Hello from Simply Vibrant, and welcome to the start of our long-awaited blog. I am Melyssa, the owner and founder of Simply Vibrant Liverpool. Let me introduce myself..
My small business journey started during the pandemic. I had my first son in December 2019, and we went into lockdown in March 2020. For many, lockdown was challenging; I was on maternity leave with my 3-month-old baby, and my husband, who is immunosuppressed, was in complete isolation. I personally struggled with this situation, developing a genuine fear of Covid while living with a very vulnerable husband and a newborn. We didn't leave the house for an entire year. On the positive side, I turned to painting as a way to cope and stay busy, leading to the creation of Melyssa Makes. I began painting and decoupaging plant pots at a time when everyone was indoors and becoming interested in gardening, and my small maternity business really took off. I found myself in a position where I didn't have to return to my job as a mental health care worker, as the idea of being a 'key worker' with an immunosuppressed husband and a baby was daunting. Looking back, it's incredible what we all went through and how Covid has shaped the lives we lead today.
Have you ever bought a plant pot from Melyssa Makes? It was my initial passion as a small business owner, and I cherished every moment of it. After the lockdown ended, I gradually began participating in my first craft markets, which was a truly enlightening experience. The small business community in Liverpool is incredibly wonderful. Everyone supports one another and their ventures, making it easy for me to feel right at home.
By 2022, I finally took the leap and opened my own physical store, now called Simply Vibrant! Realizing that a shop dedicated only to selling plant pots wouldn't thrive, I decided to offer local small businesses the opportunity to rent space in the store to sell their products. This was fantastic, as it allowed me to support all the wonderful businesses that had supported me through the market seasons during Covid. On July 2nd, my small shop officially opened, marking the beginning of the journey I am on today.
Simply Vibrant had a very different appearance in its early days. I hadn't fully refined my brand or determined precisely what Simply Vibrant represented. However, after considerable introspection, I chose to steer my business towards what I cherished most. Holding a MSc in Health Psychology, I utilized that passion and expertise to transform Simply Vibrant into its current form. This is why you'll discover offerings such as our Wellbeing journal and gratitude journal, all authored and designed by me.
Check out the links to our wellbeing journals below
I cherished our little Seaforth store, but after two years of getting by, the overwhelming rise in energy costs and nursery fees (£64 per day per child, and I have two! That's a rant for another time) led me to finally close it and relocate my business to the incredible Red Brick Market. Red Brick is an extraordinary place and truly a lifeline for me and my business. Have you ever visited? Situated in the Baltic Triangle, it's a vast warehouse packed with hundreds of local small businesses. There are small wall spaces and full shops inside; we opted for a full shop. It's essentially a miniature version of our wonderful Seaforth store, and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out! Moving here has allowed me to reduce my expenses, while giving me time to concentrate on Simply Vibrant Markets, now my second business. But that can be a blog for another day, don't want to bore you too much! Nice to finally introduce myself to you all.
Would you like to read more about Simply Vibrant & life as a small business owner?
No I am not interested
Yes I would love to
Commenti