The Raw Reality of Running a Small Business

We try to show up with smiles, creativity and colour every day — because that’s who we are, and what we love to do. But behind the scenes? The reality isn’t always so glossy. And today, we want to be really honest about that.

The past few weeks have been hard.
We’re currently in one of the quietest months of the year, and we’re not afraid to admit that. It’s the kind of quiet that can make you question everything — especially when you're still putting in the same time, energy and heart, but seeing far less return.

Running a small business is full of these ups and downs. But what’s made this season even tougher isn’t just the usual ebb and flow — it’s the way our work has been treated by others.

We’ve recently discovered that other brands have been using our professional photographs without permission — including images of children who have modelled for us. These are not just product shots. They are meaningful, carefully styled moments involving real children, real families, and real trust. Seeing those photos lifted and reused by other businesses is not just frustrating — it’s deeply upsetting and wrong.

And it doesn’t stop there. We’ve also found that some brands are now using AI to recreate our exclusive watercolour illustrations — illustrations that we’ve commissioned and paid for, that we’ve worked closely with talented artists to bring to life, and that are a core part of our identity. These designs aren’t stock images — they are uniquely ours. Watching AI-generated versions appear online, mimicking our look, feels like a slow erosion of the creativity we’ve fought hard to protect.

We’ll say this clearly:
Yes, we have taken inspiration before.
In this industry, using commercial graphics and fonts is both legal and completely normal — it’s how many designs are built. There’s nothing wrong with being inspired by what’s out there. But copying photographs of children, and recreating hand-drawn artwork we’ve poured time, money, and soul into, crosses a very clear line.

It’s especially hard when you’ve worked for years to build something unique — and we truly have. We’ve created a brand that stands out, and we’re incredibly proud of it. Our bold colours, soft pastels, playful watercolours and thoughtful details are what people come to us for. We hear all the time that our designs are like nothing else out there — and that means everything to us.

But honestly? It’s getting harder and harder to stay unique.
Not because we’ve run out of ideas — but because so many others are trying to imitate instead of innovate.

And as if that wasn’t enough… we’re struggling personally too.
I’ve been facing some ongoing health issues, and we’re in the thick of life with our one-year-old, who just does not want to sleep. We’re tired. Like, deeply tired. The kind of tired that makes it hard to think straight — let alone keep a business running, orders going out, and creativity flowing.

We’re not sharing this for sympathy.
We’re sharing it because it’s the truth.
Because it matters that people see what really goes into building and maintaining a small business — especially in the face of challenges, copycats, and chaos.

If you’ve supported us — with an order, a kind message, a like or share — thank you. You’re helping more than you know. And if you're a fellow small business owner walking a similar path, we see you. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. And you’re not alone.

We’re going to keep showing up.
We’re going to keep creating.
And we’re going to keep doing things the right way — with heart, honesty, and originality.

Thanks for being here.
Thanks for sticking with us.
Even in the quiet, we’re still listening.

—
With love,
The Tiny & Sweet Team