As I sit here checking off the last few orders for 2012, I'm breathing a sigh of relief and counting the many blessings that have come my way. What an amazing Christmas season it's been! We have fulfilled almost 200 orders since the end of October - I'm blown away by your support!
My Early Bird Special kicked off this busy season with many of you taking advantage of the extra discount on Christmas cards. I then participated in Christmas Village here in Nashville which was a huge success! My very favorite part of this show is meeting many of my local customers face-to-face who normally conduct business with me through email and over the phone. It's such a treat for me to establish more of a relationship with my customers, and I want to thank those of you who stopped by to
introduce yourselves!
Beth Hart Designs went on the road the following week to the Junior League's Market in Birmingham, Alabama. This was a smaller show, but I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of support and business that we received - it too was a very successful market! I was blown away by the warm hospitality that the Junior League showed by helping us unload and load our displays & merchandise, by cooking amazing food for the merchant break room, by walking around to our booths offering food, drink, or relief for a short break, and by greeting people with a warm smile and a true volunteer spirit.
These shows would not have been a success without the helping hands of my husband, my parents, and my sweet friends. These events are a huge under-taking, and I could not have done it without them. "Thank you" seems so very insufficient for the gratitude that I feel!
Following these Christmas markets, my parents were gracious to host an Open House where I was able to sell more of my merchandise and visit with some dear friends who have meant so much to my family. Kim Hudson of Local Color Art Prints also brought some of her beautiful landscape and architecture photographs to sell at the Open House. It was a wonderful night, and I'm very grateful for the friends who came and my parents for hosting!
As the orders were rolling in and the work hours were becoming longer and longer, I'd be telling a fib if I said I wasn't overwhelmed. There were moments when I wondered if I could really get it all done, moments when I had to repeatedly apologize to customers for the longer-than-normal turn around times, moments when I was worn completely out, moments when I thought the whole world had decorated for Christmas while my fall wreath was still on the front door, and moments when I wished I had more time to spend with my husband, family and friends.
Then there were the precious moments when I was reminded of the real Reason for the Season, moments when I was overcome with thankfulness and gratitude for the support of my little business, moments when tears of joy flooded my face because of the blessings I know I have received, moments when my heart was warmed because of the beauty that comes with this time of the year. These moments presented themselves at the perfect times - once at the Women's Christmas Dinner at church when we quietly sang "Silent Night" a-cappella, once at Dickens of a Christmas in downtown Franklin when little children wished me a sweet "Merry Christmas," once when a customer took extra time out of her day to let me know how much her Christmas cards meant to her and how much she loved them, once when Joyce at my printing company spent extra hours to complete a very large round of orders for me, and once on a Sunday morning when we sang "Great is Thy Faithfulness."
I cannot express how appreciative I am for your business and support of Beth Hart Designs. I absolutely love what I do - no matter how overwhelmed I may feel - and I owe it to you for keeping me busy and allowing me to live out my business dreams! I am giddy with excitement for the new designs, merchandise and over-all changes that 2013 will bring! (And I will be looking to hire some part-time help next Christmas in order to shorten those turn-around times!)
I am taking some time off to celebrate this season with my family and friends. Beth Hart Designs will reopen on January 2nd with a renewed spirit and energy for the new year! I hope you find those precious moments this season to remind you of why we celebrate Christmas. The Gift that came so long ago is still the greatest gift of all. May you find joy, love and peace that surpasses all understanding this Christmas and throughout the new year!
