💥 Module 11: Mistakes I’ve Made in My Business
Real Talk: The Lessons That Built “Unboxt”
Building a personalised gift business has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done…
but also one of the most humbling.
What you see now — consistent orders, happy customers, a brand I’m proud of — didn’t happen overnight.
It was built on:
- Trial and error
- Wasted vinyl
- Ruined shirts
- And a lot of “okay… never doing that again” moments
This module is me handing you those lessons… so you don’t have to learn them the expensive way.
❌ Mistake #1: The “Panic Pricing” Trap
The Reality
In the beginning, I just wanted orders.
So I priced low… to be “affordable.”
I was busy.
But I wasn’t making money.
At one point, it honestly felt like I was paying people to let me work for them.
💡 The Lesson
- Apparel holds more value than mugs or stickers
- You’re not selling a shirt — you’re selling a moment
✔ My Advice
Price for profit from the start.
If a hoodie takes you 2 hours to weed and press…
R250 isn’t a “good price” — it’s a loss.
👉 Your time matters. Price like it does.
❌ Mistake #2: Saying “Yes” to the Stress
The Reality
I didn’t want to lose sales.
So I said yes to everything.
👉 “Can you do 10 shirts for tomorrow morning?”
👉 “Sure…” (internally panicking)
I’d end up:
- Exhausted
- Rushing
- Making mistakes
- Resenting my own business
💡 The Lesson
HTV takes time.
There’s a full process behind every product.
✔ My Advice
Set boundaries early:
👉 3–5 working days turnaround
👉 Clear cut-off times
Because:
Your peace > one rushed order
❌ Mistake #3: Buying Cheap Vinyl
The Reality
I tried to save money.
Bought cheaper, unbranded vinyl.
It:
- Didn’t stick properly
- Peeled after one wash
- Was a nightmare to weed
I had to redo orders… for free.
💡 The Lesson
Cheap vinyl costs you:
- Time
- Money
- Reputation
✔ My Advice
Stick to trusted SA suppliers.
Test everything before selling.
👉 One small test saves a full remake.
❌ Mistake #4: Trying to Do Everything
The Reality
I thought I needed to offer:
- Hoodies
- Aprons
- Baby grows
- Caps
- Tote bags
All at once.
My space felt chaotic.
My stock was all over.
I wasn’t known for anything.
💡 The Lesson
Trying to be everything = blending in.
✔ My Advice
Pick one thing. Own it.
👉 “Baby Grow Queen”
👉 “Tote Bag Pro”
Then expand.
💡 The Mindset Shift
From “Side Hustle” to Business
For a long time, I called Unboxt a side hustle.
And people treated it that way.
The moment I shifted to:
👉 “This is a business”
Everything changed.
✔ What That Looks Like:
- Systems in place (orders, packing, pricing)
- Set working hours
- Professional online presence
Even if you’re working from your spare room…
you can show up like a brand
✨ The Final Lesson: Enjoy the Journey
Yes, this is about money.
But it’s also about:
- A mom seeing her baby’s name on a custom outfit
- A teacher receiving a thoughtful gift
- Someone feeling seen
You will:
- Press something skew
- Misspell a name once (it happens 😅)
- Learn fast
And one day…
You’ll look back and realise:
👉 You built something real
👉 From nothing
👉 One order at a time
🛠️ Final Action Steps
✔ Write down your 3 non-negotiables
(e.g. “No orders under 3 days notice”)
✔ Choose your signature product for the next 3 months
✔ Pick one lesson from this module and apply it immediately
💛 Final Word
You now have:
- The skills
- The systems
- The strategy
What you build from here?
That’s yours.
And it’s going to be something special.