Merry Christmas
It’s Christmas week, and as we recover from the festive cheese-and-chocolate overload, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the past year and plan. As a small creative business owner, the end of the year always brings a mix of wins, challenges, and lessons learned. In this post, I’m looking back on 2025 at Panda Motion Designs—what worked, what didn’t, and how I’m setting goals and plans for my small business in 2026
2025 has definitely been a mixed bag. The year started with the blow of losing EU customers due to GPSR, followed by the ongoing chaos of USA tariffs, which brought plenty of financial uncertainty. As a result, sales weren’t quite as strong as in previous years. (I talk more about this in my 2025 Business Goals blog post)
Planning for the year ahead helps me track progress and stay focused on where the business is heading. So grab one of the last remaining mince pies, and let’s get planning.
Strengthening My Brand Identity
I refined my logo for a bit more impact and spent far too long researching colour combinations and fonts. In 2026, my goal is consistency—especially with packaging. Branded stickers might finally be happening, helping everything feel more cohesive across products and platforms.
One thing I’m especially proud of is my customer experience, which is reflected in my reviews. That’s something I’ll absolutely continue to prioritise in 2026.
Expanding My Product Range
Home décor and book-themed products will always be at the heart of my shop, but I’d love to expand further into gifts. I’ve been eyeing some plush toys from a supplier that could work beautifully for Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day.
Up until now, I’ve mainly focused on Autumn and Winter/Christmas collections. Spring and Summer have been a bit neglected—oops. That’s changing in 2026. I’ll be planning and researching seasonal collections and sharing design updates on social media to gather feedback (and boost engagement at the same time)
Elevating My Online Presence
It’s officially time to review some of my older products. A few have never had a favourite, let alone a sale, so it may be time to lovingly say goodbye and replace them with designs that better fit my current style. SEO has always been a challenge for me, so improving that will be a big focus to help boost visibility and sales.
On social media, video continues to be king. I want to create more educational content, time-lapse videos, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of artwork in progress. I’ll also be writing more blog posts about life behind the scenes—juggling motherhood and running a small business.
Streamlining and Improving Processes
First on the list: clean my desk. Yes, really. I share an office with my husband, and chaos reigns. A tidy workspace should help me focus better and stay organised.
I’ll continue using weekly planners and diaries to set goals and stay on track. Inventory management also needs improvement—I sold out of products this year simply because I didn’t realise how low my stock was. Lesson learned, especially after the festive rush.
Building Stronger Customer Connections
On social media, I want to be more present—replying to comments, engaging in conversations, and being approachable. I’d love my platforms to feel welcoming rather than salesy.
I’ll also be sharing more engagement-style content like polls and questions, focusing on lifestyle vibes rather than constant product promotion. Less “buy this,” more “here’s how this fits into your life.”
Growth Through Sales & Marketing
My goal for 2025 was to grow from 1,800 to 2,000 sales—and I hit that target by autumn 🙌. Overall, I made around 240 sales this year.
For 2026, my aim is 300 sales, which feels like a realistic and healthy step up. I also want to expand my seasonal campaigns. Autumn and Christmas are well covered, but Spring and Summer—especially Mother’s Day and Easter—need more love.
I’m also exploring selling beyond Etsy. I’ve applied to become a wholesale supplier and am considering TikTok Shop as another way to reach new customers.
Learning & Personal Development
Keeping skills up to date is essential for creatives—especially in today’s fast-moving, AI-filled digital world. I’ll continue learning through tutorials, drawing regularly, and improving my marketing knowledge.
More than anything, I want to lean back into creativity. Less pressure on sales, more focus on refining my art and building confidence in my designs.
Dream Goals (If Everything Goes Perfectly!)
If the stars align, here’s what I’d love to achieve:
- Make 300 sales in the year
- Increase visitors to my website
- Expand further into laser cutting (and maybe beyond)
- Create more curated, intentional designs
Conclusion
I am excited to see what will happen in 2026. I look forward to being more creative and finding new ways to grow as a business and as a person. So many potential opportunities could arrive in the coming year, and I can’t wait to see what they will be.
What are your business goals for 2026? Why not stay up to date with my journey by following me on social media? See links below.
Until next time…Have a Happy New Year.
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