I have learned an astonishing number of things in 25 years that I had absolutely no intention of learning when I decided to sell needlepoint.
I opened a needlepoint shop because I knew needlepoint.
I knew color. I knew stitches. I knew canvases and threads and designers. I knew how to help someone turn a painted canvas into something wonderful.
And then, apparently, the job description expanded.
Buying. Inventory. Photography. Marketing. Shipping. Bookkeeping. Sales tax. Employment law. Website design. Database design. Cybersecurity. App development.
And, on alternate Tuesdays, whatever fresh hell nobody has told you about yet.
The joke about small-business owners wearing all the hats stops being a joke when you discover there is an entire hat department nobody mentioned.
Because you don’t know what you don’t know until you don’t know it.
You do not wake up one morning thinking, You know what would be fun today? I’d like to understand website malware.
Your website gets hacked.
Congratulations. Website malware is now part of your vocabulary.
Or you get a letter saying YOU HAVE FAILED TO DO THE THING.
I’m sorry, what thing?
There was a thing?
So you learn the thing. You fix the thing. And now you know something you never wanted to know.
And of course, I’m not particularly special in this.
Most small needlepoint businesses are little ecosystems.
“Company” might mean 40 people. It might mean six. It might mean two.
It might mean one woman sitting at her computer wondering why an .htaccess file has become part of her life.
Meanwhile, the customer sees a beautiful canvas with beautiful threads in a beautiful box arriving at her door.
That’s what she should see.
She shouldn’t have to think about databases, sales tax, purchase orders, passwords, shipping labels, website security or the developer who has suddenly vanished into the ether.
That’s the invisible work behind the magic.
A polished website doesn’t tell you how many people are behind it. A pretty box doesn’t tell you how many moving pieces had to cooperate before it reached your door.
Knowing how much goes on behind my own curtain has made me a little more aware of what may be going on behind everyone else’s.
That doesn’t mean accepting bad service.
You can expect a shop to answer you, care about your order, fix mistakes and know its product.
“I didn’t know” isn’t a permanent exemption from responsibility.
Once you discover the thing, it’s your job to deal with it.
But there’s a difference between someone who doesn’t care and someone who’s trying very hard inside a system that isn’t entirely under her control.
Those aren’t the same thing.
And shop owners need to remember that, too.
Vendors. Designers. Painters. Finishers. Employees. Developers. Customers.
And occasionally, God forbid, ourselves.
At the end of all those databases and purchase orders and tax forms and passwords and shipping labels and websites and hacks is somebody trying to make something magical for you.
The magic is real.
It just has a surprisingly large hat collection.
If you are reading this post on the blog great! Make sure you are signed up for the mailing list so that you don’t miss anything Bedecked and Beadazzled. Did you know we are also on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube? Even more places to follow the fun. xo again.
I love and appreciate you Ruth.
back at you! xo
I was just thinking the same thing, Hillary!
Ruth, we customers do appreciate you and everyone in your shop and those outside. It takes an army these days!!
We love you and your wonderful creativity.
Charlene
Char
We are a colorful army! Hugs. xo
You are a rock star!
thank you but you don’t want to know my musical abilities. They are sorely lacking. LOL. xo
What a great description of how talented you are!!!
thank you xo
If you were in CA your hat collection would be even larger!
But I know you can manage any size hat collection with grace and a smile!
XO, Kathy
I should start wearing hats. xo
As a new business owner this really hits home. So many moving parts you would have never imagined. Thank you for this post! Knowing it’s not just me makes me feel less alone. I appreciate you!!
We’re all in this together! Just think of the stories you will have in 25 years. xo
I’m so grateful that you learned ‘that thing’ and that you continue to do your magic!! I’ve learned so much from you and will continue to come back!!
Always good to hear from you. I’m constantly learning new things. Some I’m actually interested in. xo
Ruth, you have an amazing shop! Thank you for wearing all this hats to make Bedecked and Bedazzled the wonderful that it is. I don’t know how you are always so friendly, caring, and accommodating ! Thanks for being you!! Betty Ortiz
I genuinely love you guys. xo
As a small business owner, I appreciate all the hard work you put into your business. I love shopping your online store and reading your emails as they inspire me. Many, many thanks for putting in all that hard work for those of us who want to learn needlepoint and create beautiful projects. You are doing a fantastic job – again, thank you!
thank you! You know what it’s like we love what we do and will go the extra mile for our customers. xo
I am sure I speak for most of your customers in telling you what joy you bring to all of our lives! Whether it is through the website or through a class or through a box of finished ornaments arriving well before I ever expected them or through so many canvases you bring to our attention ……our lives are enriched by all you do!
Merry early Christmas my friend. more goodies coming soon. Thank you for being part of my world all of these years. xo
Oh Ruth – you are so right. We don’t always appreciate the work that goes on behind the curtain. Thank you for reminding me of that. So I want to thank you and all who contribute to your business.
We love what we do and are happy to wear all the hats and learn all the things! Thanks for being part of the journey. xo
😮 and so I can relate everyday…it’s no joke being an owner running a business…you forgot to add in “taking all the risk”! It’s daunting without a good team or a few fantastic employees. I hear you loud and clear…the work doesn’t end and stay at your brick n mortar building when you leave at night either.
Sounds like you deserve a spa day with kitties 🐈⬛ included🥰
I’m lucky to have a great team! And great kitties. LOL xo
You are awesome, Ruth!!!
thank you. xo
Ruth, you are awesome in your ability to juggle so many things whilst keeping your customers delighted and inspired!
I must remember to use the word whilst more often so that I can sound worldly like you my friend. xo
Ruth, you are amazing! How you do what you do and keep it all together is beyond me. Must be the kitties. 💖
clearly it’s the kitties!
Boy, did this hit home! Opened my own business twelve years ago and was grossly unprepared for all that would entail. You encompassed all of the trials with humor in your blog, and by all appearances you have conquered the hurdles. Well done! :)
If we don’t laugh at it we will go screaming into the void. LOL
You are an important, kind, lovely, and humorous woman in my life — and I’ve never even met you! You’re making my retirement sing.
Jo
Ruth, As a shop owner of over 15 years, you nailed it! I never knew there were so many hats, with more coming every where. I’ve learned things that I didn’t know existed nor need to be mastered. Thank you for sharing. It is comforting to have such a great descriptor of what we do.
We’re all in this together. xo
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Because you wear all the hats, I can just enjoy doing the easy, fun stuff. Thank you for taking me in and I continue to be so impressed by all you do and your vision
and we get to be impressed by your art!