Temporary Break
Posted by Helen Wang on
Hello! You might be wondering why we are suddenly on a break. And especially if you are stopping by on November 25th for Black Friday sales and notice that there is zero activity, there must be something up right? I (Helen) feel very ashamed and disappointed in myself with how recent things have gone. The point of this post if you don't want to read it all is that we are delaying our Black Friday sale. I know this defeats the entire purpose of Black Friday, but it is the most responsible decision I can make. The change from having a Black Friday sale to not having one occurred within the span of 30 minutes of the most recent new release, and the rest of the time has just been a build-up of guilt waiting until November 15th before I could announce it.
Why?
With this most recent Christmas & Winter release, I looked at previous release data and with the estimates, we can clear orders within 2 weeks before Black Friday no problem. You all completely surpassed all of my expectations.
For reference, the number of orders we got for this "normal" new release surpassed the number of orders we got for our Black Friday sale of last year by a landslide. We essentially had a new release greater than the scale of Black Friday on a random Saturday. I am still having trouble wrapping my head around this and I have been in a state of shock for a few days now. I am so so so grateful and I don't understand still after all of these years, that this is demand for something that I have created.
A lot of you spend your very hard-earned money on my store and my products, and that is something I never ever want to take advantage of. I am very uncomfortable and honestly nauseous with the thought of opening up orders for Black Friday while still having outstanding orders. I think most people can tell that this is a huge decision to make as a business as Black Friday is the time of the year for sales but I just wouldn't be able to live with myself if I don't do the right thing.
What's next?
Well, the thing is, the Black Friday prep is done. We have the sales, freebies, vellum, sticker seals, vinyls, teal pencil pouch, 2023 holidays, new years, lunar new year, and all of that planned. We just have too many orders. So, we will be hosting our own TCMC "Black Friday" sale but just not on November 25th like all other businesses. It's very much not ideal, but it is a necessary thing to do. I will be making adjustments to our December releases to accomodate for this, and also ensure it doesn't interfere with the upcoming subscription.
How will you avoid this in the future?
For 2023, I will be creating a schedule for the entire year ahead of time, with both when things are released, and when I need to get things designed by. This way we don't end up having too many releases at awkward times. I did something similar for previous years, but not as meticulous as university was a huge variable in deadlines. But now that I want to get a better handle on things, I can afford to set more rigid deadlines.
Furthermore, I am still searching for a warehouse to accomodate our needs. We have an open house next week for another warehouse that I am so hopeful about and I would love any extra luck from you that this one works out. We are capped at the number of employees I can hire without moving to a larger space, and my goal is to get this sorted before our 7-year shop anniversary.
Conclusion
I know a lot of you are very understanding and supportive of me, and most people have been giving us the greatest grace. But regardless, me being me, the amount of shame and self-hate I have been feeling in the past week has been overwhelming in itself. Ultimately, this occurred due to my poor planning and no one else on my team. In fact, everyone on my team have offered to at some point come in on their day off and this adds to my guilt.
I am sincerely sorry to everyone for bringing your hopes up and please know this decision was made out of love to ensure that we choose to uphold our standards over profits. I have learned a very big lesson this year, and I do not intend to let it happen again. If you have any questions or concerns at all, please do not hesitate to let me know. I will be packing orders all day and night, but I will ensure to respond to all of you under this thread. Love you so much 
Comments
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Allison on
I just stopped by after seeing a post on IG. Your honesty and integrity are most admirable. Most people these days only care about profits. But with your post above you have shown me how much you care about your customers and employees. As much as I look forward to your shop re-opening, the most important thing is that you are taking care of yourself. We’ll see you soon!
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Jenny on
Hi, Helen! Just stopped by to check out the site. I watch your YouTube videos – they’re so therapeutic. Your sense of simple, beautiful, clean style brings peace to the end of my days full of chaos, clutter, and stress. But, I see your message here and I wanted to just tell you how much empathy I feel for you. I get it (albeit differently, I’m sure) – I do obsess over every minute detail when something doesn’t go right. It consumes us. But I also want you to know you’re amazing and loved. Whether it’s TCMC, or any other venture you pursue, it’s your talent and eye for beautiful things that bring us to you. Helen created TCMC, but Helen is Helen and TCMC is TCMC and both are amazing in their own rights. But that’s why the system became overwhelmed: You create beautiful things, and TCMC couldn’t have anticipated that this year. So just know that we are all wrapping our virtual arms around you with love, and will wait!
