Somewhere between running around, changing nappies and putting a baby to sleep, I finally got the chance to write this. No. I am not a Mom. I am only the Aunt. Self-employed, 23 year old, winging life. Fortunate to spend every day of my entire life with my sister.
Honestly. I have been staring at the screen for minutes now, putting all of this into words, and I better get going. In the next hour there will be little hands, and feet, all over my laptop.
Little Woodpecker - established by Yolandi in 2014. A fear to be average, the need to be successful and the love for people have kept this going for the past 4 years.
The past few months have been a bumpy ride. 20 November 2018, our Dad passed away. 19 February 2018 Jordan Lee was born. Between taking rain checks, postponing meetings, attending family events and understanding a newborn, we felt awkwardly inspired.
Awkwardly inspired to get Little Woodpecker into more stores. We know rejection, we know struggle, but we sure know persistence. We honestly had such pure laughter walking from shop to shop. Life is way too short to be serious and stiff all the time anyway!
By accident, purpose, as always – we ended the day in a kiddies store and felt a little bit too inspired. Throughout the 9 months decorating Jordan’s room, we fell completely in love with the woodlands theme. Pun has played a very important role in our childhood. Suddenly we felt quite clever in this baby-world. (As clever as a fox.)
It was time to put on out big girl shoes and make this work. Our first attempt was getting our first pair of Jordan Lee Leather booties on our page.
This is where it all started; at the drop of a hat, we jumped in the car, made our way to a material shop, more clueless than ever. The decision-making process was no bed of roses. Should we do black and white, go neutral. Wait. What material do we use for a bib? By far the most interesting learning curve in a long time.
Not to mention patterns. Oh patterns. That is another blog on its own.
Let me end by saying, Little Fox will be going places, maybe dwell in the woods, but definitely places. Come, and join us in this adventure!
I told you. A little inspiration goes a long way – Little Fox then changed into Olli and Rose (Pty) Ltd.
The above was written in 2019, with so much confidence and so unsure at that time, and who would have ever known at that specific day, how life would have moulded and shaped us into what we are today.
Now, writing this as a 27-year-old, with so much more knowledge, patters don’t scare me anymore, I stare rejection in the eye and see it as opportunity, I know my materials, my leather and every single day is a new day filled with learning, to be bigger and better!
I love selling because I’m confident in my product. I love to explain all my products to my clients, because I know exactly what I am selling.
Our range has changed into a full range of leather items as we decided to sell a long-lasting item that will last our clients a lifetime.
We have been very scared and vulnerable, and we made it right through a world pandemic.
In 2022 we have moved into our first premises, ever. (Now we have new little hands over our laptop – again!)
The only way that we can live, is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed.
DREAMS DON’T WORK UNLESS YOU DO – we love having you here, let’s see what life has in store for the next few years!