GROWN UP TALK: Business is f-ing hard

Hey guys! You still around??

While I didn’t know how to begin this post I feel that the best way is to just to level with you all for a minute. I’ve been a shit. The last 7 months of running The Skinny has certainly been a quiet one. It’s taken a big pause and for that I’m sorry.

When I first started this journey, this adventure of business ownership, I did it carefree without much worry or struggle. I had a lovely and very creative business partner taking beautiful images of our kids, your kids and all dressed in our clothes. We wholesale from amazing companies, some smaller and relatively unknown, to larger and with a heavy following and I remember the days of just being accepted as ‘an authorized wholesaler’ with pride. I remember our very first lookbook photo shoot and the total chaos that ensued [sorry, Michelle + Kids!! haha]. I remember our launch and all the amazing support from photographers, bloggers, friends and family we received those first few hours following into those first few days, and thinking “holy shit! We got this!”. Honestly, I thought owning a business was a piece of cake. AND I just had twins!

Then those days turned into weeks, into months, and soon I found myself planning our upcoming 1 year “shop opening” event. From there things get a little more messy…and real life started to kick in.

My business partner, due to life circumstances, dropped out. No hard feelings, no fall outs, no juicy fights to fuel the gossip trains – just plain old life happened. Personal issues and decisions she had to make for which I admire her immensely for. Its something that I understand but haven’t really shared with you all. So there you have it…I am and have been running this ship solo. However, with her leaving it left me with an open wound. An uncertainty for which I still sometimes struggle with. Self doubt. Loneliness. A feeling of helplessness at times that can swallow you whole. It was a pretty unsure time for a while there with the direction of where to take The Skinny. And to top to all off, my maternity leave ended. When it rains, it really pours right?

Which brings me to this post. This was not about feeling sorry for myself or needing pity. It is about an apology to all the supporters of The Skinny. I’ve been working full-time for the past 7 months, struggling at the best of times to keep things afloat on this end. I’m sorry if your orders shipped later than usual. If I haven’t been posting enough on Instagram or returning your emails quicker. I’m sorry for the lack of shoots, and products, and shop hours. I’ve been on absolute burnout for the past few months between mothering my 3 small kids, working both full-time jobs, and just trying to find a second to myself. It’s a been a struggle more than you could know. Owning a business is fucking hard work. The hardest I’ve ever known. With your heart on your sleeve every single bloody day. But man, I truly thank you all for sticking with me because as of today, I am here. Working at The Skinny full-freaking-time [yep!!]] and it feels amazing. Without sharing too many secrets, The Skinny is getting an overhaul. I’m happy to announce that we will be open with regular hours increased substantially Tuesday through to Saturday while staying cozy at Vacancy Hall [104 street & 104 avenue], we’ll be bringing in mini launches and larger seasonal launches more frequently, along with a very new direction too! But more on that later….So many changes and so much to look forward too!

The next is going to be pretty damn amazing, I promise you that. And I hope you enjoy where The Skinny is headed….

xx
Erinn

ps. because you made it this far, enjoy 20% off your next order with the code: NEWSTART until May 26th!
xx

photo credit: Paula Scherr Photography