Running a small business is one of the most beautiful, exhausting, fulfilling, and terrifying things a person can do. CHAP‑OH has brought me joy, purpose, and a community I never imagined I’d be part of. I love what this brand stands for. I love the good it brings. I love the people who believe in it with me.
But loving something doesn’t make it easy.
There are days when sales are low, bills pile up, and the pressure feels like it’s sitting right on my chest. I’m not the type to chase people down for a sale or beg for attention. I’ve always believed that CHAP‑OH should grow because people feel something when they see it — not because I’m shouting into the void hoping someone hears me.
Still, low sales are dangerous. They make you question yourself. They make you wonder if you’re doing enough, or doing too much, or doing it wrong. They make staying positive a challenge, even when you know deep down that your brand has value and your mission matters.
And that’s where I’ve been lately: in that uncomfortable space between belief and fear.
The Lifeline That Came at the Right Time
One thing I’m incredibly grateful for is the Facebook community that has grown around CHAP‑OH. Over 25,000 of you — twenty‑five thousand — show up, engage, support, and care. Because of that, I’ve been able to join the monetization program, and it has genuinely helped me keep things afloat.
But monetization isn’t free money. It’s hours of filming, editing, posting, planning, and creating — every single day. It’s a second full‑time job layered on top of the first one. It covers expenses, and I’m thankful for that, but it also takes a lot of personal time and energy.
I haven’t really been able to enjoy any of that income for myself yet. I haven’t taken a breath and said, “This is for me.” And I want to. I need to. I think I deserve to.
Why I’m Sharing This
This isn’t a goodbye. This isn’t giving up. This is me being human.
This is me saying that running a small business is hard, even when you love it. This is me saying that I’m doing everything I can to keep CHAP‑OH alive — including continuing our $500 donations, which mean the world to me and to the people they help. This is me saying that I’m proud of what I’ve built, but I’m also tired, and I’m asking for a little grace while I navigate this chapter.
If you’ve ever run a small business, you know this feeling. If you’ve ever supported one, you’re part of the reason we keep going.
What Comes Next
I’m going to keep creating. I’m going to keep showing up. I’m going to keep pushing for CHAP‑OH to grow again. I’m going to keep donating. And I’m going to keep believing in the brand that started with nothing but a dream.
But I’m also going to let myself feel the hard days instead of pretending they don’t exist.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for supporting me. Thank you for supporting CHAP‑OH. This community truly means the world to me, and I hope this post helps you understand where I’m at — and why I’m still fighting for this brand with everything I have.