I just crossed the deadline of the marathon run of my life (till now), its not an actual run, im not that sporty.... it was many Km of crocheting wire :)
it all started on May 3rd when i was mentioned on The daily candy under the mothers day recommended gifts. well it wasn't actually even me that was recommended but my golden drop earrings with a pearl.
I've been mentioned in the past on the press so although i knew it was coming and although the journalist worn me to be prepared with some stock, i didnt really take it seriously since didnt know the daily candy, actually never heard of it to be honest.
so there it was My 3rd 2PM Israel time and 7Am east cost time and the orders started getting in, one and another one and another, i was looking at the screen in disbelief wondering if my etsy shop wont collapse with so much traffic, it turned into a race will i mange to put the item back into the shop before it gets bought again.... at some point i started renewing in bunches.
ok- so at the beginning i was thrilled but then i started panicking, how do i supply all these orders, my items are all handmade from scratch. I even considered turning the shop off saying this is it, i cant supply any more, so either order and wait a couple of days till i deliver or skip this one and come back on another time.
but since being me was stronger then having sense i kept watching the screen seeing another new line and another.
I packed my bag, told my hubby im going home to start working on all these orders, its not funny anymore.. went home situated myself on my favorite coach with all the materials around me and started producing the main hit of most orders, the crocheted golden drops with a pearl.
Shortly i realized i need to make some urgent supply orders, which i did, eventually i would have to make another order because my estimations were still modest in compare to what was commimg.
I kept working into the night, woke up early and got back to my coach, it went like this for 4 days, my hands heart and the thing that frightened me more then anything is that i hurt my hands and wont be able to supply all the orders.
Making all these items (more then a hundred) wasnt the only task, preparing the mailing and actually sending it all out to the right address (after locating all the extra 4 digits etc...for faster delivery), FIOOOOO... I was so lucky that the whole family gathered together to give a hand, the kids put labels on the boxes, located the 4 digits for the postal addresses, my hubby kept track of what was packed and made sure it went to the right addresses with the right notes inside.
We woke up On Sunday morning, took a photo shoot of all the envelopes spread on our studio table and hit it to the post office. I was never so nervous as that morning, all i wanted was to have it all sent out, to be able to notify all my buyers its on the way, that now its beyond me and now the postal services should get to work.
It wasn't easy and i had some very down moments that even brought me to tear, it happened everyday at around 16:00 everyday when my back started aching and i realized what i wont be able to finish all that i planned that day.
looking back i should have left a note quite early when orders started flowing in that it would take at least a week or 2 to supply and maybe then i would have stressed a bit less, next time ? i wonder......
