Success. Failure. Struggle. In business. I’ve walked that walk! And built a worldwide business from broke.
Life Behind The Scenes With The Ironing Diva
The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover And Other Goodies is the hook I hang my business hat on. This accidental, rural business, is a dream come true. One of the highlights of my life. This is my journey through the roller coaster world of business. And the choices I make in how to run my dream of a lifetime.
~Carol Jones, Ironing Diva❤
Business Is A Tough Gig. Courage. And Discipline.
There are many scary things in life.
Moving out of our parents home. And starting a life of our own.
Our first real job as an adult.
Our first really important relationship with a significant other.
Our first child.
Our first home mortgage.
Our first trip overseas by ourselves.
Starting our own business.
These are all benchmark decisions.
Some are made on a whim.
And some are made with deep and serious thought.
In all the above scenarios, we never really know what’s before us until we dip our toes into the water.
Sometimes we’re pleasantly surprised.
And sometimes we’re bitterly disappointed at the outcome.
And much depends on how disciplined we are.
And how courageous we are.
There is nothing in life worth having that doesn’t require both courage. And discipline.
Children test their parents all the time. Their job is to push boundaries. And push the buttons of tolerance on their parents.
It’s the job of parents to have the courage. And discipline. To keep refining the boundaries their children require.
Relationships require constant monitoring. They ebb. And flow. And courage is needed to get through the hard times. And discipline is needed to make sure the relationship stays on an even keel.
Taking on a mortgage requires the discipline of budgeting. And the courage of knowing you can handle this burden for 25 years.
Running a small business is an act of courage. And discipline.
There is no set wage. No set revenue coming in every day. No fall back without financial backing as a safety net when there is a downturn.
Every day is a new day. And it takes discipline to get through the tasks that need to be done each day. To keep a business moving forward.
And courage to do the hard tasks. Like cold calling. Asking people who don’t know you to do business with you.
Businesses don’t fail because of lack of funding.
They fail because not enough people know what the business does. So they can’t do business – with that business.
Most people who start a business hate cold calling. These days it’s called interruption marketing.
But you know what. If I didn’t cold call, my business would be dead in the water.
When we first established The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover And Other Goodies in 1994, we had two choices.
Go the retail route. And wholesale. Which I detest.
Or get on the road and spruik anywhere. And everywhere. We could set up a microphone and demonstrate our signature product. The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover.
The first time I demonstrated the Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover was at the Wagga Wagga Agricultural Show. In NSW. It was our first show. In 1994. All my partner, Victor Pleshev, the architect who designed the Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover for his mother, and I could see were people walking past our exhibit. Nodding. And not stopping.
I was terrified of no sales.
And terrified of spruiking.
Terrified of no sales won. And I started spruiking.
After my first demonstration. Without a microphone. We sold our first 5 covers. On one demonstration.
In the blink of an eye, we had all the necessary microphones and speakers and other audio paraphernalia to spruik professionally.
From 1994. To 2008. Victor and I put 60,000 kilometres a year on our car. Going to any exhibit where we could set up our audio gear. And spruik.
This is how we built up our business.
When we retired our exhibition equipment in 2008. And put the car keys on a hook. The wheels of our car did a little jig.
The online business we established in 2001 was growing. And could now sustain us without having to travel.
But I continue to cold call today. Not personal customers. But institutions. Who I firmly believe will benefit from knowing about how wonderful the Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover is. For them.
I had a big win today.
Customers constantly complain to me about the poor quality of ironing board covers in hotels. Especially 5 star hotels. To put it bluntly, they are shabby. Much like ironing on baggy underpants.
I’ve been cold calling to hotels for what seems like an eternity. But I am determined to never give up. Because it matters to guests who iron that they have quality ironing board covers on the boards in rooms.
And after what seems like endless emails. And phone calls.
I got my first order today from a hotel.
It takes courage. And discipline. To pursue what’s hard to do. And get.
But when the win comes. It’s ever so sweet.
Can you see me smiling?
Now. I have a track record with hotels. And the next phase will be so much easier!
Courage. Discipline. You get nowhere without them.
Develop these attributes. Because they’re you’re best friends for whatever you want to achieve.
~Carol Jones, Ironing Diva❤
Please share this post with your friends and family. This is how you help us grow.
Sign up for my Tips & Tricks Newsletter.
Designers & makers in RURAL Australia of The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover, Log Lugger, Roadworks Apron, Travel Bug Shoe Bag,
Mr Chin’s Laundry Bag, Sweet Shoo.
Every product is a joy to use.
