This is a perfect example why you have to fight for what you are passionate about, until there is no more options. I have been a business owner for most of my adult life. Before the economy crashed in 2007 had a small car dealership, was forced to close down like many others with the economy crashing after 8 years in business. Then we started the current business that we are in now since 2007.
We have had our ups and downs and a lot of competition of franchise supplement stores opening and closing near us, but we have always been able to get around and pay the bills. In 2015 many of our distributors started selling direct on Amazon almost at the same price they sold to us direct to the public. They basically cut us out after we introduced all of our cutomers to their brands. Last year in the summer was probably our toughest year in business since we began. For the first time I thought that may have been it, and we where going to have to shut our doors. My wife had a small youtube channel, and she was really great at filming and editing, we also had a small area in the back for overstock that was now empty due to the decrease in capital to buy inventory and also lower sales. So we turned that area into a small kitchen and filming studio that you see below.
We started uploading about a video per day of healthy food on youtube less than a year ago. Since we started to do it more often, our audience grew to what is now almost 13k subs in less than a year. Still no where near enough to pay the rent on our business, but then came Steemit. On this platform we have seen the light and so much more potential that it has lit a huge fire under both of us to create incredible content. For this community, and at the same time offer healthy ideas, and alternatives to all your favorite foods. I am for ever grateful to be here and will continue to Steem On Full Steam Ahead. 👊🏼👊🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼💯
Not to mention that I get to eat everything I make for you guys to watch. 😂😂😂😋😋
Good luck to you and welcome to steemit
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Thank you my friend. Very happy to be here.
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Wow that's incredible!
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The Struggle has been real lol, but after every storm, the sun must shine. 😊
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Yes exactly!
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Incredible story, you've been followed, upvoted and shared. I know about the pains of the auto industry. The strong with adapt and survive.
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Yep, the cars where a nightmare. I was too soft with customers too, they walked all over me, then when the economy got bad people started defaulting on thir loans and that was my cue to get out. I love the health and fitness industry, we get to help people every day to become healthier and happier. But Amazon is a big threat to all retail stores now, especially small businesses.
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That is so great to hear! I am also looking to replace some income with Steemit. This all just inspires me so much. Thank you for sharing!
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Let me tell you that I saw Youtube as a huge opportunity for us and we are gojng to grow it all the same and keep going with it, but this made Youtube go on the back burner. This platform can really help a lot of folks get on their feet if they really work hard and provide value to theis great community. Its a business that only requires time as an investment. Gives the little guys a fighting chance.
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Yes exactly and that is why it feels so good to be apart of it.
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You have my support! Small business is what this country needs to get back to. Very inspiring that you couldn't/wouldn't give up.
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Thanks so much my friend. I agree we need to have more small business and merchants.
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Good stuff keep up the good work
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Thank You. You are appreciated.
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This post received a 5.0% upvote from @randowhale thanks to @healthyrecipe! For more information, click here!
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Small business is so hard! I work for a company that helps small businesses and hear the stories of many customers and their struggles, it's so cool to hear a story about Steemit contributing to your success! Plus food, glorious glorious food! Yum!
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Thank you so much, it can be very tough for sure. But I believe some people are wired for this kind of environment, even though I have gone through so many ups and downs and emotional roller coasters, I still would not have it any other way. It has taught me a lot and ultimately, it has shaped my character to be the person I am today. Thank god for the Marines that prepared me at an early age for what was about to head my way lol.
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Sounds like you've worked hard and earned it! It's funny you say about the Marines, as I've recently changed careers and what I do now is totally unrelated to what I used to do, but I've found that so much is applicable from my old life, if not the direct job specific skills! :) Keep on cooking mate!
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I agree, we have to take lessons and harness every experience we go through, even if it seems like it is a bad situation at the time, we can always grow and become better from them with the right mind set. The struggles of today prepare us for the victories of tomorrow.
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Well said mate!
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Great post and thanks for sharing. I can relate. I was an RN for 20 years. Ebay came along and I have been helping my husband with the business since 1998. Things started out good but the last 3 years have been brutal. I always had a passion for food and cooking. Started Youtube and you know that is slow. Steemit is giving me some hope and is inspiring. We will see where this new journey goes. Everyone has been so nice. And yes, we get to eat the food! Good luck.
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I went through the Ebay Rollercoaster back around 2007 and it was not fun. We where getting scammed a lot and working insane around the clock and when we did the numbers we where making very little after paying out all the fees to ebay and paypal. With the right business product a lot can be done, but for us retailing supplements for other brands, was just making all parties rich except us.
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Oh, before I forget. I have to remember to also tell Alla about it. Not sure if you are aware, but there is an app called Vid IQ for youtube that I pay around $30 per month for that has made a tremendous difference on our views and rankings. It shows you everything about key word phrases and what works and what does not. It even gives you suggestions on what will work for your videos. We have been growing great since I got it a couple of months ago. Its paid for itself many times every month.
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I use tubebuddy at 9.99 / month. Why do you pay for vidiq? I also have vidiq as an extension of chrome...free. Yes, these are great programs for optimizing. I will have to search out your email so we can share info.
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The regular Vid IQ was not any good. I started with that but it did not offer me the Video Boost which gives you very specific information on the key word phrases that match your video and also gives you a total score depending on competition and popularity. For example if a key word is searched for a lot and a lot of people are not using it, the competition is low and the popularity is high will make it have a very high total score. It will also show you if you are ranking for those key words. It is really amazing, it has done wonders for our youtube channel since we started using it a couple of months ago.
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