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How Do I Know if It’s Time to Quit?

by Donna Jadis.
(Antioch, CA)

This past weekend was about the WORST show I’ve had since I started my business, more than 10 years ago.

I’ve watched the same show decrease in gross sales for me every year that I’ve done it (about 5 years, now, I think.)

This year was half of last year’s gross and a mere pittance towards my costs for going there.

How do I figure out if it’s time to quit?

I’ve had a very loose definition of ‘successful’ for shows since I started because mine is a hobby business and “sell jewelry, buy more beads” was the “success” I sought… it’s mostly worked, but not if I really make a strict accounting of all costs involved in doing a show, any individual show.

I KNOW I have an audience. There are people who find me each year at shows I return to, they’re looking for me because they like my work.

Some years they buy big, others, not so much.

How do I know if it’s time to quit?

Quitting would be hard because I have huge inventory of supplies… and because I LOVE my creative process and outlet.

I just wonder and doubt myself after weekends like this past… is this worth doing?

Who else has struggled with this? Have you quit? Have you figured out a way, method, rationale to keep your business going?

Thanks!

Donna Jadis
Artisans at Mooseworks