Pivoting My Business Across an Ocean (And Back Again)
Amber Budzyski of Bud Fam Co. Shares their PCS Journey
As a military family, you move a lot, and that can be challenging even when you’re moving within the US from state to state. But when you move overseas to a different country, that’s a whole other added layer of challenges.
As a business owner, you pour your heart and soul into building your brand, establishing your presence, and accumulating all those essential business supplies etc. Last year, we PCS’d to Australia, and having to pack up my machines, craft supplies, and other business essentials with just the hopes and a prayer that everything would arrive undamaged was so nerve-wracking to say the least. I wondered if I’d be able to continue my business with this move, and what it would look like to do so in another country, and so many other questions swirled in my head!
The opportunity to live in a different, beautiful country was definitely a wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we’ve made the most of it. But business-wise, I wasn’t ready to hit pause on the business I’ve worked so hard to grow. I wanted to continue my business when we moved to Australia, but there were quite a few hurdles. I naively thought somehow I’d be able to easily continue just as before. But I had to wait for all my craft supplies and packaging to even arrive from the USA to AUS which took about 3 months; there was one slowdown. Then, because of the tariffs on Australia and then Australia not shipping to the USA for a short time, that was another “pause”. Shipping out of Australia was just not happening, even after tariffs went down, the shipping prices were still not low enough. I learned it is a definite “NO” when it comes to using military addresses/PO boxes for business, so that wasn’t an option. Furthermore, because our housing is defense housing, you cannot operate a business from your home. All these things led me to my decision to pause and pivot. I still have been able to make things as gifts for others and for my own kiddos, so I was able to keep up with social media by posting my creations. Luckily, I also had inventory in a store in my home state, Washington, that I still got sales from, which was great to feel like I didn’t completely stop my business completely.
Navigating being a business owner as a military spouse definitely has its challenges, even when moving stateside for example, and having to build up a presence in a new location, and other challenges, not just difficulties when moving overseas. But I’m so grateful to be able to pursue my passion while still supporting my spouse’s career wherever we move. I’m still learning and tackling new obstacles time and time again, but I couldn’t do it without the support of my husband, family, and my supportive community and loyal customers who support me wherever I go. I’m incredibly grateful for all the love and support over the years, and I’m so thankful I can continue to do it as a mom and military spouse.
And now... She’s PCSing again!
Amber just made the journey from Australia all the way to Kansas. Talk about a transition! Going from an overseas posting back stateside comes with its own set of logistics — re-establishing supply chains, navigating customs on the way back, rebuilding a local customer base, figuring out shipping costs all over again, and so much more.
So this one’s for Amber — and for every MilSpouse business owner facing a big move:
What’s your #1 PCS tip for hitting the ground running with your business?
Maybe it’s:
How you handle shipping inventory/equipment internationally OR back to the US
Workarounds for base/defense housing restrictions
Lessons learned from overseas-to-stateside transitions
How to quickly rebuild momentum in a new location
Favorite resources, groups, or programs for milspouse entrepreneurs
Drop your best tip below — let’s make sure Amber (and everyone else gearing up for their next PCS) has a toolkit of real, lived-experience advice from this community.
We’ve got each other’s backs!
