Hello, and thank you for stopping by!
I'm excited to share my recent experience with you regarding the Christmas 2023 product launch. This journey was anything but ordinary, as I decided to throw the rulebook out the window and embrace a last-minute approach. Although I had meticulously planned the products, their creation turned out to be more time-consuming than expected. Rather than announcing a launch date prematurely, I chose to keep things under wraps until I was certain I could deliver on my promises. Pragmatic and logical, I thought it was the best way forward.
For this special holiday release, I decided to step outside my comfort zone and introduce some brand-new pieces, including hand-painted items—a first for me. To add to the challenge, I also chose to revamp some of my existing creations. This extra workload wasn't exactly what I had signed up for, but as you'll soon discover, it was a rewarding decision.
After hours of painting, drilling, assembling, and creative problem-solving, it was time to capture the essence of these products through a photo shoot. In total, I had 32 new listings to create, some of which included multiple items, leading to a whopping 300-plus photos to edit. As if that wasn't enough, I also created some footage for social media. To ensure a cohesive visual theme, I decided to maintain a consistent background for all the photos, offering a polished and organized look. It took an entire day of dedication to finish this stage before diving into the editing process.
Thankfully, the photos were relatively good in terms of lighting and positioning, requiring only minor cropping and tweaking. However, the clock was ticking; it was already Wednesday, and the product launch was scheduled for Friday evening. The pressure was building, and I could feel anxiety creeping in. 14 listings down and in an effort to prevent burnout, I decided to take a well-deserved break to practice self-care.
Upon returning to my laptop, a new hurdle emerged—a malfunctioning external hard drive, which I relied on to store product photos, social media content, and various other files. It was prompting me to scan and repair it, and I hoped for a swift resolution. Unfortunately, after trying multiple strategies (Plan B, C, D, and E), I had to throw in the towel and hope for a fresh start the following day.
Thursday morning arrived, and I was determined to complete all the necessary tasks for the launch. I made a cup of tea, approached my laptop with cautious optimism, and... encountered the same issue. My stress levels skyrocketed, but I knew I had to stay calm and strategize. Multiple cups of tea, a bit of chocolate, and even a few tears later, I was still stumped. I clung to the hope that the repair would be finished in time for me to finish the remaining 18 listings, along with the intricacies of Etsy listing procedures as I was adding them to my website first.
Fast forward to Thursday evening, and the situation remained unchanged—a complete disaster. Desperation set in, and I desperately searched for a solution. Just when I thought all hope was lost, my saviour emerged—my daughter. She handed me her laptop (which I couldn't even get to turn on before), and that was all I needed. With time as my ally, I prepared myself for a sleepless night. Bit by bit, I re-edited the photos, and everything began falling into place. Mission accomplished, but my bed beckoned with the time being 4:30 a.m.
Despite the challenges, the rest of the process went smoothly. If I can make just one sale of these new products, it will all be worthwhile. Perhaps, as Christmas draws nearer, this last-minute endeavour will pay off.