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Courtney on
I can’t overstate how much I respect this decision that you’ve made. I’ve been an avid buyer of a completely different product from a completely different company, and even though they’re falling further and further behind and sell an expensive product, they continue to run sales, quote longer wait times, and push out products with mistakes. You show immense respect for yourself, your customers, and your business as a whole. So…way to go. Take care of yourself!
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Holly W on
Helen,
Please take care of yourself. YOU are the most important. We will be here when you are ready to come back. We all want the best for you. Do what YOU need to do.
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Annie on
Hi Helen!!
I respect your work, your creativity, and your attention and efforts toward your customers! You do whatever you must as a shop owner, but then be sure to take a long, well-deserved break! We’re always here for you when you get back! :)
This is more than just a job; you truly love your work. So it would be great to continue doing this work with a refreshing start going into 2023!
Always supporting you,
Your potato buds~ -
Em Lash on
Thank you for your very well worded update. Please be sure to stay safe and healthy through these times. Wishing you happiness and health.
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Maria on
Please don’t feel bad at all!!!! I’m playing right now with so many other TCMC goodies I have & loving it! And if anything, it will be extra fun & exciting to have delayed Black Friday surprises!! I still have 8 advent box goodies to open, so I know I’m all good while waiting for you to open shop again. Mental health & self care are way more crucial!! Take care & sending potato hugs! 🤣
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Elzette on
Helen, I come back to your site almost thrice a week if not more to check if you are open again, and I know it is only because your videos and passion you put into your creations are so special and people want to be part of that. It is indeed unprecedented to temporarily close a shop due to higher demands than planned, but let me tell you a thing or two about that. No one wakes up on any given morning and decides, “mhmmm, let me see how non-proactive I can be about my shop” lol. You are having a very good problem. You should celebrate this one and not feel guilty!!! I am an Industrial Psychologist who did my baseline in normal psychology before specialising in Industrial. I have worked in multi nats and can write books about productivity and the psychology in it…I understand the guilt, anxieties, self doubt and ambitions that you often chatter about so so well and have the deepest empathy for how real they are and how illogical they often feel. But, I have listened to your videos and watch them more than any other planning channel. Your authenticity, brave vulnerability and unapologetic love and passion for your creations are what brings me back each time as I am sure it does most others. Between yourself and Planning with K, I got inspired to also start my channel and chase my creative dreams. I have never met you in person, but my experience and inspiration I get from your humble channel and creations is like the time one spends with a special friend where you can just be you and love what you do. It is like you give one this whole world to vicariously dream and live through. I have learned this creative planning world holds much more to it psychologically than many can begin to realise and it is a wonderful world. I don’t think you even realise how many lives you touch and how many people you inspire by just being humbly, authentic, ok to be my messy and polished self you. Please don’t feel guilty. We will keep coming back to check when you are up and going again and I am loving the videos and updates. It fuels me in my own busy days and I especially find joy in seeing your business grow so much. You bring hope and inspiration. Thank you for YOU, and you just keep doing you. It is so so awesome these blessings, growths, learnings and inspirations. All the best!!!
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Tracey on
Keep us updated on how you are doing. You have been working so hard. I appreciate all of your doodles. They are cute and make one smile. Daily Journaling is a pleasure with doodle smiles. Be well stay safe. Return soon as you can, but SELF-CARE is a must. For the the love of coffee and doodles. Bless you Helen
(Family too)
Hi, I pray you are doing well and your holidays have been amazing! I will be a new customer when you open back up and I am beyond excited to get to know you and be able to enjoy all of the amazing stickers and products you offer. I am a planner fanatic, but again I am fairly new at it and so wish I became one sooner lol. I have managed to get quite the collection in the 6 months I have been going at this full force lol. I buy in bulk that’s why. I get excited and have to have it. The emoji with the heart eyes is so me when it comes to stickers especially these ones. I really admire what you did and why you did it and you should not feel guilty. You spoke up and you were very honest with all of us and that takes a lot of courage. You have to do what’s best for you mentally and physically and what’s best for your family. We will be here when you are ready. I pray you and your family have an amazing Christmas and new year. I will keep checking in as my memory is awful and I do not want to miss your comeback 😉 I am so excited to eventually get to be part of TheCoffeeMonsterzCo 😁 Well wishes to you, your family and crew and Happy Holidays to all.