Ok, so this is it. An end of a 2.5 year era. Ending 31st Dec ‘23 🥹
This is the post I've been putting off for so long.. but I can't contain it any longer. It's not ideal, I know, I have strived so hard to make this work & believe me when I say, I have truly run the numbers on all of your 'different direction' suggestions (coffee shop, online only, pop-up, markets, move to Cardiff/London, etc) and to be deeply honest, they just don't sit with me 🧘♀️ . They might for someone else, but I've no more justification to make for my decision 😃 & I want to go out on a high-bye leaving the exploration to continue that I've started within you all to start your plant-based journey & reduction of animal produce consumption - for your health, your environment and animal welfare & how simple it can be to do 'your bit'.
I have truly been blessed with such an opportunity and have had the best customers EVER. Truly such a wonderful bunch of supporters - yes, you! the regular's, who kept my lights and fridge-freezers on! I can hold my head high & be proud of giving something so big a go in one of the toughest times financially for a long time. Also a big thanks to my suppliers, especially my hyper local ones - without you the shop wouldn't have existed in the first place!! I'm glad I helped support your little businesses the best I could. Mentors & my daily cheerleaders, be them virtual (you know who you are) or visiting me daily/weekly, BusinessWales mentors, other local traders & friend mentors, you’ve heard seen me ugly-cry more times these months than I ever have; kudos to you for just ‘being there’ & knowing what to say; sometimes nothing & just listening was all I needed. 🥰 The biggest public thanks by far goes to my BIGGEST supporters, Mum & Dad who've been there on the sidelines cheering, supporting, guiding and listening to me through the highs & lows, worries & tears. Thank you for believing in me and my crazy little dream & STILL sticking by me on this toughest of decisions lately and indeed what the future may hold.
Life is all about change and challenge and I'm glad I was given the opportunity to make the Park Crescent shopping street a little bit brighter these past years and also to open people's minds to what the "weird vegan food" is actually all about - nothing scary, making small changes, as they add up to collective big changes. I'm extremely proud to have been part of this in such an exciting time in awareness of our diet and what effects this has on our planet as well as each of our own little universe (our body!).
I now hope that you can help make my last month one of the happiest and I really do look forward to seeing all your festive faces... but I also NEED YOUR HELP 🆘🥹. I need to empty the shop of the yummiest of festive foods and a tonne of cheese - perfect timing for Christmas! As well finding buyers for the equipment (please see the other photo's) as this by far is going to be my achilles heel financially 🥴 so please share far and wide this news of my closure and help me to recover my financial deficit.!!!!!
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