The Quiet Side of Running a Small Business

One thing people don’t always talk about when it comes to owning a small business is how quiet it can get.

The internet often shows the exciting parts:
packed orders,
viral videos,
sellout launches,
and the “I made six figures overnight” stories.

But behind many small businesses is a person refreshing their notifications hoping for a sale, wondering if they’re wasting their time, and trying to stay motivated when things feel discouraging.

Truthfully, I haven’t had a sale since December.

And while that’s hard to admit out loud, I know I’m probably not alone in that feeling.

Running a small business means continuing to show up even when it feels like nobody is seeing your work. It means creating content when your motivation is low, pouring love into your shop when engagement drops, and trying not to compare your beginning to someone else’s chapter twenty.

There are moments where it’s tempting to give up completely.

But then I remember why I started Lit & Lovely in the first place.

I wanted to create something cozy, beautiful, and meaningful for fellow readers — a space where stories come to life outside the pages of a book. Something that felt personal in a world that often feels mass-produced and rushed.

Every bookmark, sticker, keychain, and package represents time, creativity, and hope. Even when orders are slow, the dream behind this business is still very real to me.

If you’ve ever supported a small business — whether through an order, a like, a comment, or even sharing a post — please know it matters more than you probably realize. For many of us, those small moments of support are what keep us going.

And if you’re another small business owner struggling quietly behind the scenes:
I see you.

You’re not failing because growth is slow.
You’re building something in a very hard economy and an incredibly crowded online space. That takes courage.

So for now, I’m choosing to keep going.
To keep creating.
To keep believing there’s still room for small, heartfelt businesses like this one.

And if you’re here reading this — thank you for being part of that story.

— Lit & Lovely
Where stories come to life.