Golly, three years, how did we get here? Actually, that is entirely unfair to both myself and this beautiful community - we got here with lots and lots of hard work and an abundance of support from you!
I think it’s pretty fair to say that starting a business within the last three years, let alone starting it exactly three years ago and then riding the wave of everything that has happened since, has been profoundly challenging. On one of the very first orders I picked up from a supplier, I remember them saying to me, “oh it’s too bad you didn’t start two years ago, it was fabulous.” Needless to say, it was an odd way to kick off a relationship with a new customer, but regardless, I frequently think about the irony of that exchange because the reality is that those early days were probably the easiest this little venture has seen.
An Abundance of Challenges
Global conflicts, disrupted supply chains, persistent inflation, and all the uncertainty that comes along with those circumstances have required countless pivots and forced some very tough business decisions. But they have also taught me how to closely monitor metrics, read the patterns, and be highly strategic in how I manoeuvre the brand and business.
If you follow us on Instagram, you likely know I entered into the Wovenwood journey completely blind. I had no retail, e-commerce, marketing, or web design experience. Thanks to my Covid alter ego, Tracy the Tradie, I did have a little experience in social media and what it could look like to build a community there, but honestly, nothing can really prepare you for the unrelenting reality of needing to be on there and out there all the time.
All About the Energy
It can feel very overwhelming, redundant, draining and, if you let it, soul-crushing at times. But simultaneously, it can be invigorating, joyous and full of delightful surprises. This duality, while sometimes exhausting, is a constant reminder that running a business is a lot like daily life: there are good days and there are bad days and nothing is guaranteed, but ultimately, it’s up to you to decide how you navigate the road and the kind of energy you will bring to the party.
So here we are! Lots, and I mean LOTS, happened in the last year. We closed the brick-and-mortar business, launched wholesale, launched a lending library for Trade partners and, most recently, launched full-service styling services.
I know some of you are going to read this and think, wait, I didn’t know about all of this! To be honest, much of it has unfolded organically and so rapidly that I haven’t even had time to build the business framework around the offerings, let alone the communications and marketing. Suffice it to say, these are all wildly exciting new chapters for the brand. They will also hopefully give me the opportunity to expand the Wovenwood team and grow beyond a one-woman show in the coming year.
What Lies Ahead
So with all of that happening in the 3rd year, what lies ahead for our 4th year, you ask? You probably know by now that I don’t tend to think small. As they say, dreams are free and I thoroughly endorse letting them run wild for this reason.
First up will be our 2026 Christmas Collection. It is the biggest seasonal collection we’ve ever launched, and I am tickled plaid with all of the beautiful pieces we will be debuting this year. Keep an eye out for this to drop in early October.
We also have plans to manufacture our second exclusive MADE by Wovenwood Collection - restocking best sellers and adding new pieces to the mix for both retail and wholesale.
'More Joy Please!'Finally, I’m personally looking forward to expanding our styling services. To date, this offering has been exclusive to our trade partners, but I’ve recently begun broader projects for customers, and I find that helping others bring a vision to life and create a home that feels authentically them, brings me so much joy. Which pretty much sums up my hope for the year to come - more joy, please!
If anything you’ve read here has sparked your interest to find out more, or you just want to say ‘hi’, use the button below to drop me a note. I always love connecting with our beautiful community.
Whether you joined us recently or have been here since the first roller door opening, thank you so much for following along and supporting Wovenwood. I am so grateful.
