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☕️ Sippin’ Sunday: The Pause Is Part of the Work

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​ The last three weeks have been a whirlwind. If you’ve been following along, you know I was in Nebraska, then came home and had a market, then the Monday after that market I had the APCO conference, and the Saturday after that…another market. So when this weekend finally came around and I didn’t have anything scheduled, I was grateful. Really grateful. And at first, it almost felt strange. No market to pack for. No booth to set up. No event to rush to. Just a little space. And I realized how much I needed it. Not because I wanted to do nothing, but because I needed time to catch up on the things that are easy to ignore when you’re constantly moving. I checked inventory. I ordered new UVDTF wraps. I started updating some of my signage. I finished special orders that needed my attention. I looked at what I had, what I needed, and what could be improved before the next market. And honestly, it reminded me that slowing down is part of running a business too. When you’re c...
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☕️ Sippin Sunday: Believe Bigger Than Your Doubt

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This week’s Sip & Sunday looks a little different. Last week, I was in Nebraska watching my niece compete at nationals, and seeing her step onto that floor has been such a reminder of what it takes to believe in yourself. There is the talent people see, of course. But behind that are the hours of practice, the mistakes, the hard days, the nerves, the lessons, and the decision to keep going anyway. Watching her has also reminded me how important support is. Sometimes believing in yourself starts with borrowing a little belief from the people around you—the people who show up, encourage you, remind you how far you’ve come, and see something in you before you fully see it in yourself. I think we all have moments when doubt gets loud. Moments when we question whether we’re ready, whether we’re good enough, or whether we really belong in the room. But doubt does not mean you are incapable. It means you are human. You can feel nervous and still move forward. You can have doubts...
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☕️ Sippin Sunday: What I’ve Learned to Leave Behind

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One thing markets have taught me is that growth is not always about bringing more. More products. More displays. More signs. More things packed into every available inch of the table. Sometimes growth looks like learning what to leave behind. When I first started doing markets, I wanted to bring everything. I thought the more choices I gave people, the better chance I had of making a sale. And honestly, that made sense to me at the time. But after doing markets for a few years, I’ve learned that too much can become overwhelming—not only for the customer, but for me too. A crowded table can make it harder for people to understand what I sell. Products can get lost. My best items may not stand out. And instead of creating a warm, inviting space, the booth can start to feel like I simply brought everything I own. Now I try to be more intentional. Before I pack for a market, I ask myself: Does this product fit the direction of my business? Does it work with the rest of my displ...
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☕️ Sippin Sunday: The weather…🤦🏻‍♀️

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​ This week reminded me of something I think every small business owner learns eventually. I’ve stopped asking myself, “Was this market worth it?” Instead, I ask, “What did this market teach me?” That’s a very different question. 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’ve had incredible markets where I sold well, and I’ve had markets where the weather had other plans. Rain. Wind. Slow foot traffic. Wet signs. Products that needed to be covered in a hurry. None of those things are fun, but every single one has taught me something. Maybe it’s to laminate my pricing signs. 💲 Maybe it’s to pack extra towels.🧻 Maybe it’s to bring another set of clips or rethink my booth layout. 🤔 Maybe it’s simply a reminder that I can’t control the weather, but I can control how prepared I am. ⚡️💨 The funny thing is, the markets that challenge me are usually the ones that make me a better vendor. - Every event becomes info.  - Every conversation teaches me something about my customers. - Every mistake becomes a chec...
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☕️ Sometimes the Best Thing You Can Do Is Wait

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​ As small business owners, we’re always hearing the same advice: “Launch it.” “Done is better than perfect.” “Don’t wait.” And while I think there’s truth in that… I also think there’s another side. This week reminded me that sometimes a product simply isn’t ready yet. I’ve sold my Blind Date with a Book collections at markets for a while, but I kept holding off on listing them on Etsy. Not because I was afraid. Not because I didn’t believe in them. But because something kept telling me they still needed a little more. Over the last several months, I’ve listened to customers, changed the packaging, added accessories, improved the clue cards, created different themes, and slowly built the experience I wanted people to have. This week I finally listed them online. And they started selling. Looking back, I don’t regret waiting. Sometimes waiting isn’t procrastination. Sometimes it’s preparation. This week was also exciting for another reason. I introduced Charmed by Gra...
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Location: San Antonio, TX 78261, USA
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☕ Sippin Sunday: Make It Easy to Remember You

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One thing I’ve learned over the past few years is that customers don’t just buy products—they remember brands. As summer markets turn into the busy fall and holiday season, I’ve been looking at every part of my booth asking one question: “If someone walks away without buying today, will they remember my business tomorrow?” This year I committed to making my brand more visible. Not by spending a fortune… But by using tools I already own. I already had my Cricut. I already had my heat press. So I started creating branded table linens, adding my logo to different covers, refreshing my display, and making sure my business name is visible from every angle. Because when someone tells a friend… “You have to check out that booth…” I don’t want them wondering what my business was called. I want them saying: “It was Rise Up Designs.” Your booth is more than a place to sell. It’s your storefront. Every sign… Every table cover… Every display… Every logo… They’re all working for...
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Location: San Antonio, TX 78261, USA
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