‘Scary’: 28yo reveals heartbreaking moment she made zero sales at a popular market

A young Aussie has revealed the heartbreaking moment she realised she’d made no sales at a popular market.

Caley has just started her own business and she’s shared online why she feels so “embarrassed” after experiencing her first business fail.

The 28-year-old launched her business Bugsy in 2024, where she creates “sweet clothing for little girls”.

The idea for the business came to her when she was on maternity leave and feeling isolated.

She’s the first in her friend group to become a mum and, while it has been a wonderful experience, her business idea was a welcome relief from the daily parenting grind.

“You’re busy bored,” she explained.

It was still a leap of faith to start the business.

Caley invested $8000 in her children’s clothing line, which came from the savings she and her partner Marc had been putting together as a potential deposit for a home.

“It is so hard to get a house and what not, and my partner took a big chance because we are saving for a house,” she told news.com.au.

She invested $8000 into her business. Picture: TikTok/bugsy.thelabel

She creates beautiful clothing for kids. Picture: TikTok/bugsy.thelabel

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The 28-year-old said it was “so scary” to use the money they planned to set aside for a house for her business.

Caley explained that starting her business gave her a creative outlet and, as a self-confessed “control freak”, she immediately loved the fact that the brand was created with her own vision.

It has been hard though.

She took to social media to share her disappointment and horror when she took her clothing brand to the markets and made no sales.

“I’m super embarrassed,” she said.

Caley decided to hold a stall at the last minute at a popular Brisbane market and, while she didn’t think it would be a roaring success, she didn’t think the day would end up feeling pointless.

“I feel like such a big fat failure. I’ve just dragged my whole family through the mud,” she said.

She said she felt like a ‘failure’. Picture: TikTok/bugsy.thelabel

The response from her TikTok has been super positive and kind. Picture: TikTok/bugsy.thelabel

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Caley said that to prepare for the market, she and her family rushed around Brisbane to get all the things they needed for set-up.

“We got up at 3am on Sunday morning and sat at the markets for six hours, and for what? We didn’t make even one single sale,” she said.

She said the whole experience made her feel “embarrassed” and like a “loser”, especially because only four people stopped and inquired about her products.

Caley said it was hard to take the loss because she sets “high expectations” for herself.

“I felt deflated and sad and like I’d failed,” she said.

“It was pretty depressing.”

The silver lining has been the response from people online who reminded Caley that starting a business doesn’t mean instant success and that she should keep going.

“You’ve got this,” one wrote.

“Markets are hit and miss! We’ve all been there,” another promised.

“Keep going,” someone else encouraged

“The pathway to success is through failure,” another reminded.

Caley said the response has been “uplifting” and people have reached out and shared “really good advice”, which has been a much-needed morale boost.

“I would love for this to become my full-time gig. That is the goal,” she said.

Originally published as ‘Scary’: 28yo reveals heartbreaking moment she made zero sales at a popular market