29-04-2025
Heartbreaking moment Aussie small business owner, 27, weeps after making zero sales at popular Sydney market
A young Australian business owner has broken down in tears after she made zero sales throughout the entire day at a popular Sydney market.
Caoimhe Stewart, 27, founded activewear brand BEAU in 2024 and spent $450 to prepare for her stall at the harbour city's Glebe Markes recently.
BEAU stocks a range of leggings, tops, and shorts that can transition from the gym to everyday life with the aim of making women "feel confident in their skin."
However, Caoimhe walked away from Glebe with a financial loss and 40 pieces of damaged goods after a market-goer accidentally knocked over a stock rack onto the rain-soaked ground.
"I put everything into bringing my small business to the Glebe markets, made zero sales, and someone accidentally knocked over my rail and ruined most of my items," the business owner said on TikTok this week.
On Tuesday, Caoimhe told she was heartbroken to have not made a single sale at the popular Saturday market in Sydney's inner west despite the flurry of people who flocked there in the Autumn downpour.
'I was so excited. I arrived early, between 7 and 8 am, to set up before the market opened at 10 am. Unfortunately, it rained heavily on and off all day," she said.
'It was heartbreaking. Not only had I invested so much into the day, but losing that much stock also set the business back financially.
'I went home completely exhausted, mentally, physically, and emotionally and of course, had a good cry.'
Caoimhe, who is originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, received widespread support after she shared her experience on social media.
One sympathiser said Glebe may not have been the ideal market to sell activewear as it typically attracted bargain hunters after vintage pieces.
"Glebe is probably not the correct market for active wear. I love Glebe markets and have never bought any new clothes from there - it's very much a 2nd hand/vintage clothes place," they said.
Another person echoed the sentiment and suggested Caoimhe move her stall to Bondi or Kirribilli markets to attract the right crowd.
"I feel like the crowd needs to be more of the wellness / active type!! Bondi markets and Kirribilli would be great; I feel like Glebe is for vintage/ thrift-type clothes," they said.
Another person shared their similar experience at a Sydney market where they made merely three sales.
"Meanwhile, I made $4000 online in the time I was at the market the same day. Never again, haha," the commentator said.
Caoimhe started BEAU with her own funds and no external investment, quickly growing the one-person brand.
The 27-year-old has avoided hiring external resources and wears multiple hats, from modelling her activewear to managing her website, social pages and bookkeeping.
And after her "soul-destroying" market experience, Caoimhe said she felt "inspired" and was "not giving up" on her business dream.
"I'm not giving up, just a bump on the road, I have a new collection launching in the next few weeks," she said on social media.
"You have to experience the lows to get to the highs... Just need to ride the wave and stick with it."
