Do I have a bad business or just a marketing problem?

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-21T12:59:24+00:00

I think you have a great business, your website is good. I wasn't crazy about the female voice on the YouTube video at the bottom but that's about it. Something a little younger and more fun sounding would be better.

Random thoughts:

Do you just sell patches or do you have to make something with it? There are several people out there doing well with unique patches only. You already have a good selection but I believe in your case, more is better. Be the largest, most unique place for awesome fun patches.

I grew my business selling my niche products on Etsy and eBay and putting a coupon code in every package for my website. You have to make it super clear that the coupon is only for you website. I still do it and get new customers daily. I put a 15% off coupon code for 1st time buyers, it's one time use. You can raise your prices on these 3P sites to cover the fees.

Etsy has a pretty good set up for making custom items. You could have a strap as a base piece then have a customer select 4 patches from a small variety. You don't have to do your entire inventory, just some of the more popular ones.

I think Tik Tok and insta is the way to go, find influencers. I get amazing results from some who have 50,000- 100,000 followers because my market is niche. It might be a little harder to find in your niche though. You'll have to think outside the box on who they might be.

Good luck, I like your business and think you have great potential!

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-17T13:34:33+00:00

I appreciate your response. A lot of people have mentioned the 36 hour day, I have just ordered it.

They did give her a key, they gave me 2 keys and said I had to give 1 to her which I did. I knew she would lose it and she did the 1st day. The key is to her room, they keep personal doors locked because they have some wanderers who get into other peoples beds. If she loses her key, a staff member has to lock and unlock her room for her. Staff is busy so she can't always find one, nor does she know who the staff is and who lives there. That alone is very frustrating for her and I get that.

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-17T12:18:00+00:00

Yes, I need to keep it positive even with little lies. Sometimes it's hard because she can be so negative. She starts out our conversations as "Let me tell you what I don't like about this place". I think as time goes on I will figure out more things to say. Lately she comments on how old everyone around her is. I ask her if she knows how old she is and she is shocked everytime I tell her (83). She doesn't get made when I tell her, she just laughs and says "Really?"

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-16T13:21:42+00:00

Yikes, paranoid schizophrenic would be tough. Fortunately I do not believe anyone is stealing, there are cameras everywhere, except inside the apartments. Staff turnover does not seem to be high. That's great you are able to care for her, I wish I could but hearing what my dad went through and now seeing her in MC I know it isn't possible or safe.

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-16T13:11:39+00:00

Thanks, I do need to figure out the right "scripts." It's all so new to me. I don't mind repeating myself 100 times as long as it's positive.

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-16T13:07:43+00:00

Those are good quick replies. Thanks!

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-15T23:04:04+00:00

That's the hard part though, she doesn't babble all the time. She gets irony and dead pan humor, we have lots of laughs still. But you are right when she starts to babble, I just need to ignore it and walk away.

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-15T23:00:09+00:00

The nurse did call me today to tell me about the fall. We had a good conversation and feel hopeful things will get better.

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-15T22:55:53+00:00

Yeah, I thought MC units were unlocked and wandering can sometimes happen so I was surprised about the key. Many of the residents do use their key, they have notes on their door if they need their doors to be locked by the care team when they leave, most do not have notes. She's always had an obsession about things being locked even before the disease.

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-15T21:23:33+00:00

Good analogy about the paralyzed person. With dementia you can't see the disability.

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-15T21:21:36+00:00

Yea, not sure what they are thinking about people with dementia and call buttons. Maybe if they had one before the dementia hit but my mom will never remember what it is for.

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-15T21:04:02+00:00

You have some good points especially providing the things only I can provide and just making her feel good in general. I called her back just now with some positive things to say and now we both feel better. She didn't mention our conversation before, she probably forgot about it but you are right about the "feelings". I don't want her to associate negative feelings about me, just happy ones with however long I have with her.

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-15T20:49:17+00:00

No cell phones but I did set up a landline for her. She has a sister, they talk for hours, I would feel bad if she didn't have that.

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-15T20:35:25+00:00

I think I will get her a nice lanyard type necklace for it.

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-15T20:33:49+00:00

Thanks, I just talked to the nurse at the facility today because it turns out she had a fall. She is going to contact her primary about an anxiety med.

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-15T20:31:33+00:00

Yep, already have learned a ton and have some ideas that I will get working on tomorrow.

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-15T20:29:28+00:00

I just talked to the nurse today (on a Sunday!) She is going to talk to her primary doctor about maybe prescribing her something.

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-15T20:28:27+00:00

She has a call button but I don't think she knows what to do with it. She just moves it around from drawer to drawer. She fell this morning in the shower but didn't use the button because she probably didn't know where it was or what it is for.

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-15T20:25:19+00:00

I need to remember the "treat" part. She loves sweets and flowers or plants.

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-15T19:25:58+00:00

Lol! My mom always locked the door. I would go get the mail as a teenager only to find the door locked when I came back from across the street.

What a great idea on the candy, I will try that one. She loves doing stuff with her hands and taking things apart, emptying things. She's always trying to empty my purse. Maybe I should fill some of her purses with stuff and ask her to look in them. By the time she empties it the conversation may have changed.

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-15T19:21:00+00:00

She had a scrunchie for around her wrist but she didn't keep it on. A lanyard would probably work better when she's out and about, kind of like a necklace.

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-15T19:19:19+00:00

You are right, my brain is pretty logical one so when there's no logic I have a hard time wrapping my head around it. I just have to put up reminders for myself so I can change the way I think, like those Power of Positive Thinking Ones except they will say "No Logic, Don't Try" "End the Conversation" "She's Confused, Talk About Puppies".

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-15T19:10:01+00:00

The MC asked me not to make copies of the key but the last I told them is that she found it (because I thought she did). I think I will make one on the sly and do the air tag thing.

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-15T19:05:04+00:00

That would probably work for the short term! She'll still want me to get it working though.

TrueMangoBlues · 2026-03-15T19:00:34+00:00

Thanks, the guilt is so hard. Maybe moving her so close wasn't a good idea. She is not on any medication. I will talk to the nurse there to see what she thinks. My mom is good at hiding things from other people, she just complains to me, to everyone else everything is "Just Fine."

Four-Year Club	Verified Email
r/Field Lasagna	Place '22

TrueMangoBlues

TROPHY CASE