Why We Built This Shop in 2020: Hope, Hustle, and Small Wins
Our first creative business — and where we learned marketing, one post at a time.
In 2020, everything changed. Plans paused, routines shifted, and like many people, we were looking for something that could give us direction—something we could build with our own hands even while the world felt uncertain.
That’s when we decided to create our first shop.
It started as a simple idea between me and my husband: let’s try, even if it’s small. We didn’t have everything figured out. We just had hope, a lot of effort, and that strong feeling of “maybe this can work.”
Hope: Starting with what we had
We didn’t wait for a perfect setup. We began with what was available—our time, our creativity, and our willingness to learn. That shop became our little light during a heavy season. Every small progress felt like a win.
Hustle: Showing up every day
We learned quickly that building a shop isn’t just about having products—it’s about consistency.
We posted, tested ideas, filmed simple videos, made captions, and tried different approaches. Some days were slow. Some days we doubted. But we kept going.
And slowly, we realized: effort adds up.
Small Wins: The moments we’ll never forget
Our first inquiries.
Our first sale.
Our first “Where can I order?” message.
Our first time packaging an order feeling proud—like, wow, we really did this.
Those wins might look small to others, but to us, they meant everything.
Our first creative business (and our first marketing classroom)
That shop became our training ground. It’s where we learned marketing in the most real way:
- how to present products clearly
- how to tell stories through captions
- how photos and videos affect engagement
- how consistency builds trust
- how showing up on Instagram helps people discover you
We didn’t learn marketing from a textbook—we learned it through experience. Through trial, error, and improvement.
How it shaped what we do today
Looking back, that 2020 shop was the beginning of everything. It taught us how to create, how to communicate, and how to build something from scratch—even in hard times.
And now, we bring those lessons into what we do today: creating content, designing visuals, and building a brand with heart.
Portfolio Link (PhoenixLab)
If you want to see our throwback posts, product shoots, and videos from that season, you can check our Instagram here:
https://www.instagram.com/phoenixlab.ph/?hl=en
Thank you for being part of the journey—more stories (and creations) coming soon. ✨