small business vlog: my first pop-up EVER with TIK TOK! pack orders with me + sew with me!

Introduction

Good morning, everyone! I hope you're all doing well. If you're new here, my name is Tova, and I run an online clothing brand that sells positive and uplifting messages on a variety of products like hoodies, journals, and accessories. If you're interested in following my small business journey, please give this video a thumbs up and subscribe!

Today is incredibly exciting for two reasons. First, I recently got a new car: a beautiful Bronco that I'm eager to show you all! Second, I’m headed to Union Station—North America’s second-largest train station—to do a pop-up event with TikTok.

This pop-up isn’t focused on selling; it's more of a media creator event to boost brand awareness. My train leaves in just 10 minutes, so I have to hurry! I’ll be at Union Station today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. I’m feeling blessed and am ready for this opportunity, especially since this event is in collaboration with TD Canada Trust.

[Music Break]

After a long day, it’s 6:20 p.m., and I am utterly exhausted. I woke up at 6:30 a.m., and now I’m feeling the effects of not drinking enough water. The pop-up is over, and while I can't sell products today due to some restrictions, I was able to showcase my brand, hand out business cards, and interact with people. I’ll be back next Thursday, December 19, where I hope to sell products.

Today was my very first pop-up, and although I couldn’t sell anything, it was amazing to network and introduce my brand. In hindsight, I realized I could have brought more samples to showcase; four wasn’t quite enough. Next time, I’ll be more prepared and bring more varied items and inventory.

As the day winds down, I’m looking forward to resting. I’ll catch up with you all tomorrow as I tackle some small admin tasks.

[Music Break]

Good morning, everyone! It’s a new day, and I just finished answering emails. Today, I’ll be working on some design work with a platform called K, which is one of my top five resources as a small business owner. Let me show you what I do with K.

With my K premium account, I create designs and mockups for my hoodies. They offer numerous customizable templates, allowing me to adjust colors, fonts, and texts easily. For example, I can create a cute sweatshirt design and visualize it on various hoodies in different colors, ensuring I maintain my brand's consistency.

Another fantastic feature is their AI graphic generator, which essentially gives me better graphics without requiring extensive graphic design experience. It’s an excellent tool for anyone new to design.

Now, it's time to package an order for Emma, who ordered my “This Moment” block zip-up and a red hoodie.

[Music Break]

As I prepare for the busy days ahead, I just completed sewing tags onto my hoodies. I have another pop-up coming up for TikTok on Thursday and want all my products at the event to have a consistent look.

Later in the day, I received news that my pre-ordered sweat sets are in, but due to the ongoing Canada Post strike, they can’t be shipped to me. I’ll have to pick them up myself. This has been quite a hectic situation for many Canadians, but thankfully, Canada Post is resuming service tomorrow.

Overall, things are looking promising as my guided journaling supplies are also scheduled to arrive soon. I plan to end this vlog here, but I’m excited to return for a more extended vlog soon!

If you enjoyed this video, please don’t forget to leave a thumbs up and subscribe. I'll leave a link to K in the description below if you're interested in checking it out. Stay tuned for more updates, and take care!

[Music Break]

Keywords

• Small business
• Vlog
• Pop-up event
• TikTok
• K platform
• Design work
• Sew
• Inventory
• Canada Post strike

FAQ

Q: What is a pop-up event?
A: A pop-up event is a temporary retail space that allows businesses to engage with customers and promote their brand.

Q: What challenges did you face during your first pop-up?
A: I was unable to sell products due to certain restrictions. I also realized I could have brought more samples to showcase my brand better.

Q: What is the K platform?
A: K is a design tool that allows users to create custom graphics, mockups, and branding kits, making it suitable for small business owners without extensive design experience.

Q: How do you manage your inventory for pop-up events?
A: I prepare by tagging all my products neatly and ensuring I have enough inventory ready for display at the events.

Q: What impact has the Canada Post strike had on your business?
A: The strike has delayed shipment of pre-ordered products and affected deliveries, but I’ve managed to arrange pickups to mitigate this issue.