Growing Pains
With the boothing season at its peak, it has gotten us reflecting on our booth experience in June. That was our first booth of the year after taking a 6 months break to rest, so we had hoped for better returns. Hence, it was deeply disappointing when we our revenue was half of what we would have made last year.
We initially settled with the reasoning that it was the last weekend of the June holidays, and perhaps more people are choosing to stay in to prepare for the new semester. But that just didn’t sit right after noticing that people were walking past our booth without stopping.
Disclaimer: This article is not about the how the event was planned, but rather an honest reflection that what used for work for us, isn’t working anymore.
Over the past year, we’ve been coming up with new and better designs, as well as introducing different fabric designs, all in hopes of catering to as many people as we could. We tried to cast the net as wide as we could, but in the end, we could not pull the weight.
This was the formula that worked well for us in the beginning, but the numbers no longer supported this strategy. For quite a while, we were in denial. We rationalised our performance to “a different crowd” or a “less ideal booth location”.
This time, we were finally ready to admit the truth.
By casting our nets wide in order to cater to everyone’s preferences, we were losing our identity.
Logistically, it also meant having to create multiple website listings for the same products, but in different prints. Creating enough storage space for all our fabric, and finding ways to display all the different variations of our products into our booth
For a 2-man small business, its a lot of work. Admitting the truth was painful, but it was a wake-up call when we found ourselves struggling to remember the different variations and prices of all the products we had on hand.
Admitting the truth was painful, but it was a wake-up call when we found ourselves struggling to remember the different variations and prices of all the products we had on hand.
Our next booth at GREENHOUSE will be much smaller in size, compared to our past events. While it initially felt like a limitation, we decided to see this as an opportunity to streamline our product catalogue. Every item now has to earn its place on the table, forcing us to think more intentionally about what we bring, what best represents Jo&Stitch, and what would truly resonate with our customers.
Most importantly, we wanted the preparation journey to feel enjoyable again.
If we ask ourselves why we started sewing, it was because we were inspired by the beauty of patchwork designs - the piecing together of fabrics with different textures, patterns, colours, and sizes. These fabrics, which would otherwise be discarded, can become something unique and unassuming.
That’s what we still want to achieve - for every product to have its own character and tell a story that’s uniquely its own.
As we navigate this new season of re-finding our identity, we are learning that growth isn’t measured by having more products or making more sales. Likewise, not being able to cater to everyone’s preferences isn’t a sign of failure—it simply means staying true to who we are.
Two things can be true at once. Growth can be both external and internal. While we celebrate milestones that can be seen, some of the most meaningful growth happens quietly, as we dig deeper into what truly matters to us. It’s less about chasing what’s trendy and more about creating from a place of love, curiosity, and purpose.
We are not sure whether this would be the right move, but what's right and wrong is ultimately up to us to define. We often let the numbers dictate our experiences, but we are the ones with the power to have a say in that. May this serve as a reminder for us to settle into our own rhythm, we hope to find our peace amidst the noise.