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HAPPY FUCKING NEW YEAR

Not only have we entered a new year, but we’ve started a new decade! Which is crazy to me, because somehow it feels like the 90’s were just yesterday (must be my iTunes playlist)… Yet here we are in the 20’s!
I’ve been thinking back on everything that happened over the decade and there were some pretty significant changes! My husband and I moved to “the country” and bought our first house, we got a couple cats, and had a kid.  We’ve gained family members over the years and lost some as well.  I managed to spend the entire decade self-employed as the master behind Hug and Kiss Designs Inc. (the business turns 13 at the end of the month!!)  I’ve had a couple of different employees helping me crease, cut and fold cards, and I’ve worked with a couple of distributors and even had talks with a publisher about a book deal (I’m a mix of too busy, but also too lazy for that kind of crazy project).  I’ve done handmade craft shows like Make It, Portobello West and One of a Kind several times each (in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto) and I’ve branched out to wholesale shows like By Hand and CGA (Edmonton and Toronto) and the National Stationery Show in New York.  I also tried out a couple of new shows including the Fan Expo and the Naughty But Nice Sex Show (the costumes at either of those are unlike any craft show!!!)!
Statistics show that only 50% of small businesses make it past the 5 year mark and about 33% make it past the 10 year mark.  So to still be alive and kicking at the ripe-old-age of 13-years-old, I’m quite proud of myself!  I started the company without much direction and zero experience.  There were no business plans or small business loans… just an idea that happened to fill a niche and a small desire to be my own boss and do my own thing.  So where do I think the next decade will take Hug and Kiss Designs?  I have no fucking clue.
I’ve enjoyed the past couple of months staying at home when I’d normally be traveling for the Christmas Craft Show Season, but I also really missed the hustle and bustle of setting up my little shop and selling to my customers face-to-face across the country.  Sometimes I wonder if I should search out a business partner to help with traveling and shows…. sometimes I wonder if I should search out sales reps to help my wholesale accounts…. sometimes I wonder if I should ramp things up and design an entirely new line of cards.  Who knows?!  I’ve always just kind of done things when I want to do them and that seems to be working out just fine…. Though maybe it’s time to write up a proper business plan and see what my company is capable of? (Though that sounds like schoolwork, which sounds dull as fuck, but would maybe force me to figure some shit out?)  What would you like or expect from Hug and Kiss in the next decade? (Comment below!)
Anyways, the 2010’s were primarily good (with some awful shit thrown in) and I hope the 2020’s are super awesome for you and yours and me and mine (that sounds super selfish, huh?)  As I always say, Hug and Kiss Designs Inc. wouldn’t exist without folks like you – so THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
And Happy Fucking New Year!
I love you all (except for you… you know who you are),
Nikki
NEWSLETTER
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