Essex business owners, information on the struggles they face

Featured Sponsor

Store	Link	Sample Product
UK Artful Impressions	Premiere Etsy Store

Gillian Fautley, 43, the owner of the Courts of Rayleigh, has offered insight into the “unfortunate confidence of owning and running a business”.

Her Facebook post has received nearly 1,000 likes and nearly 150 shares as other business owners support her petition.

READ MORE >> “It was completely raw” – Shoebury Asda slammed for undercooked chicken claims

Gillian said: “Running a business is really hard.

“What they don’t tell you is that it can cause severe stress and anxiety, and is mentally draining to the point of depression in even the most laid-back people.

“People will talk about you, compare you to others, use you, see you as a service and no longer as a person.

“Friends and family will expect discounts, and people will value you and your hard work less than a large chain store or corporation.

“You have to worry if you forget to email/message someone, will they think it was on purpose? Did you disappoint them? Will they blame you?

“In reality, you just can’t access everyone’s messages and emails.”

Gillian became the owner of Courts of Rayleigh about five years ago, having worked with the company for over 15 years.

He added: “Starting or taking over and running a successful business puts incredible pressure on life and personal relationships, many of which fail because there is often no work-life balance.

“You have to be the manager, the worker, the administrator, the marketing team, the accountant, the cleaner… All while being a parent, husband or wife, grandparent, family support, friend.

“There’s a reason you don’t see a lot of people succeed in small businesses after five to 10 years. If they succeed, they are overwhelmed.

“Pas bill. it’s exhausting. Especially the last couple of years when so much has been out of our control.

Here’s a little reminder that we’re just normal people with hectic lives.

“Support small and local businesses because we do it because we really love it despite the stress, sometimes it can be very rewarding too.”

In the past three years, Gillian said she’s had to battle covid, before flower prices doubled and energy bills soared.

He said that unfortunately, he had to reduce his staff due to the financial difficulties with which the company had been affected.

Gillian said: “I’m doing more extreme hours. My husband is helping more than in his work, he is constant. My staff is amazing and I couldn’t do it without them.

“I love my job and work hard, but the constant pressures can be too much for small business owners.

“Each time is harder.

“People don’t realize it, they think we have the east and we have freedom. But in reality, they couldn’t be further from the truth.

“I just urge people to shop local.”