Holding our breath

I don't know how else to describe January...we suck in everything we possibly can...spend no money that is not essential for operations...and pray for nothing to break or sneak up on us.

Just for example, I accidentally was looking at our sales numbers and had it set to compare to the previous month instead of the previous year.  WOAH - that will tell you why we have to hold our breath in January. It said we were down 71% compared to the first 18 days of December. So if you can imagine operating your household with 71% of your income gone, that's what January is like.

Now we know January is coming. It happens every year. But what happened last year was a first for us. We drastically missed our 4th quarter projections. We could have a nice long talk over a cup of coffee to discuss the economic situation for small business in the United States, but the bottom line is that we have to adjust. Our 4th quarter was flat against last year, and our expenses continue to increase because the cost of everything has gone up. So what we needed to put back for January...that wasnt' there. We just barely made the other budget categories.

I have debated with myself all week about whether or not to give this information to our Prayer Partners. But this situation is just exactly why I am so grateful for you. When you come here every week intentionally caring about our artisans and our mission and you are willing to lift us up in prayer and faith to the One who holds us in His hands, well, I want this prayer warrior army storming heaven about this very subject.

We are not bringing this to Him without making a plan and working in wisdom. Of course, we ask that His will be done and if our plans are not His plans, interrupt and change our hearts.

Here is the plan and what we are asking for Him to bless and move on behalf of our artisans for the remainder of January:

1. Our Live Shopping launch on video tonight. We soft launched the website so we could get a little feedback and check to make sure all was working before bringing traffic with our video. We have also run ads on FB and Instagram to direct to our shopping page on our website. So tonight, we pray that we will have a HUGE crowd watching LIVE. And that they will be excited enough about our new collection to do some generous shopping tonight.
2. Ads for the new collection. You may have seen it if you've been on Facebook or Instagram. Please pray that it is served to women who will get involved by shopping and sharing.
3. Faire wholesale market. This is a big week for us. We launched the entire new spring collection because of this week. Please pray that our email campaigns to our stores and our leads would produce huge orders this week and lots of them. We pray that new stores try us because of the sales we and Faire run, and that our current stores reorder spring.

God gives us our very breath, and I am believing as I pray with you today that He has sustained us, and He knows the bills and wages that need to be paid. He started Alegria and He who began a good work in us will complete it.