Operation Studio / Storefront

Hi! My story began January of 2016 when I learned I was about to have a major surgery. At that time I worked in the truck equipment industry and had for many years. At the same time I ran a small Etsy shop selling unique hand stamped washer bracelets. While I was out on medical I put my shop into vacation mode which retained my shop name but did not show any products. One week after I returned to work I was laid off due to cutbacks in the company. Now, I know this sounds like a sob story, but to the contrary, I am not one to be let down or give up easy! I immediately reopened my Etsy shop, but because I had been away from some time sales were non-existent. As I continued to seek employment, I made sure to take in all the advise I could on how to build my online business. We took a room in my house and made a studio specifically for me. I came up with a new store name and some fun new products. I put in many many hours researching, learning, networking, advertising, all while trying to keep costs as low as possible (after all I was still unemployed). After several months my little business began to take off! Not a fortune, but certainly enough to grow my little business and live on. Fast forward 10 month and I have outgrown my home studio. I have found a small space within walking distance to my house that has light foot traffic and very affordable rent that I would love to lease for a studio / small storefront. However, my husband is worried that if my sales drop we might find ourselves in an awful bind of being locked into a year lease and having extra bills that we would have otherwise not endured had I remained in my home studio. I feel this move would provide stronger credibility for my web presence to have a physical location, as well as bring me customers that I may have not had otherwise. I love meeting people it inspires my creative nature. Having a home studio is wonderful, but it does make it tough to meet new people. My goal is to be able to pay the entire year lease and have a little to help with set up costs so that I can continue to grow my business into the new year! Any contribution is truly appreciated!