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What are some of the obstacles you ran into? The obstacles are
numerous. Finding appropriate insurance (both health insurance and business
insurance) was time consuming. Finding the appropriate business partners
(lawyer, accountant, networks, etc.) is obviously more difficult for a niche
market than a mainstream market. We have also had obstacles in our relationship.
When you suddenly change the working environment and schedule of one partner,
then both partners need to adjust. This meant revisiting our roles in the
relationship and also defining them in the business. This is an ongoing obstacle
but one that we are happy to have the opportunity to deal with together. One has to accept that there are not enough hours in the day and to prioritize what you’re doing. It is amazing the amount of time that I spend on administrative work instead of actually marketing or selling. My products are all handmade and packaged by me. Spending two hours a day on the phone with insurance or creating a brochure causes me to work longer or later than usual to actually make the products. Another upcoming obstacle is the FDA Globalization Act of 2008. This act would suddenly require FDA oversight of the cosmetics industry (which has been self regulated for eons) and lots of registration fees. Many cottage industries can’t afford the registration fees (2K to 12K annually) and the new paperwork requirements. If this act should pass, we will have to revisit our ability to remain in the industry (as it is defined). If you want to support small or local business making natural bath and body products, please notify your congress-person that you do not and will not support this act!hhttp://www.fdalawblog.net/fda_law_blog_hyman_phelps/2008/04/fda-globalizati.html |
