MY FEBRUARY 2024 EXPERIENCE AND HUSTLES!

When the year 2024 started, I became restless. My mind is racing with a lot of stuff for things that need to be done before February.

I had already filled my yarn stash with all the possible colors that could be needed for flowers. As of the month of December, additional supplies like flower wrappers, ribbons, and other accessories needed to assemble flower bouquets were also completed.

My goal for February was to stock more types of flowers: roses, tulips, sunflowers, lavender, daisies, and more. So that if anyone has an order, it will be catered to sooner, as I have to prepare more bouquets to be displayed at the Sagay City Showroom. Since it would be my first Valentine's Day to display flower bouquets there, I had to make sure that there were enough to choose from.

We were also invited by Miss Agnes, the owner of a beach house nearby, to showcase our products in their area during a one-day cycling competition.

Hence, it makes me feel so agitated that I can't even take my 20-30 minutes afternoon power nap as usual. 😅

So I decided to make more flower bouquets on hand since I only received a few reservations for Valentine's Day. I was still hopeful at that time that I could make more sales compared to last year. Even though I noticed that this year, there were many people who make crochet flowers and decided to sell them at a lower price.

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This bouquet of three pieces of tulips, three pieces of sunflowers, and dried baby's breath is one of my best-selling items, so I made this one in advance in order to have it ready for Valentine's Day. And I was happy that someone had purchased it soon enough before I had a chance to share it on social media.

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I also made lots of roses and wrapped them individually for buyers who have a low budget.

There were two types of packaging I have for these single roses: (1) packed in a plastic bag with a handle, and (2) in a box.

I then created these red and green rose bouquets with lots of dried baby's breath. And I was delighted at the outcome of these two rose bouquets. It looks perfectly ...... beautiful to me. 😍

And I added two other rose bouquets in pink colors with a combination of other flowers.

After doing all of these, I started making the orders for Valentine's Day.

This customer, who purchased a crocheted bouquet of flowers for his girlfriend, is someone I remember from last year. Just like before, he picked these purple-colored flowers and was able to send a picture for inspiration. Last year, there was a bouquet of tulip buds, and now there are these big flowers that look like blooming tulips to me. Though I'm not really sure of it.

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Then I received an order from my TikTok shop for our best-selling flower bouquet. I think I have already sold more than 10–15 pieces of this particular bouquet alone. And it's a good thing I had extra sunflowers ready because I had to ship this one the day after he placed his order. I told the customer that I had run out of dried baby's breath. He agreed when I told him I would cut the price but would substitute some artificial leaves for the baby's breath. He sent me a message after receiving it and expressed his satisfaction with the bouquet we sent.

Sagay City Showroom

On February 8, I brought more flower bouquets to display. From single flowers to big bouquets.

The showroom was located at the Sagay City Plasa, where more people were visiting, most couples and teenagers in a group used to hang out there. I presume that the flowers will get their attention and that many will get their interest in buying them.

I was looking forward to more sales and hoping we could sell them all.

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February 11 - At the BEACH HOUSE

I wouldn't forget this day, as it marks my first display, in which I personally look after my items and am the one who will be entertaining the customers personally, compared to the Sagay City Showroom, where there is a staff member who manages the shop and the crochet products on my behalf.

I was a little bit nervous and excited at the same time. A lot of us were invited, but only the three of us made it.

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One seller, who is a student, sells some handmade bracelets made from beads, pearls, and shells. She sells some necklaces, too. Her price range was absolutely cheaper, which attracts more buyers.

The other seller was also a student and sells handmade flowers similar to mine.

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But I was confident with my flowers and was hopeful to get some sales for that day. At first, I really expected a lot of people would come and visit the beach house as they had an event for that day. Later, around 8–9 in the morning, I was a little bit discouraged because only a few teenagers came near our displays.

Then later, I went to the comfort room, and when I came back, I saw one of the sellers entertaining the customers with her crochet flowers. She was able to sell 4 pieces of single tulips that are worth P100.00 pesos ($1.78) each. I was surprised to learn her prices were way too low. I sell mine at P150.00 ($2.68).

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I was happy for her, of course, and a little bit envious since I have sold none. Though I didn't show it to her, instead I taught her how to make a forget-me-not flower.

Then afternoon came, and I still haven't sold anything. I just think that those people in there weren't the right customers for my flowers since my target market is working individuals and not teenagers.

I went home feeling depressed. It seems that all my energy has been drained out of my body. I couldn't even think properly, and I was sitting still. I tried to move and console myself that Valentine's Day wasn't over yet. And that means I still have a chance to sell more.

And the day I had been waiting for arrived, which was Valentine's Day. Early in the morning, I had already prepared the orders that needed to be delivered that day. I just had 4 deliveries that day compared to last year, which was 8 deliveries in total. Though they decreased in number, I noticed that most of my deliveries now were composed of big bouquets, whereas before they were mostly single flowers. It's a pity I wasn't able to take pictures of the two big bouquets before I delivered them because I was running out of time.

Two siblings also went to our house that morning to purchase 2 bouquets for their wives. And another guy who had a reservation for that day got his order.

I was delighted with all the buyers and that most of them had already purchased from me last year.

As of the showroom, after a day, I asked the staff member about the Valentine's Day sales but was a little bit discouraged as I only reached more than a thousand pesos ($60) in sales. Though I expected a little higher, I am still thankful that since that day, a lot of crochet flower sellers were roaming around the City Plasa, offering their flowers at a lower price.

As I was calculating my sales for the month of February, I noticed a decrease in the number of orders, yet the amount of each order was large enough that last year's February sales were still the same as this year. Though it was not as big as I imagined before the year started, I am still thankful for all the purchases made from my flower bouquets.

I also realized that you don't have to be upset when no one buys your products. It's just that they aren't the right customer. Your target market will appreciate your products, no matter how much they cost. Just make sure you give them something of high quality so they will recognize it.😘

Thanks for reading, until next time.

Yours truly,

@jonalyn2020 😘😘😘

_{Kung nagustuhan mo ang aking sinulat ngayon, pakipusuan mo naman. 😍😉}

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