In the week since we announced Lizzie Anne is closing, I've had my "business head" on and not really thinking about the fact we will really be gone. It finally hit me yesterday when somebody called me "Lizzie", and I realized that Lizzie will be no more. I've always loved my middle name and thought maybe I should just start going by Lizzie anyways so that I can keep calling myself by that name, ha ha. (Probably not though. ;)
This is not the first time I've had to close a business. Back before Lizzie Anne, I owned a scrapbooking and stamping store with my sister. As anyone in retail knows, owning a brick-and-mortar store is a lot of work, and we eventually decided it wasn't working for our families, so we had to close. My store was what inspired me to start a stamping business however. I have always been a stamp-lover, and I was ordering and carrying stamps from local businesses. I learned a lot about business and retailing and wholesaling through owning my store. After we closed, it wasn't too long before I called up Meridith and suggested we start a stamp design biz.
So I think now... what doors will be opened to me from the experiences I have gained by owning Lizzie Anne for the last five years? We have learned so much about the paper crafting business and about manufacturing, as well as the paper crafting community. I can't help to think that I'll be using all this knowledge I have gained in some way.
Lots of thoughts have been going through my head. Some of my goals for the future:
-Keep growing Pixel Remodel, my freelance web design business.
-Take some coding classes. I've been wanting to gear up and increase my coding skills and haven't had a lot of time to do that until now.
-Start painting again. I love watercolors, and it's something I haven't had a lot of time for.
-Continue with my scrapbooking and card making.
-Explore opportunities for new creative work. This could mean a lot of things. It could mean more web design freelance, or even stamp illustration for other companies. Not sure, but I'm keeping open to new possibilities.
Long term... I would really love to be a high school art teacher. I had a wonderful art teacher in high school who encouraged me to major in art / graphic design in college. Without her I doubt I would have done it. I'd love to be this kind of influence in other kid's lives. This is a goal for the future as I still have little kiddos at home and it will most likely require some graduate schooling. But I like to plan ahead. ;)
As sad as I am to be closing a door on something I loved so dearly, I am also excited about the new adventures that may be lying ahead. As you can see from my list above, I'm most always doing something creative. It's what I do. And I've always been one for adventure.
