The Running Marketer

I’m currently working on my next hard thing and it scares me.

I’m not scared that it’s a hard thing. It’s the thing that scares me. None of the hard things this year have scared me. Leaving the Transurban role was hard but I knew I could pick up something else (I have but that’s a different, future hard thing). Running the Sydney Marathon was more mentally hard than physically, but it didn’t scare me. I knew I could make the distance, it was just how to make it hurt less.

This hard thing isn’t even high risk. I’ve modelled all scenarios and none are that bad. I’ve also done the work in different situations before.

But, this one has me so scared I’m doing bits and pieces towards it but not the big thing that makes it real. I also suspect I’m writing this to make it real in a safe way. Or just to show my reasons for being scared aren’t valid reasons.

What is my new hard thing?

It’s to open an online store.

See, it’s not that big or that hard or, even, that risky. Or even that new to me.

I don’t think James and I had even started dating again when I told him I wanted to run an online store. That means it was about 6 years ago. He asked what I would sell. That’s where I was stuck: I didn’t know. I knew it had to either be running a store for someone else or something I had passion for. I had run marketing campaigns and consulted and advised on stores but not directly run one so the chance of someone taking me on to run their store was limited. And there was no product that captured my heart.

Until recently.

I’m going to be selling goats. Plush ones and greeting cards. Yep, it’s random and a little bit novelty. It’s more fun and silly, but, hey, it’s a passion project side hustle. If all goes well, it’ll break even and I cover the costs of a hobby. If it goes poorly, it’s a cheap learning experience and I’ll be gifting plush goats to everyone until I run out.

See: low risk, low start up costs. No reason to be scared.

How close am I to launching?

I could be very close. I’ve set up the new bank account. The thermal printer and environmentally-friendly labels are ordered. I have a supplier for the goats (I do wonder how many goats I get for the $1,200 minimum order and where to store them), and I’m working on packaging designs. The store platform is chosen, and product lines planned out.

I just need a business name.

The original idea that embedded in my brain was You’ve Goat Mail. It’s a store selling plush goats sent anonymously. I sent one to Kathleen years ago and it was hilarious seeing her try to work out who sent it. More of us were in on a long-running joke featuring goats back then. A couple of months ago I tried sending one to Jen, who is the other person in on the joke, but the site is inaccessible from Australia. There’s an Australian version, but it was too dormant to risk putting a credit card into. I actually tried buying that business but their email bounced and they didn’t get my Instagram message.

OK, back to needing a name. No one is actively using “You’ve goat mail” but I still don’t feel comfortable using it. Also, it’s based on an internet concept that’s getting too outdated to remember. Same with the movie playing off that.

I’ve been playing with “Post a goat” and “Send a goat” but James pointed out they sound email server-ish. Or maybe it’s a developer’s tech-brain seeing it as that? I don’t want something that sounds discount store, but it also needs to be short and fun. “Give a goat” is on the list, along with “Gift a goat”. I kind of like the pun cheekiness of “Give a goat”. Also, when, or if, the business becomes profitable, it extends to giving donations to goat rescue organisations and charities.

So, yeah. That’s my next hard thing. I just need to choose a name and make it happen. Despite being scared.

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Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash. I also use this image as the main on my marketing and communications site, BiancaJessica.com.