A change in direction

As you may know, for the last year I have been working at Hobbycraft in Carlisle.  This was a job I managed to get almost by accident. I was so happy that we were getting a Hobbycraft in our fair City, that I logged onto the website to find out when they were opening and ended up applying for a job!

A few people (family, friends, etc...) were a bit confused, after all I had a job, working for myself, running an online bead shop, but you know what, it was obviously time for a change and the opportunity presented itself.

I had been thinking for a while that I was going to run The Bead Shed down, with the influx of cheap overseas sellers and the huge hikes in UK postage prices it just wasn't as lucrative as it was when I started it in 2005.

Obviously I thought I was very well suited to work in retail - and I guess on a one-to-one basis with the customer, I am.  But working for a big retail store is very very different to running a little local bead shop, having said that, it was great fun learning about it all, I have to say.

So a year later and I am starting to think about my working life, I am always trying to take the next step - and although the opportunities are there within Hobbycraft, for me to work up I had to really think about whether I wanted to work up the corporate retail ladder, or go back into what I love which is crafting.

Thinking about it, I was at Hobbycraft for the products, I would never had applied for a job at B&Q or WHSMITHS  (even though I do love power tools and books) It was all about what was on the shelves, and I realised that I didn't really have any urge to work up within the company.  Once I had realised that I had to then decide if I wanted to stay this job for the next 20 years or so, ......... or something else....

Something else won, as I remembered a plan I had over a year ago to change The Bead Shed into a more generic craft platform - selling Craft Kits.  Nice craft kits, with nice packaging and quality products.

So that is where I am right now.  I am currently working my notice period at Hobbycraft, which is rather sad as I am going to miss all my work colleagues loads, I have made some good friends there. BUT.... I will still be there running craft classes on a self-employed basis very regularly  :) I will also be teaching crafts in various other places, keep checking on my workshops tab to find out where I will be and how you can book.

 I finish Hobbycraft at the end of January and I will be launching head first into my new business - SoozintheShed Craft Kits.


I have got loads to do and organise, I need to make some lists and not get stressed out by it all, but it is really quite exciting.   I have to master Zencart for the website too, which I keep putting off, any tips on that would be most useful  ;)

Obviously the kits are going to be gradual as I design, collect components and build them up so watch this space.... as the saying goes.

In the meantime I have to go and tidy the tip that I call The Bead Shed and make some space to work in, wish me luck on that one!