Hi book besties!!
It's been such a long time and I wanted to come back and share how I created this cute bookish business with a load of handmade book merch!
🥤 2020 - Lockdown 🥤
Like everyone else, I was stuck in my house due to the lockdown and I needed a creative outlet. Small businesses were popping up all over the place and I knew that I could do it too, so I lost my gosh-darn mind and spent a small fortune on a Cricut machine and a load of t-shirts on a whim. Yep, Manor and Breeze was originally a t-shirt business!
I loved those designs so much and sold a few, but my heart wasn't in it.
Starbucks cups were HUGE so I decided to customise them and put them up on Etsy. They became a HUGE part of the business.
🛍️ 2023 - The Event Season 🛍️
When I realised that I wasn't going to let this business idea thing go, I started doing events. I did one small event in Coventry and signed up to the Simply Christmas show at the NEC. I know, I had such trust in my business that I paid £860 for a 4 day event.
I packed my little Fiat 500 with custom Starbucks cups, colourful tote bags and positive sweatshirts and set up shop. I hardly sold a thing that first day. Over the next couple of days, I would get close the stall, run to IKEA for a little something to make my stall more 'me' and then head back to do it all again.
The stall that I packed up on Sunday wasn't the stall that I created on the Thursday, and I was so incredibly proud of putting myself out there. I made a loss for that event, but I got the bug!
I ended 2023 with a £100 loss, but that's not bad for my first year of events!
🌸 2024 - The Pivot Season 🌸
This was the year that I locked in to what Manor and Breeze actually needed to be.
I wanted to create some bookish products but was worried that they wouldn't sell. I signed up to StationeryFest and actually made a profit! That's when I knew that I could embrace my nerd and turn M+B into the colourful bookish business I wanted, so I signed up for Book Extravaganza.
My goodness!
I made £700. That's when I knew that my passion for books could be shared with the country through my small business. I signed up for the rest of the Book Extravaganza events and finished the year with £2000 profit. Craziness.
💭 2025 - The Year of Building Blocks 💭
2025 is the year that I'm making moves.
I have monthly product launches with a different theme each month, I'm able to support indie authors with my mystery book bundles, and I have a range of cute bookish accessories for every sort of reader.
I even bought myself a Kindle! Yep, I'm a Kindle girly now 💛
I'm writing this on 17th June and I've already surpassed last year's profit. I can't even believe I get to say that, and it's all because the book lovers united to support this little Birmingham business.
🔮 What's Next for Manor and Breeze 🔮
I have finalised the markets for the rest of this year and I'm so flipping excited to share the new designs with you. So come and see me at:
21st June - Book Extravaganza, Lichfield
28th June - Book Bonanza, Liverpool
25th August - Book Bonanza, Bearwood
7th September - Liverpool Book Festival
11th October - Black Country Book Con
18th October - Book Extravaganza, Market Harborough
1st November - Book Extravaganza, Lichfield
14th - 17th November - Festive Gift Fair, NEC Birmingham
And I have some BIG plans for the business. I'd love to open a pop-up shop for Christmas but the logistics with the Festive Gift Fair may make that tricky, but I can't wait to see how this small business grows over the last 6 months of the year.
Thanks for coming along for the ride!
Naomi xo
