Black Butterfly

Our favorite new doormat!

Let’s talk about material shortages. Our wood costs have more than doubled and we are rationed to just a 2-4 week supply from the lumber yard. Each week is like a scavenger hunt to find what we need to paint and ship orders. I know my maker friends are experiencing this too. As we gear up to Christmas, slowly get those supplies now. If it’s on the shelf, get a few extra than you normally would. Bulk up anywhere you can. Make a list of every supply you use and each week focus on getting a few extra. This week, I’m going to buy extra twine and suede ribbon. Next week, packing paper and so on. This way, I can slowly bulk up without breaking the bank. Happy hunting!

The number one thing that improved my business was creating a weekly production schedule. It allowed me to hire help, plan ahead and grow. I now only work about 20 hours a week because I have disciplined myself to stick to the schedule. This was a hard change for me. I love flexibility and flying by the seat of my pants. However, that only created chaos in my business and hindered my ability to get help. Here’s our schedule. Monday: laser production, Tuesday: paint and prep orders, Wednesday: design, Thursday: off, Friday: off. My employees do the rest. If you haven’t already, create a production schedule that you can replicate every week. I promise, it will free up so much time!