From Failure to Freedom

Hello, As we transition from 2024 to 2025, I wanted to take a moment to reflect and share my journey.

Finding Hope in the Face of Failure

In the winter of 2020, I found myself on the verge of failure as an Amazon seller. I was struggling with the question, "How can I close my business while minimizing my losses?" In my search for answers, I came across a group chat run by Bopyo, a YouTube creator whose channel had been a key resource when I first started selling on Amazon.

Through that group, I began learning about advertising. For the first time, I was able to make sales without incurring losses in my very first month. While my initial goal was to cut my losses and close the business, I caught a glimmer of hope. I started to wonder, "What if I could keep this business going?"

The Struggles of Starting Over

But the reality was harsh. I didn’t have enough funds, and my family wanted me to focus on household responsibilities and childcare. When I mentioned that I planned to quit, everyone was in favor of it.

Still, I couldn’t deny how much I enjoyed the process of running my business. Even though I wasn’t making money, the learning and challenges brought me joy. So, I decided to take a leap of faith and start again.

I registered my brand’s trademark AURORA PIN with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and listed a new product.

Around the same time, a friend told me about a part-time job as a school disinfection assistant at a middle school. It wasn’t much money, but I desperately needed it, so I took the job. It involved working three to four hours a day and earning about $400 a month.

Initially, I was told it would only involve spraying disinfectant, which didn’t seem too hard. However, when I started, I had to clean students’ lockers, wipe window frames, and even carry large metal trays in the cafeteria.

At that time, I was juggling housework, packing hair clips, working on graphic design, and managing other business tasks.

My daily routine involved doing chores in the morning, working the part-time job at school, returning home for more housework in the afternoon, and staying up late to pack products and complete computer tasks. Many nights, I’d collapse on the floor from exhaustion. Carrying heavy trays took a toll on my shoulders, and my worsening neck issues required expensive medical treatment.

Despite the physical challenges, I found an unwavering sense of determination within me. I realized that being an Amazon seller offered me the freedom to work independently and design my business on my own terms. This realization made me feel incredibly fortunate.

Gratitude and Growth

Over time, I began to recover the losses from my initial product launch. By the end of 2021, I finally reached the breakeven point.

Grateful for the help I had received from Bopyo’s group, I started sharing what I knew with beginner sellers. I also became actively involved in the Korean Amazon seller community, Seller Kingdom, sharing my experiences to help others avoid the mistakes I had made.

Two years later, I had the opportunity to meet some of the people I had connected with online in person. To my surprise, they generously shared valuable business insights as a way of thanking me. With their help, my business began to grow further. I added more products, explored new marketing strategies, connected with various professionals, and even traveled to the U.S. for the first time this year.

Looking back, the entire journey feels like a dream. Though I still work late into the night, I’m filled with gratitude for where I am today.

Next time, I’d like to share insights I’ve gained from meeting thousands of people online and offline. I hope my experiences will inspire women who, like me, are looking to restart their careers or take a bold leap forward. Let’s move into 2025 with hope and determination, working hard together toward our goals!