Why Our Burnley Shop Is Closing (But Wild Venus Isn't Going Anywhere)

How is this so far 

The Story Behind My Decision to Close My Shop

Well, it's a long story with many factors involved in this decision - so I'll try to keep it as brief as possible. 

1) Decrease in sales. 

Sadly, I'm not generating enough revenue to pay myself a wage and although 2025 started off strong and very promising, sales in 2026 have seen a sharp decline and I'm losing money month on month.

This isn't a decision I've made lightly, and it's not because I don't believe in Wild Venus. Quite the opposite, it's because I want to give it the best chance of growing in a way that is sustainable and for the long term.

2) Dream job - Could I make it work?

Maybe, it could work, eventually but I would need to take a huge financial hit for a very long time AND make marketing my full time job.

I've made this job up - just for me and do I want to spend my days doing marketing?

Hell -no!

3) I realised I'm not built to be a shop keeper.

Having never worked in a shop before, I didn't realise just how much of my day would be spent waiting for customers to walk through the door.

Give me a busy market, a production day and a mountain of ingredients to play with any day!

I love creating. I love making products, developing formulas, experimenting with scents and bringing new ideas to life.

That's the part of Wild Venus that makes me happiest.

4) Admin

Soooooo much admin is involved in making handmade cosmetics.

Every ingredient that you use must have the batch number recorded. Every product you make needs each ingredient, batch number and place of origin documented. Each product needs to be cosmetically assessed, and every batch made needs to be recorded in a Product Information File.

Then you have to notify the government of what you're selling, and so on and so on...

And then you do the washing up.

Which takes days.

Already, I was struggling with the amount of work involved in running Wild Venus, and taking on a shop that relied on contributions from many other makers was me biting off way more than I could chew.

Each time a new maker joins, there's an onboarding process, bank accounts to set up, profile pages to write, products to add to the till, inventory to count in and out...

Every day, I'm finding myself stretched a little thinner, and I realised something had to change.

Not because I don't love Wild Venus.

But because I really really do.

Creating space for community

One of the biggest reasons I opened the shop was because I wanted to create a space where women and non-binary makers could showcase and sell their work as well as provide a supportive environment for makers who were entering the world of retail for the first time. 

I wanted Wild Venus to be somewhere that celebrated creativity, championed independent businesses and brought a little bit of fun, colour and positivity to a town that needed it.

Creating that space and community has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey.

Seeing customers discover new brands, meeting makers, hearing their stories and watching people connect with the products in the shop has been genuinely special.

Although the physical shop is closing, that passion for community hasn't disappeared.

The next chapter of Wild Venus might look a little different, but the heart behind it remains the same.

So, what's next for Wild Venus?

And this is the part I'm really excited about...

Although closing the shop feels like a huge decision, I actually feel more excited about the future than I have in a long time.

The truth is, I didn't start Wild Venus because I wanted to become a shopkeeper.

I started it because I love creating.

Closing the shop doesn't mean Wild Venus is ending. In many ways, it feels like I'm finally creating the space to bring it back to what I always wanted it to be.

I love creating skincare from scratch, experimenting with ingredients, developing new formulas and making products that bring a little bit of joy into people's everyday routines.

And now, I'll have the time and headspace to focus on exactly that.

I'll be spending more time in the studio creating new skincare products, developing functional ranges and exploring new ingredients. I want to create products that aren't just beautiful to look at, but genuinely useful; products that solve problems and become little moments of joy that people look forward to using.

I'm excited to reconnect with the Wild Venus community, meet more customers who love honest, handmade skincare and build relationships with people who share my passion for thoughtful products.

I'll also be getting back out into the world and attending busy craft markets, meeting customers face-to-face and taking Wild Venus to new places.

One of my favourite things about this business has always been those conversations at markets: hearing why someone picked a particular scent, seeing their excitement when they discover something new and sharing the stories behind the products.

And then there's the creative side...

I can't wait to design new collections, create Christmas products, develop new packaging and bring fresh ideas to life. Having the opportunity to slow down, experiment and really think about each product is something I'm excited to sink my teeth into.

This next chapter will also allow me to explore more of what inspires Wild Venus, this means getting outdoors, discovering new places, finding inspiration in nature and creating products that fit into real life. Whether that's a slow morning at home, a cosy evening or a weekend adventure.

The shop taught me so much, but this next chapter feels like a return to the things that made me fall in love with Wild Venus in the first place.

And I can't wait to share what's coming next.

Can I still buy Wild Venus products?

Yes!

Although the physical shop is closing, Wild Venus will continue online and in at artisan markets across the UK but predominantly in the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber. 

You'll still be able to shop your favourite handmade soaps, skincare, candles and wax melts through my online store, join the email list or follow the socials if you like to keep up to date with new products. 

Thank you to everyone who has visited the shop, supported my small business, bought a product or simply stopped for a chat as every single person who has been part of this journey has helped shape Wild Venus into what it is today.

This isn't goodbye.

It's the beginning of a new adventure.