What a Ride It’s Been!
It’s been a while since I’ve written a blog post. Not for not trying! I’ve just been busy. If you’ve been following us, you know last summer saw Sun Potions get picked up by four different retailers, all in Texas. Since February 2025 we’ve added 11 retailers to that list and out first chain retailer! Additionally, I’ve written a few articles for Beachcombing Magazine and been invited to be a vendor at a few upcoming festivals (more about this in later blogs/social media posts). As we’ve grown this summer, we’ve also had some lessons & learnings. The journey’s fun & exciting but at times, frustrating. Here’s a few musings I’ve been kicking around the top paddock.
As Your Brand Grows, There’s More Pressure to Sacrifice Quality
Sun Potions was founded on the idea and belief that everyone deserves high quality, sustainable, and transparent products. As sales volume increases and economic troubles loom, it seems like using cheaper ingredients is an easy solution. But it’s not an easy solution. It’s a ruse because sacrificing quality means sacrificing our principles and it’s just not worth it to make a few extra bucks. I’d rather provide our customers & retailers with high quality, sustainable products and grow at a slower rate than make a few extra bucks in the short term. And I think this approach leads to more growth later on. Maybe it’s slower than I’d like but that’s the course and I’m sticking to it!
Organic Growth Feels Stagnant Sometimes
Even on our biggest weeks, I feel like I should be selling more product, gaining more followers, cold calling more retailers, etc. It’s hard to not get caught up in numbers and metrics, especially in E-Commerce. As we scroll through social media we’re constantly bombarded by accounts that have hundreds of thousands of followers. But are their products created and designed with sustainability and health in mind? Maybe or maybe not. I guess it depends on the brand. Building a community of people that believes in sustainable living isn’t about a follower count or a massive email list. It’s about relationships and fostering a sense of trust and brand authenticity. The growth is just a byproduct of authenticity, not a metric to aim for.
Sometimes You Have to Go Down to Go Back Up
A good friend said this several years ago on a hike through Badlands National Park. We were watching a family struggle to ascend a section of butte. On their current line, they couldn’t go up unless they first went down and across to a less eroded path. He said it in passing, and in the moment, it was hella funny. But looking back, the metaphor is applicable to growing a small business. Sometimes you have to hit pause on certain things (like writing blog posts) or pivot altogether in order to keep ascending. As long as you keep the big picture in mind, you’ll end up on top.