Taking a Moment to Pause
I don’t do this often, but today I’m pressing pause and looking back.
My shop turned 4 on 23rd March 2026, and as I sit quietly with my Monday morning coffee, I reflect on how far I have come and plan for the future.
Although I have managed to run a small business in the UK for 4 years, it has not been a smooth or perfect journey. But I wish to celebrate the progress I have made with you.
Where It All Started
So why did I start this handmade business journey?
I was struggling to find work again after having my son. After COVID, the places I worked before had restructured and no longer needed my services, and many employers were not interested in hiring a new mum who needed flexibility around childcare.
After my husband saw me drawing with my son, he suggested I sell my designs on products using sublimation.
I was initially sceptical about this as I was very uncertain about how it would work and all the learning curves that come with running a small business and being a mum.
But 4 years later, here I am. Without my husband’s support, I don’t know what I would be doing now.
The Early Challenges
I worked in retail when I was a teen part-time while studying, but I had no experience in running one. I did doubt myself in thinking I could do this.
There were plenty of new skills to learn, from pricing properly to writing sales-worthy listing descriptions. The learning curve was sometimes very steep, but it was worth the climb after your first customer came along.
At the time of starting my business, my son was 1 year old and attending nursery 2 days a week. He was also dropping his morning nap (as well as fighting his afternoon nap some days), so it was very difficult to manage the early days around naps and childcare days.
Eventually, I got into a routine, making the business/life balance easier. So it is doable.
The Small Wins That Meant Everything
Those little wins felt huge — and they still do.
You could be running a small business for years, but the small wins will always feel huge.
I made my first sale on the day I opened, which felt so amazing. I was very excited packing that first-ever parcel for my first-ever customer.
The first 5-star review came, and then came the first repeat customer. Each little win helped build my confidence, and as more customers found me and more sales happened, my confidence built up over time.
Growth Isn’t Always Loud
We all dream of that viral moment that launches us into fast growth – But is that really the answer?
All businesses go through quiet periods, and it seems like you are standing still. But that’s not true, I learned that you can still be growing in the slower months – Just not in an obvious way.
It could be improving your workflow or taking a look at where you can better manage your time.
Loud growth doesn’t always mean good or sustainable growth.
What I’ve Learned Along the Way
There are a few key lessons that I learned along the way:
Patience – It’s easy to want to get a design out quickly to try and get sales. Creativity cannot be rushed.
Resilience – Not everything will go to plan, and it will be frustrating. But you can bounce back and perfect a lesson for personal growth.
Trusting Your Ideas – Embracing your unique ideas can lead to those light bulb moments. Cultivate ideas and allow them to grow before deciding if it is a feasible product or not.
Not Comparing Your Journey to Others – Social media is full of the “perfect” business videos, and it’s very easy to compare your growth to theirs. Remember, you are seeing what they want you to see and not the chaos that is off camera.
Balancing Business and Life
Real life doesn’t work against your business life – It works alongside it.
Nap and school runs do tend to limit your work hours and can shape the pace of how your business works – but that’s OK.
Running a small business allows you to be flexible and adaptable when real-life changes occur. And that makes the work/life balance easier to manage.
Why I’m Proud (Even If I’m Not ‘There’ Yet)
Is my business perfect? No. Am I proud of it? Yes.
And I don’t think I want it to be perfect. I want to continue to learn, grow, and always be creative.
I am proud that I have been more consistent. Especially in the past year, when I have really gotten a more consistent style.
I am proud that I have shown up regularly. There have been times when I wanted to give up, but instead I showed up and continued.
I am proud that I have continued despite the challenges. I have powered through some difficult times just by sitting down at my desk with a coffee, taking a deep breath and saying, “Let’s do this”
Success, no matter how small, is progress.
A Gentle Reminder for Other Small Business Owners
You’re probably doing better than you think.
Why not take a look back at your journey? Grab a cuppa and a notebook and write down the ups and downs of your handmade business journey so far. And celebrate your wins, big and small.
Your journey does not have to be perfect. If you had some bad lessons, then be kind to yourself. Everyone has bad times in their business.
What’s important is that you don’t be harsh with yourself, but to take that lesson and learn from it so you can continue to grow.
Celebrating the Journey & Looking Ahead
2026 has been difficult for small businesses, but I hope to continue to be creative and grow my business this year, even if it has been slower than it has been in the past.
I am not going to push or pressure my business to grow. It’s part of the rollercoaster of running a business during times of difficulty.
Panda Motion Designs has grown well enough already. And it will continue to grow as long as I continue to nurture it and myself.
I am truly grateful for the customers and supporters I have met along the way. Without them, my confidence would not be where it is now.
When was the last time you stopped and felt proud of your business? Tell me about it in the comments.
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