shame*. There’s no point in messing around with the whys, wherefores and where-the-hell-have-you-beens about why I haven’t kept you up to speed since 8th October – there really is no more impressive excuse than Christmas arrived on our doorstep on 9th October and I’ve only just woken up from the Manic Festive Dream, a little like Dorothy after her adventures in Oz, with only hazy recollections of what the last few weeks have entailed. So, here we go, lets try and summarise some of the highs, lows, lessons, experiences and anecdotes from the last 84 days…

First off, 10 fairs in 2 and a half months is a mammouth undertaking, when you factor 2 jobs and 1 toddler in to the equation as well. There’s no beating around the bush – despite all the fun and frolics (and Quality Street) we had along the way, I was so ridiculously relieved to pack away the last box on 15th December and know that I didn’t have to open it again until the new year. There – I’ve said it. Bad small business owner! However, despite this relief it was also really sad to say goodbye to our gorgeous Christmas products until October 2015 – they’re far to beautiful to sit in a box for the best part of 10 months. Humph.

And whilst I’m prattling on about it – I’ve heard enough Christmas compilation CDs to last me 10 lifetimes and then some. I’m all for creating an atmosphere, but event organisers: spare a thought for your stallholders who are probably, like me, on a massive Christmas fair marathon and therefore have to endure Maria-bloody-Carey and Cliff-blinkin-Richard literally dozens of times. Nevertheless, we are professionals – not a smile faltered, not a swear word was uttered and not a chair was thrown through a window in a Shakin’-Stevens-induced rage. Having said that, indoor fairs, even with their musical challenges, are a breeze compared to outdoor fairs; outdoor fairs are fraught with risk – wind and rain being the first thoughts that spring to mind, but there are less obvious hazards to keep an eye out for as well: dogs peeing against your table leg for example…

Despite all this, Christmas for Rockpool was the best we’ve ever had. Increasing our presence on the craft fair scene, coupled with an unexpected Plymouth Magazine cover story and other press interest has meant we’ve had oodles of lovely, local crafters contact us asking to join our merry band, as well as lots more online orders. Our only problem was selling out of some particularly popular lines, and big apologies to those makers who I had to contact 2 or 3 times to restock during the last few weeks. Next year the matra will definitely be: Christmas comes but once a year, so order early and order big…

In other news, I’ve now officially been served with my notice of redundancy from the day job, so in 2015 we’ll be saying Bye Bye nine to five rat race and Hello unpredictable and exhilarating world of self-employment. Whilst it’s been tempting to adopt the tried, tested and entirely healthy head-buried-in-sand procedure for the last few weeks, as New Year is looming I know I need to come up with a post 31st March 2015 Plan. Seeds have already been sown and research has already been done to ring the changes for Rockpool next year, so hopefully when the spring comes, my little, loved, green shoots of a business will be well on its way to becoming, well, a bit less little and green shooty…