Judy: A Small Business Owner Who Quit Her Day Job Just Before the Pandemic
Judy’s business started when people at her office job complimented her on her magnetic badge holder. Judy had made the badge holder herself. She went online to find a similar product to recommend to her coworkers. When she couldn’t find anything, she decided to go into business herself.
“I had to get everything in place,” Judy said. “I had to find suppliers. And then I have to assemble everything.”
By the Fall of 2009, QB’s Magnetic Creations—Judy named the company after her mother—was open for business.
Judy continued working. She sold her magnetic creations on the side, eventually branching out into magnetic charm holders, jewelry springs, and broaches. After 10 years building her side hustle, Judy quit her job in December 2019 and devoted herself to QB’s Magnetic Creations full time. Things were going well until the COVID-19 pandemic caused American life to come to a grinding halt in March 2020.
“All of my events got canceled,” Judy said. With many factories shut down, Judy could no longer get the supplies she needed to make her product.
Most of Judy’s sales came from in person events. With those out of the question for the foreseeable future, Judy pivoted to expand her online business.
“I’m trying to still give that ‘in person’ feel,” Judy said.
She put out instruction videos, made “bling” magnetic masks, and revamped her website and digital ordering process. Sales from her website have picked up, but they’re not consistent.
Judy was able to get some unemployment assistance to fill the gap in her income, but as she explained: “It’s enough to help a little. But it’s not enough.”
Her expenses actually went up during the pandemic because she had to order supplies in bulk.
“I did have some savings,” Judy said. “But I did not have what I needed to sustain myself for a long time.”
A $500 grant from SaverLife and Wells Fargo gave Judy the resources to invest in well-designed packaging.
“In this day and age you have to brand yourself to let your customers know that you have a quality product,” Judy explained.
She hopes that her new packaging will improve sales and her brand identity. Through SaverLife she was also able to sign up for a webinar about other opportunities available for small business owners.
“I’m so grateful that there are organizations out there trying to help minority-owned businesses like me so we can grow and scale and be of greater service to my community,” Judy said.