Learning, Adjusting, and Continuing the Dream

First and foremost, I want to say thank you.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this small business over the last year. Whether you purchased a set of sheets, left a kind review, shared a post, told a friend about Spa Threads, or connected with me through social media, it has meant more to me than I can fully put into words.

This first year has been beautiful, humbling, exciting, and full of lessons. I have learned so much, and the truth is, I am still learning every single day.

When I started Spa Threads, I had a simple dream. I wanted to bring colorful, beautiful, printed sheets into the spa, health, and wellness community. I wanted to create something that felt joyful, professional, and different. Something that helped treatment rooms feel a little more special. Something that estheticians, massage therapists, wellness professionals, and small business owners would be proud to use in their spaces.

That dream is still very much alive.

But this first year has also taught me what it really takes to keep that dream going.

After reviewing almost a full year of data, I have realized that for Spa Threads to remain open and sustainable in the long term, I need to increase my prices. This was not a decision I made lightly. I know big-box stores do not usually give notice when their prices change, but I felt I owed it to my loyal customers to be honest and give you time before the price increase takes effect on July 1, 2026.

I think many small business owners will understand this deeply. When you first open, you do your best. You price things with care, and you try to be fair. You want your customers to feel good about supporting you. But as the months go by, you begin to see the real cost of doing business.

I experienced this with my esthetics business too. A few months in, I realized that if I wanted to keep my doors open for the long run, I had to adjust my pricing. It was uncomfortable, but it was necessary.

Spa Threads has been a similar lesson, just in a new way.

This is my first e-commerce business, and the learning curve has been huge. One of the biggest things I underestimated was the cost of getting customers to the website. Marketing has become one of the largest expenses in the business, and it was not fully accounted for in my original pricing.

Then there is shipping.

Like many customers, I have gotten used to free shipping and low shipping thresholds because of Amazon and large ecommerce companies. I also want to offer that experience when I can. But as a small business, free shipping is never really free. It is a cost that has to be absorbed somewhere.

This past year has given me a much deeper appreciation for what happens behind the scenes of an online business. There is shipping, packaging, warehousing, marketing, website fees, software fees, and so many small costs that quickly add up. It has also helped me better understand why brands price their products the way they do, especially when they offer things like free shipping, discounts, rewards, or special promotions.

Every industry has its own reality too.

A customer may happily purchase a $100 pair of leggings with free shipping, but those leggings weigh very little compared to a set of spa sheets. Sheets are larger, heavier, and more expensive to ship, even though they often sell for much less. That balance between keeping products affordable, maintaining quality, and building a sustainable business is something I think about every single day.

Even with all of the challenges that come with building a small business, this year has also given me so many reasons to keep going.

Seeing Spa Threads in your treatment rooms, reading your kind reviews, and hearing how much you love the color and personality these sheets bring into your space has meant everything to me. It has reminded me that this little idea had a purpose, and that there is room for something different in this industry.

That gives me so much hope for what is still ahead.

The best way for me to keep pricing as affordable as possible is through organic growth. Word of mouth is free, but for a small business, it can make all the difference. A review, a tag, a share, a photo, or telling another provider about Spa Threads can save a small business thousands of dollars in marketing costs.

That kind of support really matters.

So again, thank you. Thank you for your purchases, your reviews, your encouragement, your patience, and your understanding as I continue finding my way through this first chapter of Spa Threads.

I am still learning. I am still growing. And I am still so excited for what is ahead!

With so much gratitude,

Sara