Hello notebook-loving friends!
It's been a long time since I have been able to post any updates about the shop and as we are coming up to the end of year / Christmas period when I usually close the Novel Notes shop for a couple of weeks (the shop will be closed from Saturday 16th until Sunday 31st December 2023), I thought now would be a good time to let you know what's been happening and what the future might look like for the shop.
I'm sure that most of us have felt the effects of economic changes and rising prices in recent years. Small businesses, especially those that want to continue selling ethical products and services, are lucky if they are able to stay afloat. I have never been willing to compromise the founding principles of Novel Notes which were to use only sustainable, vegan materials, and eco-friendly, ethical manufacturing methods. Unfortunately as someone with a disability and limited resources, and the sole person keeping this business going, it has become difficult to justify the time, energy, and money involved in promotion, production, and business administration for Novel Notes while also trying to survive.
It is upsetting to acknowledge this, as Novel Notes began as a way to keep myself busy and feel like I was making a small difference in some way, during a time when I wasn't able to do much else at all. Making the tools for creativity and productivity helped me to be more creative and productive whilst hopefully helping you to do the same. I have learnt a lot about how to run a business, work with manufacturers and even collaborating with competitors in order to introduce high quality ethical goods to the market. I can be proud of these achievements while also accepting that now something has to change.
I am hoping not to have to give up on Novel Notes completely so although there will still be the option of ordering from the NovelLovesNotes Etsy shop, the www.NovelNotes.co.uk website will need to be shut down to reduce costs. I will need to focus on selling all existing stock while rethinking the business plan and Novel Notes brand. As most of the subscribers to the Novel mailing list have come from the website, please let me know if you do not wish to continue getting mail from me about Novel Notes or related projects after the website is shut down. You can also unsubscribe directly on the website yourself. If you would like to continue following Novel Notes in other ways, you can do so on Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram. The Etsy shop will remain open while stocks last. Please visit the shop and click ❤️ / Follow Shop so that you can easily find Novel Notes again, and to get in-app notifications on Etsy.
If you would like to support the work that I do in other ways, please consider sharing my graphic design website (www.alexmakes.co) with anyone that may be interested in working with an ethical graphic designer on creative projects, sharing resources and ideas, or building business connections.
Thank you for all of your support so far. It has been incredible to hear from others that are passionate about sustainable stationery, ethical consumerism and production. Thanks to all those that have given Novel Notes 5-star status on Etsy, and for all those wonderful reviews! I am so pleased to have been able to serve you all to the best of my ability, use my skills to make a small positive difference, and to feel encouraged by the support to keep working towards the important goals that many of us share. Whether it is by ordering through Novel Notes, or any other business, I hope that we can continue to grow awareness about sustainable, vegan options that reduce the harm done to the environment, wildlife, and vulnerable human populations. If you're reading this, I'm sure I am preaching to the choir, so I will just end here with a big thank you for being awesome and I hope we can stay in touch.
See you around!
-Alex
P.S. check out the CHRISTMASCLEAROUT sale now on until the shop closes for Christmas on Friday 15th December until 31st December. 20% off all refills, and 'Asemic' handpainted covers now only £20.