Nail biting times

Well things have been very unstable lately, talk about feeling like a yo-yo! Were should I start, ah yes, last week.

It all started last week, I hit some financial trouble with regards to BellaFlo Boutique. It was pretty horrid, there were a few days where I thought I would have had to close my shop. As you can imagine, I was in a bit of a pickle, not having enough money to run a fashion boutique whilst you're in the middle of making your boutique successful, is a bit of a sticky situation. I had people telling me all different things and giving me advice on what to do. I had never thought about having to close my shop, especially when it's only 7 months old. I didn't know what to do. Yes, it would be easy to close the shop, then me and Louie could live quite a comfortable life without having a shop to pay for. But seriously, I have never done anything by half, and this is no exception.

I've never really had to worry about money, not because my family are rich or anything (they're not), but because my life has never revolved around money. For me it's always been you have it or you don't kind of attitude, I am not one for lavish gifts, fancy cars or big gestures at birthdays or from Louie. I am not saying I don't like presents, but I like thoughtful things, not expensive things. ( This may be a little contradictory to the idea I have of me living in a 1940's ballroom, but hey!). So last week was worrying but also a little weird for me, I obviously understand money and how the world revolves around money, but I felt vulnerable knowing I depended on money to keep my shop open. The worse thing for me during this time was the fact that there is NO funding available to me at all. And do you know why? I cannot get any money from the government at all because I have set up a FASHION business!! If it was anything else, then yes fine they'd give me some money, but apparently fashion haven't been as hard hit as other industries. Pfft, can see that the government hire incompotent staff who clearly cannot research properly. It is common knowledge to everyone involved in fashion, that the fashion industry has taken a massive hit from the recession. Yes everyone still needs clothes, but with cheap throw away fashion at peoples finger tips, they do not spend so much on clothing, why would they when they can go to Primark and get a top for £3 that's been made by a child in Eastern Europe.

Needless to say, the government have made me furious! Not knowing which way for me to turn or which road to chose, I emailed Mary Portas asking for help! A desperate act I know, but I think she does amazing things for independents, I am still waiting for a reply, so if anyone knows Mary Portas, get her to give me a holla! So far it seems that I have resolved my financial problem, but that is only for the time being, and if my projections are accurate, so it's going to be a nail biting couple of months.

So, a week later I still have my shop and I'm determined to make it work. I am even experimenting with bright colours for my new collections, which I do not usually do ( I prefer more neutral nude colours), not that I am opposed to colour, I am not at all. It's just that working with a beautiful cream chiffon and adding beautiful beading work to it gives the sense of, well, beauty! I have a few plans to help turn the shop around. I am changing the inside of the shop, quite dramatically, but this will not eat up a lot of money. I am wanting to change the hsop around to make it look like a 'proper' fashion boutique. I have frriends and Louie helping my vision become reality. I am also taking on the mamoth task of filling 80% of the shop with my clothing (worried face!). But fingers crossed all will work out (double worried face).

I have also still managed to buy some jewellery pieces from a new jewellery line, called DaintyDamsel Delectable Jewels. Their stuff is pretty amazing, and I now have it instore, the pieces sit so beautifully in my shop glittering away under the spot lights. This means I can attend their jewellery launch party too, which I am very excited for. I am having a stall there and 2 models meeting and greeting everyone. It's going to be a great opportunity for BellaFlo.

Obviously there are still money worries but the key is to carry on as if BellaFlo is going to be around for years, and if all goes how I want it to, then it will be.