Keeping Small Business Alive

Running a small business feels like riding a dinosaur through a meteor shower some days — thrilling, wild, and a little bit dangerous.

Today is one of those days.

This isn’t just a sales post. It’s a moment of honesty.

Thistle and Bard has been built with heart, creativity, and a little bit of magic. But after over a week of no sales, I’m facing a very real crossroads. I need to make 4 shoe sales — just four — to keep things going this month and prove that this dream is still alive and worth fighting for.

Why the Shoes?

These shoes aren’t mass-produced or trend-hopped. They’re hand-designed with care, inspired by fossil finds on the Jurassic Coast, and part of my Savage Lands collection — a wild, earthy, fantasy world full of creatures, survival, and stories.

Each pair is:

• 🌿 Printed sustainably (on demand = zero waste)

• 🌍 Ships worldwide

• 🖤 Designed to stand out in both fantasy and fashion

The cost of keeping a small business like Thistle and Bard open is £1900 every month. While we could cut costs by choosing cheap manufacturing, not checking that our factories are CSVS certified (or that they are ethical workplaces for their laborers), and choosing low-quality materials and inks - but that's not us, and we don't believe that Thistle and Bard customers want that either.

A Bonus Gift

To thank you for supporting this dream, I’ve created something really special.

Terra Exclusive Signed Canvas Print

• One of a kind.

• Life size for a newly hatched Triceratops

• Ready to display or hang on your wall

This once-in-a-lifetime print is just that - ONCE, and it could be yours.

Can’t Order? You Can Still Help Support and Keep This Small Business Alive.

If now’s not the right time to buy, you can still make a huge impact:

• Share this post with your friends

• Leave a comment or save the image on Instagram

• Tell someone who might love dinosaurs + fantasy fashion

Your support means everything—every share, like, and kind word helps. Let's not forget that social media algorithms thrive on engagement. Silent scrolling, even if you like something, doesn't let it know that you're actually interested.

I believe in this brand and the world I’m building. I believe in the power of creativity, of fantasy, of indie magic. And I believe that with your help, we can weather this storm that's already killed too many small and micro businesses to count — and we can come out stronger on the other side.