I'm Giving Up

I'm giving up. It has been exactly six months since I opened the doors to my physical media store here in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A lot has happened, but the stark reality is setting in: if this business is going to survive, I need help. Every day, I hear the rumors. I see the empty storefronts and the recent closures. The "retail apocalypse" isn't just a buzzword for a YouTube video; it's the physical backdrop of my daily life. Running and gunning completely alone: opening, closing, filming videos, editing, cleaning items, pricing, and handling all customer service... it all finally brought me to a breaking point several weeks ago. The immense pressure to do everything, compounded by the realization that spreading myself so thin meant I wasn't doing any of it particularly well. This led to an incredibly difficult decision I've made. I simply cannot keep doing it alone. So, I'm giving up. And taking on support to help ensure that the next phase of this shop sets it up for a healthy life well beyond the next several months. Trust the process. #CedarRapids #CedarRapidsIowa #LindaleMall #SmallBusiness #SmallBusinessOwner #Entrepreneur #Entrepreneurship