“It’s only when you risk failure that you discover things.”
– Lupita Nyong’o
Taking A Big Risk
Over the years, I reluctantly participated in Black Friday. My reasoning years ago was that it gave a shopping alternative to the usual mass-produced stuff. I also appreciated Cyber Monday, a valuable alternative for sales during the busy holiday season when selling online was not so saturated. Cyber Monday has turned into Black Friday Part II, with many big box stores dominating sales.
This year, I boldly decided not to participate in Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
The outcome meant I made not a single sale during what is usually my busiest time of year.
I admit it was a bit of a sting to check my stats and see the views on my Etsy shop decrease by an average of 90% or more. It bruises my ego and my self-competitiveness. I’ve always been the type never to want to compete with others, but with myself, well, it’s never good enough for my standards.
That said, I’m very proud of myself for stepping away from a practice I disagreed with. Black Friday/Cyber Monday is for getting a good deal on mass-produced things. Handmade goods made with love and attention should never be forced to compete.
December Promo Codes & Sales
Now that the Cyber Monday frenzy is over, I have marked down some items on Etsy, plus promo codes available on both sites. The markdowns on Etsy are for items I wish to clear out or have abundant stock. You can also use the following promo codes to save even more:
Save $5 on your order of $50 with code TAKE5 (here and on Etsy)
Save $10 on your order of $100 with code TAKE10 (here and on Etsy)
Save $15 on your order of $150 with code TAKE15 (on this site only)
I get that times are tough, and money is tight. My family feels it, too. It’s astonishing to me how much groceries are at the checkout. Thankfully, I have money set aside for the extras. I get that what I sell is not in the necessity category. So if I can squeeze a bit off on my price and extend savings to the customer, I will.
I hope you feel the love in everything I create. I am contemplating what is next, doing a lot of spinning for myself and dismantling/reorganizing old and in-progress projects. Hopefully, I will have more news to report next month. For now, I am enjoying a slower pace with my family.
Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays/Joyeux Noël/Maligayang Pasko/Maayong Pasko!
However you are spending this last month of 2023, I honor you. <3
