I’m genuinely surprised at how successful things have been in the past few months. Okay, I still haven’t made a wage out of the business, or paid back investors, but within the week I will have hit an amount in revenue that will equal the initial investment & set up costs. We have sold over 400 bars of soap already (in only around 12 market days) & the feedback has been amazing. There have been so many exciting firsts; First returning customers, and seconds & thirds for that matter; first online sales, first gift sets sold - the list goes on.
I initially hoped to trade for 12-18 months before looking to settle into a permanent shop - but due to the hard work & customer retention we are now within weeks of setting up our first store. It’s a shame our first store cannot be in Liverpool, but Liverpool rent rates are still unbelievably high - leading to all those boarded up shops you see. I keep hoping that due to online sales killing the high street - that the British high streets might force landlords to lower prices which would allow local small business to take back control of their cities. Years back, your local butcher or green grocer had a shop on the high street, then Wooly’s & other such companies took over & left them trading from a stall in wind & rain. Maybe the economy will bring back our High Street & sense of community?
I’m hoping to be a part of that.
We will be opening a small store in Preston very soon, before October, so keep your eyes peeled as we will have some great offers for Preston residents.
We have already made 3 small donations to local charities due to sales - if our aims for September are achieved we should see a good amount donated on October 1st.
Every sale = a donation, so if your significant other tries to nag you about buying more soaps & bath bombs - just tell them that on top of buying products so beautiful you hardly want to use them, you’re also helping people most in need. We don’t knock on your door, we don’t harass you with calls or emails, we don’t stop you in the street & make you feel guilty for not donating - we make great products, you buy them, we make a donation from that amount. It’s that simple.
Keep supporting us & we will keep supporting our city.
Thank you so much to all our customers - It has been a genuine delight for me, as someone who has suffered with agoraphobia & panic attacks to speak to so many nice people face to face & feel comfortable. This en devour has honestly changed my mental health & in turn my life.
Jordan Smith - Director, Crescent Liverpool ltd.