I can't tell you how many times I have sat down and begin to write an update on the past few months...nearly a year later I'm trying again!
I am going to write pretty openly in the hope that it can give anyone a little bit of courage or belief to keep going especially for people who want to take the leap and set up their own business or are generally having a really shitty time!
In November 2019 The Ginger Jungle made it to her first year (yay) and oh boy what a year that was! Full of some real epic highs and on a personal level the toughest year of my life. I am SOOOO excited about what I have planned for 2020 and the future of the GJ but before I share that I want to go back a few steps...
Back in the day...
I'm not trained in any type of business studies nor was my schooling very good..... I failed all my GCSE's, badly bullied and really struggled academically! Being dyslexic didn't help and I was told countless times by my teachers that I wouldn't count for much...(sound familiar?)
Even though this wasn't great at the time I sincerely do believe this is where my determination and fire comes from. Now I call my dyslexia my superpower as it allows me and many others alike to see things in different and amazing ways. (yes, I still get my left and right muddled and frustratingly I can't pronounce most of the botanical names but hey ho) It's only now in my 30's that I acknowledge this, it's taken me a long time to overcome such negativity and self-doubt, and although it still affects me, I think it always will, but watching The Ginger Jungle grow has given me a real taste of self-achievement and my self-confidence is slowly blooming.
At this point, it was halfway through Summer 2019 and approaching my second rare plant launch. The feedback from the plant community was excellent and business was going well enough for me to start cutting back on my other business as a dog trainer. My goal was to stop the dog training in August and just focus on The Ginger Jungle, in the hope to move my little business out of my then home. I couldn't wait as I was working 14 hour days between both the dogs and the plants. My hard work started to feel like it was paying off and I was ecstatic to be able to focus on the GJ. Then August arrives and a bombshell hits, my x partner of 14 years suddenly tells me it's over! Walking away from my then life was really hard and anyone that has had to deal with heartbreak will understand the pain and grief you have to go through. I had to put The Ginger Jungle back on hold and continue working with my doggies in order to maintain an income. The next few months honestly were a blur I have no idea how I continued to run two business in the state of mind I was in, luckily the realisation came quickly that I was better off without him... Lizzo "good as hell" springs to mind lol
I am so grateful for the support during that time and having you guys there unknowingly keeping me going was a real blessing! I was umming and ahhing about writing any of this but it's all apart of my ginger jungle journey and it's why things have taken a little longer, but also brings me closer to my next chapter...
2020 New year welcomes a new me...oh and a world pandemic...
Well, we all weren't expecting this where we! I never in my life thought I would have to write up a pandemic plan, then close down two businesses and I still don't know what day it is! Jokes aside since March is been crazy and I am thankful I was able to start the shop back up again, not many of you know that I have been running the ginger jungle out of my little flat in Fulking (yes this is actually a place) I am currently having to pack all your orders outside or in my little shed. The business is now growing so much, bringing me onto my next bit of exciting news eeeek!
Big news...
Next month I am finally moving The Ginger Jungle out of my home into a business premises, nearly a year behind schedule! which is currently having a bit of a makeover and I can't tell you how excited I am! It's a beautiful space not far from my home. I also have Three new team members joining me this week! Ashlee (Smashly) Kara and Hayley! This means I will have the time and space to find more plant varieties, cut down mine and the customer's costs, collaborate with other local businesses, make connections with like-minded people and push the Ginger forward in life.
I can't thank you all enough for making this all possible and I can't wait to share my next part of my journey with you.