> Not easy being Queen February 13 2014

My “Wizard Of Oz” theory came to mind yesterday. 

We often joke that being small business owners is like dashing around in front of and behind a curtain, doing all kinds of jobs, wearing all kinds of hats. 

The “wizard” of the famous movie was a ticket taker, lever puller, wizard and even,          if you will, a life coach. 

Between Jeff and me, our responsibilities range from keeping bees, hammering together hive equipment, harvesting honey, bottling honey, graphic design, photography, branding, accounting — and sometimes even sales! 

So, imagine my delight to get a letter yesterday addressed to the “Complaint Department.” 

“Well, that’s a new one,” I thought, then opened the letter, wondering what the head of the newly formed Complaint Department should wear to work each day.  

It seems that a customer in Washington received one of our honey sampler crates for Christmas, but one of the jars leaked. She kindly asked for a replacement, followed with best wishes and blessings from God. 

We sent her a replacement the next day, along with two beeswax lip balms (since people in Washington probably need them more than anybody) and a handwritten note.  

I’m hoping that’ll be the end of the Complaint Department, but with growth come other challenges and more hats to wear. 

For example, I got a call the other day from a potential buyer who condescendingly asked, “Are you in a position to authorize samples being sent to us?” 

I wanted to say, “Not only am I in a position to, as in standing over boxes and tape, but I am The Queen Bee and can authorize anything I want.” 

Instead, with a wink at my dog, I said, “I think we can take care of that for you.”