Closing Welcoming Haven

 A Comedy of Errors (Mostly Mine)

When Your Online Store Has More Tumbleweeds Than Customers

I have an announcement today, and don’t worry — it’s not about another sale, coupon code, or “limited‑time offer.” Welcoming Haven, my brave little online store, is officially closing its virtual doors. If this were a movie, this is the part where the sad violin music plays while a single cardboard box gets carried out of an empty warehouse.

For seven months, I gave it everything I had: money, time, energy, and enough tears to qualify as a small saltwater ecosystem. I followed every expert tip, every “success is just around the corner!” pep talk, and every “don’t give up!” message from people who, frankly, weren’t the ones paying the bills.

And then tax season arrived like a spotlight at a crime scene. Let’s just say the numbers were… enlightening. I won’t share the total amount I spent on setup, ads, and fees, but I will say this: I lost my Amazon affiliate status because I couldn’t drive three qualifying sales in six months. Three. I have two cats who knock more things off tables in a day than I sold in half a year.

The Great Traffic Mystery (or: 6,000 Visitors and Not One Buyer)

At one point, paid ads brought in over 6,000 visits a week. Six. Thousand. That’s more people than live in some small towns. And yet not a single one of them clicked “add to cart.” I’m convinced some of them were just bots wandering the internet looking for snacks.

When the ad budget finally tapped out, traffic dropped to about 300 visits a week. You can imagine the math. Actually, don’t. It’s depressing.

Shopify eventually suggested I hire a consultant, and one was recommended. He worked on commission, which means he made exactly as much money as I did: zero. I’m guessing Welcoming Haven won’t be featured in his portfolio of success stories.

What’s Next (Besides Not Crying Over Abandoned Carts)

So yes, Welcoming Haven is closing. I’m sharing this not for sympathy, but because if anyone out there is thinking of starting an online store, I want you to know the truth: it’s not all sunshine, passive income, and “I made $10,000 my first month!” You can work hard, be honest, and do everything right — and still end up with a store that’s basically a very expensive hobby.

I’ll still share the occasional affiliate link for products I genuinely like, but I promise not to turn Around Dusty Roads into a nonstop infomercial. This space has always been about stories, curiosity, and connection, and that’s where I’m happiest.

Maybe I’m not cut out for e‑commerce, but I am cut out for writing, exploring, and laughing at myself — and that’s exactly what I plan to keep doing.

Last Day is February 26