Help save & restructure our business!

Hello friends, thank you for taking the time to visit our fundraiser. My name is Stephanie and I started my business 6 years ago after battling postpartum depression. I was lost in pain and trauma and was on the verge of not wanting to live. I battled with depression my whole life and this was the worst it had ever been. I felt like a part of me was missing and that's when I impulsively decided to do something about it and start my first storefront with my 5 month old baby in tow. Finally, I was in love with life again.

Opening my first store was the scariest, craziest and most amazing thing I ever did. The first year I had no employees, and it was just me and my baby boy running the shop. I fell in love with my amazing customers and community and with the hustle and grind of being a business owner. I loved curating a space to sell goods that put a smile on people's faces. I still love it more than ever. It's been a dream come true and has made me happy to set an example for my kids about the importance of chasing your dreams.

The years to follow were full of ups and downs. Covid was an exceptionally trying time yet, we persevered and took advantage of vacancies in other amazing locations. It was a risk, yet an opportunity I didn't want to pass up. Knowing we would eventually come out of Covid, I decided to at least try.

We bounced back after covid and had our new storefronts and I gained an amazing staff to help refine our brand. I am so grateful for them. However, when slow season hit us this past winter/spring we were hit hard. I couldn't keep up with the overhead and pay my employees who have loyally stood by my side. I was sickened about letting them down. I tried to obtain a standard business loan but was unable to get one without putting my home into the deal, which was not something I could risk with small children. I was stuck with no other option but to take a short-term loan with insane weekly payments. I've been paying these since last spring, which has left no extra cash to put away for the inevitable slow season approaching us this January-March. To top it off, sales are slower this year than last year and we have been struggling immensely. Inflation and the rising cost of goods has made things extremely tough. Our register was also robbed of all of its cash and things are looking more and more dim for our future. It is likely we will be facing closing up for good by the end of the year. If we could just pay down this loan to allow for lower payments, then we could gain stability.

I feel humiliated and embarrassed and I really don't like to ask for things like this. I just don't want to let my employees down or give up on this small business that I've put literal blood, sweat and tears into. This place that saved my soul and made me feel alive again. I would be crazy to give up without a fight. This place is my dream and all I can do is try my hardest to save it. I'm left here to just share and be honest and to hope for the best.

Any contribution to helping keep our little business alive is beyond appreciated! Regardless of what happens, from the bottom of my heart I am simply grateful for the years I've had getting to do this.

With all this being said, if we are able to save this business, I am committing to restructuring to be a more ethical, sustainable company that gives back. I can assure you, the same vibes of Little Piece Of My Heart will remain the same, but we would like to do our part by being something that helps our communities and planet as well. We would like to phase out some, if not all, of our fast fashion and focus on sustainable brands, vintage and recycled clothing. We will continue to carry products from small makers to support other people's small businesses. We would like to bring in Eco friendly products as well. Most importantly, we would like to start the new year off by contributing 1% off all our sales to a non-profit, local charity every quarter. When we are able to contribute more, we absolutely will! It is my intention to take this as an opportunity to change for the better, to learn and to grow. Thank you all for supporting my little business over the years. It is nothing without you. All the love and gratitude.