The end of an Era

I know I say this often, but it really has been one of *those* weeks. All day on Monday, I was convinced it was Wednesday because there was no way it could possibly still only be Monday. 

I have spent the vast majority of this week sitting in the dining room by the fire (because I ordered oil for the wrong day delivery) trying to get a number of projects finished - issue 02 of the quarterly, the new website, a refresh of our online course platform, materials for upcoming zoom makealongs, ordering kit components...you get the drift.

All I can say is that the full moon must have had some sway over each of these events because its been a week full of everything that could go wrong, going wrong. Paper for the quarterly was stuck on a dock in Kent, we found a massive issue with the 2022 calendars that requires a full reprint (anyone want 100 calendars with the dates from August wrong, I'll do you a deal?), we needed to hire a new last-minute copy editor, delays to shipping on both our end and the suppliers'.

I try not to make decisions when things are going wrong, and most definitely not in quarter 4, but we have decided that we will no longer stock kits and soap as a matter of course. As materials become much more expensive, often from the point of costing them to the point of ordering the materials, we are just too small to offer them sustainably. 

So, if you were ever wanting sourdough kits, spooncarving kits or gorgeous goat's milk soap, now is your chance. We will offer kits with our makealongs where possible, but once they sell out, they are gone. I have updated the website with the remaining stock.

The decision has been looming for some time. Not just because putting kits together is far more time consuming than you might imagine, but also as the we enter the next stage of global problems and as shipping and courier services and costs are disrupted it becomes more difficult to source and maintain the levels of stock components needed to this work. Not to mention how uncomfortable it is selling *stuff* when the whole aim of the business is encouraging people to consume less.  Besides I miss making goats cheese.

We never opened our shop to become retailers. I am not  salesperson, I am writer, photographer and educator, and of course a host!  There are so many ways we can deliver our focus on helping people connect with where their food comes from, from online courses and content, to the Quarterly, and honestly thats where we can do more. For us this business obviously needs to put food on the table but community and content Kat is where my heart lies, not shop Kat.

All existing kit and soap orders will of course be fulfilled and the website is accurate, so please order with confidence (and help Denise and I clear those shelves!!).