@crescent.chapters: The side of running a small business that social media doesn’t always show… 🤍 I feel like we’ve romanticised starting a business SO much on social media. We see the beautiful packaging, exciting product launches, orders being packed, and all those moments that make running a business look like an absolute dream. And don’t get me wrong, in so many ways, it IS a dream. 🤍 I absolutely LOVE what I do. I love creating, designing, and seeing something that once existed only in my imagination become a real product. I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything. But there’s another side to running a small business that we don’t talk about nearly enough. The failed prototypes. The materials that looked perfect online but arrived completely wrong. The designs that looked beautiful digitally but didn’t translate well onto the actual product. The countless hours spent learning new machines, finding reliable suppliers, and testing different materials. And every single one of those experiments? They cost money. A LOT of money. 🥲 Then there are the things completely outside your control. Damaged shipments, quality issues, suppliers who don’t follow instructions, shipping delays, customs complications… the list goes on. And when you’re trying to create something truly unique rather than simply reselling ready-made products, there’s often no instruction manual. You’re figuring everything out as you go. These experiences have also made me rethink what I want Crescent Chapters to stand for. One of my biggest goals has been sourcing my materials from within Europe, and I’m now roughly 90% of the way there. Is it more expensive? Absolutely. But I’d much rather invest in quality, reliable suppliers, and materials I can trust. And here’s something I really wish more people understood about small businesses: Sometimes a product isn’t launching because there are SO many things happening behind the scenes. Weeks of testing, unexpected setbacks, failed prototypes, and money invested into something that simply isn’t ready yet. Not because we’re lazy or not working hard enough, but because creating something from scratch takes time. And sometimes, things are completely outside our control. I wanted to share this because I think it’s important to show BOTH sides of building a business. Not just the beautiful products and exciting milestones, but also the frustration, financial risks, mistakes, and lessons along the way. Would I still encourage you to start that business you’ve been dreaming about? A MILLION TIMES YES. 🤍 I genuinely love this journey, even on the difficult days. It’s teaching me so much, not just about running a business, but about myself. And to every other small business owner dealing with failed prototypes, damaged shipments, unexpected expenses, or plans that just aren’t working out… You’re not alone. I promise we’re all figuring things out as we go. 🫶 I’d love to know: what’s one thing about running a small business that nobody warned you about? #SmallBusiness #SmallBusinessOwner #womenownedbusiness #BehindTheScenes #Entrepreneurship

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Monday 19 October 2026 15:19:21 GMT