27/08/2026
Absolutely bob on post and great shout out to brilliant businesses especially a fellow newsagents like Foreways 👏
A small business owner's life is every minute of everyday, you pour everything into it and often make lots of sacrifices, there isn't an Out Of
Office button ( especially if you can't close) and it does affect all aspects of your life.
So if you love a local business the time is now to support it!
Thanks Cafe on the green for highlighting this!
Long post incoming.....
Running a small business isn't easy !!
Sacrifices have to be made, relationships break down, you don't get paid holidays or time off, responsibilities are more than most people can even imagine or ever commit too.
We all make our decisions and choose our careers but one thing I have noticed not enough love and support is given to them and the energy small businesses get is very different to these corporate giants and chains.
Behind each business Is a real person or a family that run it, they have feelings and emotions and a life away from the business.
This is my 8th year being self employed and the last year has been the hardest year of being in business. I have felt emotions I didn't know existed and I have never suffered from mental health issues but this year I now know how real this is and how serious it can affect people. I have had to make sacrifices that most wouldn't and my friendship circle has become even smaller due to my choices, but I'm actually ok with this. Cafe on the green is my baby and I knew I would need to give it 100% to ensure it worked and
I got it up and running and become consistent and create a customer base that keep coming back.
Last week my sheer determination and hard work paid off and I now have no business debt as a sole trader and I now will hopefully see a return in what I invested and can start to save for replacements when things go wrong at the cafe and put money away so my business can have the longevity I want.
I sold my home, worked 7 days a week for 20 months and didn't pay myself a wage, didn't treat myself to clothes or nights out and moved back home with my amazing parents, they have been by my side from day one supporting me and raising me up when I wanted to give in but my mam and dad have helped me more than they will ever know both financially and mentality and for that I love them to pieces my biggest idols along with both sets of grandparents 💙❤️
Cafe on the green will be 2 this November and I was told by many people around me it was the wrong location and wouldn't work!!
Why am I sharing this ?? I want people to know and be transparent and see behind the scenes we are not all millionaires or robots.
I like to think I'm thick skinned and I know people love an opinion and view and it's perfectly fine as it's allowed but lately I see so much hate and negativity towards small businesses especially online and on social media and the worst is Spotted in Carlisle.
Half the time it come from anonymous people and fake profiles but these comments can affect people
I choose to let it go but many small business owners let it affect them and I can see why.
This last week I have seen comments about Foreways closing down and several of the shops but the owners have ran amazing businesses for decades in Carlisle and served the general public providing essentials at peoples doorstops so you don't need to use supermarkets and have the convenience.
Billy and Jenny Bone are both past retirement age but have kept going and have done an outstanding job and deserve nothing but respect and praise and for that I will give that to them.
Growing up I always looked up to Billy and Jenny and admired what they done and how hard they worked and they employed my parents and looked after them, so good luck Billy and Jenny and enjoy retirement.
I was also inspired by many other business owners in Carlisle some are still here and some sadly not.
Mary Lowther- Cumbria park hotel she was an amazing lady and ran a fantastic business with an eye for detail and standards that most couldn't achieve.
Andrew and Helen Francis- Arches coffee shop and several other cafes back in the day like cafe courtyard and scotch gate, you employed me from a young lad and made me want to have a cafe and be like you, an amazing couple and still trading today. longevity of a business means a lot you have worked hard to achieve this.
Sam Norman - shabby scholar and Dutch uncle someone younger than me running several amazing businesses that I looked up to and wanted to achieve this too
James Hill- currently Oak at Curthwaite but also several other restaurants back in the day along with his dad Graham and Hills newsagents, I have always admired the work you done
Andrea Carr and her mam Pat at Rolltoppers wow what you achieved and kept going is amazing with an unreal reputation for decades.
I may have missed people off that have also inspired me but looking around at Carlisle there are so many amazing small businesses. Taking risks most people would never to make a dream become reality.
So the next time you feel the need to be negative and want to drag someone down try thinking what did they sacrifice to get there and try raising each other up.
Apologies for the long post if you managed to get to the end but please feel free to share this wide and far incase this could help any small business owner to keep going and know we are not alone
❤️❤️
