Change can be scary, but it can also be the catalyst for growth and success. At State Of Flux, we know this firsthand. After running a successful brand for over a decade, we sold it and decided to build a new brand from scratch. Despite our experience, the prospect of starting over was still uncertain. Little did we know that we would soon face even greater challenges.
Six months after opening our new brand's flagship store, we were forced to close due to the pandemic and subsequent lockdown. It was a devastating blow, but we knew we couldn't just sit and wait for things to get better. Instead, we quickly pivoted our business to construct and sell face masks in our in-house workshop. It was a way to utilize our space the best way possible in order to generate revenue for our new business.
But we didn't stop there. With State Of Flux, we wanted our personal views/stance to permeate through the brand. We felt (and continue to feel) very strong about police brutality against our fellow people of color. This has been going on for decades but, at the time, the situation reached a boiling point with the public execution of George Floyd. We were beyond fed up with these regular occurrences of brutality and death by the hands of police officers so we stood in solidarity with our community to protest amidst the pandemic. We knew that we had a platform and a voice, and we wanted to use it to fight for change in a corrupt system. We were (and still are) determined to make a difference, no matter how small.
When we originally opened the State Of Flux shop, we had planned to host various workshops in our space for a fee. But with the pandemic in full effect, we were unable to host these workshops. So, we adjusted our original business model and decided to generate revenue by hosting screen-printing workshops outside. It was a risk, but it paid off. We were able to continue generating revenue while also providing a safe and enjoyable experience for our customers.
Through all of these changes, we learned some valuable lessons. We learned that sometimes, you have to be willing to pivot and adapt to survive. We learned that standing up for what you believe in can be both rewarding and challenging. And we learned that when you embrace change and take risks, you can achieve success even in the most uncertain of times.
Looking back, we are proud of what we have accomplished thus far. We have proven that even when things seem impossible, we can find a way to make it work. We have created a brand that has not only shown some level of success, but is also socially responsible. Most importantly, we have learned to embrace change and all of the opportunities it brings. We encourage all of our supporters to do the same. NEVER BREAK. NEVER SETTLE. NEVER FOLD.
- Johnny T.