Dear Diary, I’m getting better at asking for help

How I started Tiny Store and how it’s going

Dear Diary 💘💘

Someone once told me that when it comes to creative ideas, you just have to “start where you are” and really embrace that.

So when I started my tiny online store, I tried not to overthink it and just start.

I didn’t wait until I had an office, a huge team, any help or a fulfillment centre. I just started.

I made stickers for my scrapbooks, then other people loved them so much they wanted to buy them.

I LOVE zines and mail- so I started up Snail Mail Club literally just as an excuse to send cute paper packages to dozens of penpals/followers, and bring them a little joy and inspiration.

*girly!.

As the business grows and Snail Mail Club has become a *thing* all over Tiktok though- I’m consistently met with the same issue:

I keep forgetting to ask for help! It’s soooo frustrating that my default is to do it all myself and get overwhelmed.

I’m just so used to trying to do it alone. Being a content creator you mostly work alone. I moved to London alone. I travelled the world for 100 days alone. I spent my early 20’s trying to prove I was super independent and could do it all on my own (looking back this was definitely youngest daughter syndrome, possibly combined with the #GirlBoss era).

Operating solo has long been my default setting when it comes to work.

So I was literally packing every single Tiny Store order alone. I slept with boxes in my room (terrible for my mental health) and packed orders late into the night. It didn’t even occur to me to ask someone to help.

Eventually Dad started asking if he could do anything to help. I’m so glad that I said YES.

Now my parents and I look forward to packing Snail Mail Club packages together every month, and it’s become almost a bonding experience?

Jordan watched me grow overwhelmed and practically forced me to let him help me. Now he packs the wholesale orders and manages that side of things, all outside of his full time job.

Seeing him light up when we get a new order from a cute little store in Canada makes my heart so full, and regret taking so long to let him help. He loves every second of it and so do I.

For our first pop up, I actually hired a crafty girly (Isabel) to help! She ran the cash register and made the whole experience such a JOY. I wasn’t as anxious meeting everyone who came, because we listened to Taylor Swift and giggled throughout the day.

AND next month I’ve asked (yes, asked!!) some local guys to store my stock and pack orders for me, which is massive.

I’m excited to spend less time packing and more time creating cuter and better things that bring people joy. I’m excited for my parents to get to help with other sides of the business they enjoy. And to not sleep surrounded by boxes anymore. YAY.

Start where you are, but remember to ask for help 💕