Confessions of a Small-Town Shop Owner: Why My Hours Look… Different
When I first started Hillbilly Laser back in May of 2020, my “shop” wasn’t really a shop at all - or rather it was 100% construction "shop". I was very fortunate to launch my business in my dad’s construction building—out of town, out of sight, and honestly… kind of the perfect little bubble to figure things out.
That space gave me something I didn’t fully appreciate at the time: flexibility.
I was able to find a groove with workflow, experiment with my schedule, and build the business at my own pace. If it was a beautiful Minnesota day and orders were caught up, I could sneak away for a pontoon ride or run errands without a second thought. Work got done, customers were happy, and life felt pretty balanced.
Then came May of 2023… my dream expanded, renovated an amazing space and the move into my storefront in town.
And that’s when the chaos began.
When “Being Available” Became Too Much
When I opened my doors in town, I had a simple mindset:
be available whenever people need you.
Sounds great in theory… right?
In reality, it looked like people popping in all hours of the day, and me—your friendly neighborhood people-pleaser—feeling guilty for something as basic as taking a lunch break. Because what if someone stopped by and I missed them?
That went on for about a year. And if I’m being honest… it kicked my butt.
Finding Structure (the First Attempt)
Eventually, I realized I needed some boundaries, so I moved to more traditional hours:
Monday–Friday | 9–12, 1–5
It helped… a little.
But here’s the thing no one tells you about running a small shop—especially as a one-person operation: Personal appointments still need to be scheduled and every interruption, even a good one, breaks your production flow.
And don’t get me wrong—people walking through the door is a great problem to have. It means you’re showing up, supporting local, and keeping small businesses alive. I’ll never take that for granted.
But it also meant orders were taking longer, projects were getting pushed back, and I was constantly bouncing between “customer service mode” and “production mode” with no real rhythm.
What Works (For Me, Right Now)
So I made another shift—and made one of the best decisions for my business along the way: I brought on a part-time, kick-ass employee.
Enter Kristi—truly a gift from above.
She’s flexible, she crushes it in production, and she’s been an incredible help in being a friendly face for walk-ins when I’m not around. Having her on the team has made a huge difference—not just in workflow, but in overall sanity.
With that support in place, we also narrowed my open hours.
Now, Hillbilly Laser is officially open Wednesday–Friday.
And yes… our hours say we're closed Saturday through Tuesday.
But here’s the behind-the-scenes truth:
We're still working. A lot.
Those “closed” days are when we:
- Get caught up on production
- Work from home (sometimes in comfy clothes, no shame)
- Run errands or meetings without feeling like I’m letting someone down
- Actually focus long enough to finish things
In short—they’re my get stuff done days.
A Gentle Ask (From My People-Pleasing Heart)
If there’s one thing I’ve learned through all of this, it’s that we are technicallly a service shop (not retail space) and appointments are gold.
They help me:
- Be fully present with you
- Prepare for your project ahead of time
- Keep production on track
- Protect a little bit of sanity (we’re working on that part 😉)
So while walk-ins are always welcome during open hours,
appointments are truly preferred and deeply appreciated.
The Honest Part
If I’m really laying it all out there…
My people-pleasing self is still a work in progress.
I’ll probably still respond to a text on a “closed” day.
I’ll still try to help when I can.
But I’m also learning not to feel guilty if I miss someone who stops by unexpectedly.
Because this season?
It’s about building a business that’s sustainable—not just successful.
And that includes taking care of my mental health, too.
Thanks for Rolling With Me
Running Hillbilly Laser has been one big learning curve (with a few plot twists along the way).
But one thing hasn’t changed:
I’m incredibly grateful for this community and the support you continue to show.
You’re the reason I get to do this—and the reason I want to keep doing it well.
So thanks for the grace.
Thanks for the understanding.
And thanks for supporting a small-town shop that’s figuring it out as it goes.
Need to inquire about project?
Shoot me a message, send an email, or—better yet—set up an appointment.
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