Definition of a Small Business
A small business is a company of relatively limited size, as measured by its revenue, number of employees, or both.
I’m sure you’ve all heard people talking about “Supporting Small Business” and the importance of keeping our bucks in this country.
Well, here I am running a small online business and here I am feeling the pain that many other start up companies/businesses are going through in Australia in this point in time.
I classify Zoitsa Homely Produce as a small business start-up. We are only 20 months old, we started by treading new ground and even though we are so young our vision likes to think BIG. Currently it’s me, my hubby, my son and my brother working our business.
I gave up an amazing career to care for my elderly father and in the process, I lost a HUGE wage. It hurts. It stings to constantly have to watch every penny. It hurts to have to budget so much, and it hurts that I have to rely solely on my husband’s wage. As a woman, I feel like a bit of my independence has gone. Sad but true. I know I am not alone I am sure there are many of us in the same boat.
Zoitsa came to fruition in November 2022 and the hours upon hours of work I do to make my baby grow is more exhausting than standing in a hospital theatre for 5 -6 hours straight. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE Zoitsa Homely Produce. I am so passionate about my business, and I live and breathe it!
Maybe this is very bold of me to say but small start-ups like mine….we ARE the engine of economic growth. Let me add, I am NOT making hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars per year (man I wish I was) I am a small independent niche business, but when I say we are the engine of economic growth I say that because we are producing new products, new services and hopefully in time we will be a source of new jobs for people. We drive innovation and we in time, create wealth. Startups like Zoitsa are a huge risk than an established business but we have the potential to generate higher returns.
Without small businesses there wouldn’t be such a diverse collection of products available to you and me. By shopping and supporting small businesses you are reducing your carbon footprint whilst supporting local economies in our community. It’s crucial that we all support small businesses and in turn, you are supporting local, you are supporting our economy, and your community. We, the small business owners, are the backbone of the community.
I’m exhausted, I cry almost weekly, I have tantrums when my blends don’t go to plan. I push, I push and push trying to sell my wares. I feel like I have to sell my body and my soul to the devil to get my products out to the masses, and to make a few bucks. It’s hard, really hard competing with your large conglomerates. Then to receive hateful emails stating that our products are too expensive is like a punch to the stomach.
Almost weekly we get nasty and abusive emails from people stating that our prices are too high. I have a very thick skin but there are moments when I want to punch the computer screen out of sheer exasperation. People don’t understand how much time, money and love, goes into each and every product. People, strangers, who deliberately criticize our achievements and our, I guess the little, teeny tiny bit of success that we have made. Tall poppy syndrome at its finest! Something that we Australians do to one another.
Some Australians have this mentality that everyone deserves equal rights and opportunities and if you are doing something that I never thought of then I’m going to tear you down. Egalitarianism working overtime! I don’t get it, I really don’t. Why can’t we be happy for people? Why do we have to cut them down like that?
I digress, when shopping from small businesses like ours know that we really DO stimulate and boost the local economy, we DO use sustainable products, we are aware of our carbon footprint, we DO foster personal connections with our customers, we DO offer unique, original and niche products and services, we DO promote sustainability and we DO make a difference. I know that in time Zoitsa Homely Produce will help build the local workforce by hiring more staff.
All we ask for in return is to try and buy from us, share our brands on your social media, spread the word about our businesses, leave positive reviews on our websites, buy your gifts for all your family and friends from us.
So don’t tear us down support us!
Shop local! Support small business!
Irene
