The last few years have been incredible, exhausting, life changing, and so many other things. They have been a lot. Of course we all know that social media only portrays a fraction of what is really happening behind the scenes for us. Becoming a mom, navigating the pandemic, growing our business and launching our housewares line, and then opening the barn up for monthly markets… it has been a season of shaping, growing, and inevitably pruning.
Becoming a mom has been the most joyful and rewarding experience of my life. Our daughter is our world, and every important choice we make now is for her future. Being a small business, the choices we make for our business do personally affect our lives.
When my husband and I opened and expanded the online shop a few years ago, it was in just the right time of our lives. It was a huge blessing to our growing family, and we felt like we were doing exactly what was best for us at that time.
We now find ourselves in a different season in life. The reality of being a small business is that it really is just us running the ship. We do have the helping hands of friends and family when available, but in reality, I take on most of what you see here. It has been a load that is too heavy for me to carry. Something I have tried to push through, but found that ultimately something has to give.
Motherhood is my primary focus, in addition, since opening the barn we are discovering a new sense of community that has been a deep breath of fresh air. We have received surprisingly wonderful feedback on our markets, which continue to grow. They have been successful enough that I feel it is time for us to close the online shop. This was a very difficult decision to make, one that feels very much like we are going against the grain and what the world says success looks like. It is not a decision we have taken lightly, or made quickly. My goal has never been to be the most successful we can be financially, but to create something special that the world desperately needs. We are now experiencing a bit of this through our monthly markets and the community that is forming there.
The barn has given us a glimpse into the potential of what The Maple House Collective can be. It looks a little different than we first imagined, but it’s right on track with what we really want and need.
There are no plans to reopen the online shop. I don’t know what the future holds, and maybe at a different point in my life things could change. We hope this doesn’t make you feel sad, frustrated or annoyed, but rather I hope this emphasis the reality in that this is what it means to be an authentic small business.
We put so much thought into every choice because it personally affects us. The online shop has made me proud. I know that I have done my absolute best to offer a great experience and quality products which we will continue to carry in the barn.
As of Friday August 19th 2022, we will no longer be offering online shopping. All previous orders and preorders* will continue to be processed regardless of that closing date, and any shop credits remain valid. Our business is not going away, though online shopping will be. If you have any questions about this please don’t hesitate to reach out to us, as we will continue to function as a business though our online shop will close from that date on. For all other circumstances this is the final chance to order items from our online shop.
We will be turning our attention to in person shopping and bettering our overall customer experience. It is important to us to focus on quality by not spreading ourselves too thin.
I know that this change means the markets will get even better, but more importantly my personal quality of life in addition to my family’s will take priority.
Thank you for understanding and respecting that this is what works best for our family, and we do not need an alternative solution at this time. We will continue to share here, create images, collaborate, and even produce more video content which we have been itching to dig into.
There is so much I could say about all of this, but I will end with a thank you. Thank you to every person who has discovered us online, shopped, shared, emailed, posted reviews, been excited with us. This has been an incredible journey which has propelled us to this point of opening our brick & mortar. I encourage you (if you are able), to come visit our little town of Snohomish, WA. We would love to host you at our monthly markets at the barn.
You can view a list of places to stay and visit nearby on our Market page here. We will continue to share updates on social media and our website / journal. The Maple House Collective wouldn’t be here without you. Your support has meant so much to us over the years, and we know so many of you come to shop our markets as well which have been a real treat to meet you in person.
Thank you for your patronage, we look forward to seeing many of you at our monthly markets, take care!
