New Packaging Regulations for outside the UK

New packaging regulations are making EU and international shipping harder for small businesses like mine.

Corporations do not notice. Their costs get swallowed up, they have legal departments, they have offices all over the world, networks catering just for them with huge budgets.

Here in the studio in Dorset It is just lil' old me, making one off pieces, definitely not mass produced (not even my clothing and accessories I don't make much on that I just do it because I love it) - and you know I'll never do that (mass produce I mean - not the jewellery).  It's not the way I work.  It's not what you are looking for either.

It's quite difficult to keep up with it all to be honest.

If you have your own small business you'll no doubt already be aware of these current and impending changes.  

In case you have 'missed the memo' they have been pinching us small businesses for some time now one way or another, what with new GSPR regulations, tariffs and the rest.

You will have noticed the rising postal costs and fees if you are not in the UK.  And I'm sorry for that, I really am.   

This is eating into small business costs, making it … challenging (I'm being polite).

Sometimes I have had to swallow a few of the extra costs myself (and I don't always tell you).  

But as with everything, there's a limit;  I won't be able to keep doing that.  

The cost of materials is increasing too! Only this morning I spotted yet another rise in something I can't do without to create what I make.

I'm sorry this isn't the usual uplifting note.  

But we have to keep things real.

Having said that, I feel a change coming, the clocks are turning (although I have been saying that for some time!)  that perhaps will improve things for us all.  However, it may also include something shocking too though.  We shall see, time will tell.

But if we all stick together, help each other out…

One small step at a time.

I appreciate each and every one of you so much.  Your support means everything.  I am grateful, always, for this, even if I don't always say it.

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As a future projection I am anticipating the possibility things may become quieter on FB than it already has become - many have been saying they will be leaving once there is the introduction of digital ID, making it sound like an impending mass exodus!

So, as a backup please do take a note of my Substack account, which I have just set up. 

It's free to join, and there are a few perks for paying subs, including discounts.  

It may seem a little complicated at first, but once you've got your head around it it's easy peasy.

It's quite over there right now, but I hope that will change.

If you'd like to join me there, here's the link:
https://substack.com/@elizabethsboutique

If you would like to find out more about the ins and outs of it first this is a good place to go (I've laid it all out so it's a bit more obvious, for those of you who are not familiar with Substack):
https://elizabethsboutique.co.uk/pages/more-behind-the-scenes

The above link takes you to my website, so if you haven't already you can always sign up for the Newsletter too.