Hello x How are You?
Blimey, it really does feel like AGES since I last wrote personally in a newsletter.OR on the blog!
I'm really sorry for the long pause- I've been working hard on trying to work out the way forwards for this little business
Firstly, you can see I'm no longer referring to 'we' but instead to 'i'
That's because Steve has now left Inflatable Amnesty, as his own business is getting busier and busier and this one, well... [to be completely honest] isn't.
Those of you who have been here for a while, will know about the death of my previous business, doing something similar to this one....
Well, although it was a separate business, I took the hit personally [financially, physically and emotionally] for a lot of its failings, in order to run this one and continue keeping inflatables out of landfill. which, over the past year, I have managed.
It's now been 15 years since I started this mission and there are lots of people now, doing similar things.
I used to think this was a threatening thing. A damaging thing. To be honest, I still don't really know if thats the case or not, I just know that I've now learnt to look at things differently. More positively.
Most importantly to me, it means more of these fabrics are being reworked but also [and this is the BIG part] it means that those products can still be brought to market for the price points mine used to sit within.
I appreciate that not everyone will be able to afford the new pricing, honestly I get it, [which is also why I've introduced Klarna to the site and all UK shipping is now and will remain, free]
BUT, I always want to be as transparent as possible with you all, so I wanted to let you know why the site has changed and let you know some hopeful new news!
If I want to continue to offer a lifetime repair policy and eventually reopen the incoming inflatable post again, in fact, if I want to continue to produce the bags at all, I have to stop making them,, bizarre as that sounds!
I'm no longer physically able to. make them myself Thats one of the reasons why there are now far less products available and pricing has changed across all the collections, but... it's also because I am actively having conversations with UK manufacturers and not a single one of them, would be able to afford to make the bags for the previous price points
Inflatable Amnesty literally wouldn't be able to continue at all, in any form.
The truth is, I was able to bring them to market for that price, because I have so many years of experience making them, although it was a real stretch financially, with costs growing in every direction, I held onto the pricing structure for as long as possible, until it just wasn't feasible anymore.
i'm so so thankful to each and every one of you who has continued to support over all these years, [in fact, even reading to the end of this should entitle you to some kind of medal!] I will keep on trucking for as long as I can and I get that the audience for my bags may change along with these changes- again, I really do understand, honestly!
It looks as though I may have found some amazing people to work alongside. They rehabilitate women prisoners. They provide skills and toolkits for returning into society, ways in which to be able to reintegrate and build confidence again.
I'm really hoping our relationship will be a long and happy one.
Unfortunately, because of the demise of my previous business, any kind of bank or funding through any kind of financial institution is particularly hard [in fact, almost impossible] for me to achieve personally, so I am only able to undertake this project through bag sales [you see, its catch 22 isn't it?! Nightmare!]
I'm really hoping some of you stick with me for this next part of the journey and, if you're able to share the mission with anyone who may love the bags and concept, that would be so amazing too.
Please know that every single purchase, directly helps keep Inflatable Amnesty from the brink and [hopefully!] enable the growth and collaboration needed to keep rescuing these fabrics.
Thank You.
I really do appreciate each and every single one of you.
Gx
