Charity requests
It's now a given when opening emails and private messages on our social media platforms that we're going to receive requests for free items to give away to charities, donation requests for school fetes, raffles, tombolas etc - catching up on my emails this evening and I've had no less than five requests in the last 50 emails... so, as it stands around 10% of my inbox is requests for freebies.
Now, don't get me wrong, I totally understand the need for charity events and I've always been incredibly supportive of charity work where I can be - we have donated over £23,000 in funds since establishing, and then thousands of pounds worth of goods too - but at the moment, giving away products just simply isn't an option for us.
I have no shame in admitting that the business isn't soaring like it once was. The world is working differently and people have to prioritise their money to simply cover bills these days. Splashing out on chocolate, treats or lunch out is a luxury not a given, especially in the current economic climate, and the ripple effect of that means smaller businesses are taking lower income and making lower profits. It's the same across the board, and isn't just us it's affecting. Every penny counts these days - where I used to have the extra to happily donate, the capacity to lose a little money here and there, the top and bottom of it is that I now don't.
I think it's important to note as well that Sarah's Creative Kitchen isn't a giant corporation. We are just a small business seeing through month to month, making enough to cover the bills, put food on the table, pay for hobbies and keep a roof over heads. I think there's a preconceived notion when you see the size of our social media platforms and previous success that we are making way more than it looks on the surface... that isn't the case. There are no record profits here lining pockets here.
Having always been a bit of a people pleaser it isn't in my nature to say no, but needs must now. I have the autonomy over my own choices when it comes to which charities and services I support with my own money too and think it's important for me to hone in on those spaces when I *can* make a donation, just as I'd expect any other person to donate to a charity of their choice with the little they can give, as opposed to pushing them to donate to one of my choosing.
If we donated to everyone who asks, with the number of requests we receive, I don't actually think the business would be able to survive at all ... remember that every single item we create here is handmade, hand crafted, hand topped, hand wrapped and hand packed. Not only do we lose the income to keep us afloat, but we also lose the time. It's a lot. It's just a lot.
I'm not a meanie I promise! I'll share more about previous charity endeavours with you all soon, and hopes for the future. Right now though, we just need to take that step back.