TieDye - Oh How We Adore....COLORS!

Meet Sandy Mitchell, a fun loving 23year old based out of Atlanta, Georgia! She is the proud owner of Tie Dye By Sandy! She is passionate about what she does and it shines right through! We are so happy to have been able to catch her for a short interview! 

Building Bridges: Sandy, tell us a little bit about yourself, your family, and what you like to do for fun!

Sandy Mitchell: I have always had a knack for arts and crafts, and have been tie-dyeing since I was eight years old! My love of tie-dye started when I was younger and learned how to make my first shirt in girl scouts.  My mom was my Girl Scout leader, and she taught me everything I needed to know about tie-dye.  Now, I am continually expanding my skills and learning new techniques and patterns all the time!

Here is a picture of me with my girl scout troop wearing one of the first tie-dye shirts I ever made!  (I’m on the far left)

Building Bridges:  Why did you decide to open your shop and why sell on Etsy.com ?

Sandy Mitchell: When I was in high school, I would often wear my tie-dye creations to school, and soon my friends started buying them from me.  It was not until my third year in college that I got all of my resources together in order to successfully sell online.

Building Bridges:  When did your shop officially open?

Sandy Mitchell: June 12, 2012

Building Bridges:  Do you take custom orders?

Sandy Mitchell: I love custom orders! Most of the designs seen in my shop can be made in any size from newborn onesie up to adult 4XL.  Some of my favorite orders have been for school groups in custom spirit wear colors, or specially made shirts for wedding parties in the bride’s favorite colors.  I’ve also done custom tie-dye shirts for a rowing team in Manhattan, NY for a couple years in a row now.

    

Building Bridges:  What is your favorite part about owning your own business?

Sandy Mitchell: I love that I can constantly be thinking up new designs and creating wearable art.  I get SO excited when I try something new and it becomes not only a favorite in my house amongst my family and friends, but when I get positive feedback from customers all over the country and the world.  Having my own shop lets me have a very rewarding creative outlet, and I am so very grateful to everyone who has helped me get to this point.

Building Bridges:  Do you have a product that you prefer to design/create over others?

Sandy Mitchell: I love all of my shirts and clothing, but I do have color combinations that I like better than others.  Classic rainbow is an old standby, but newer color combinations such as my Inverted Rainbow Spiral which includes some rich black dye for contrast and are really fun to make.

Building Bridges:  Do you have any advice for other crafters who would like to start selling their creations?

Sandy Mitchell: Do your research before you dive in! Everyone has the potential to be successful.  I spent about sixth months researching, preparing, and gathering everything I needed before I jumped into selling online.  I read through countless articles and etsy forum posts to learn the does and don’t of selling online.  Don’t give up! It will probably be slow when you first start out, but working, tweaking, and promoting a little bit every day will bring success.

Building Bridges:  We love to attend craft markets - do you?

                                    
Sandy Mitchell: I love attending, and being a part of them.  I haven’t done many, but a few small craft festivals I was a part of were so much fun, and also a lot of work! ;)
I sold already made tie-dyes, but I also set up a make-your-own tie-dye shirt booth that was a hit for both kids and adults!

                                      

Building Bridges:  Do you use your own products?

 
Sandy Mitchell: Yes!  It’s funny, but I’m pretty sure half of my wardrobe is tie-dyed :P

Building Bridges:  What is your most popular product on the market right now?

Sandy Mitchell: My most popular product is my Inverted Rainbow Spiral Hoodie

  Building Bridges: What is the favorite item you make and why?

Sandy Mitchell: Currently, my favorite item is a new tshirt design that I have been playing around with.  I like it because even though there are lots of tie-dye artists out there, I feel this is especially unique combining different techniques that I have learned.

Building Bridges: Thanks so much for the Interview Sandy!! You can follow Sandy on her tie dye adventures through Etsy  Facebook, Twitter, and Wanelo. Feel free to send her a convo via Etsy for custom orders!

 

 

 

Stickees - The Sign & Vinyl Decal Place for You!

Today we have a FAR OUT feature and product review with Stickee's owner - John Moore! He has a shop on Etsy & Amazon, with AMAZING vinyl decals available for purchase around the clock....oh and don't forget this guy does custom orders that will knock your socks off! We also have the privilege of owning and displaying several of his creations in our own home!!

 

A little about me, was born in Maine and grew up in Connecticut, lived in Florida for a few years before coming to Texas, as they say "I wasn't born here but got here as fast as I could" not real sure who they are but am here none the less. I have 3 of the most awesome children known to man, a son, and 2 daughters of which I am very proud of and then there is my bestest grandson, he's 3, he's the best grandson since the invention of grandsons! As for fun, I raced motorcycles for many years and now just ride for fun, also enjoy road and mountain bicycling, it's the only way I can wear Spandex in public and not get arrested! I also enjoy cooking, cleaning, movies, live music, Formula 1, Motocross, MotoGp, Supercross, camping, fishing, and reading.

What I sell: Banners, Magnetic signs, T-shirts, Screen Printing, Truck and Auto Signage and Graphics, Logo and Design Creation / Company Branding and Other neat Stuff.

My entry into Signs and Decals: was in 1984, I started out making magnetic signs then met a man that had been in the Sign Business since the 1940's, he took me under his wing and taught me so much, from there I started painting billboards and signs, trucks and screen printing at the time I was a Counselor with Teens and Adults with addiction and mental health issues for many years, like most social work it didn't pay much, not that money is everything just with starting to raise a family needed a more stable income so God (as He always does) opened some doors to Signage, at that point I didn't think I had a creative bone in my body, but if God opens the door He will give you the means to do it, so I became a sponge and with lots of passion and hard work I have now been in business over 30 years, I love my work!

Custom Orders: Yes! I am very creative and the sky is the limit to what I can do with Signage, Banners, T-shirts, I have designed thousands of logos and Signs over the years as well as done work for many major Corporations and outsourced my talents to many Sign Companies and Ad Agencies.

My Favorite Part of Business: I love my job, I love being creative, taking a customer’s concept and expending on it, I am blessed beyond measure to be able to do something I love and get paid to do it!

Products I prefer to do: Pretty much everything I do I enjoy, if I was to pick just one I would say creating Company Branding.

Advice for Start up Businesses: This could take hours and volumes to truly cover it, business is a beast that can never truly be fed and if you don't have a passion for what you are going into business  the ups and downs will be very disheartening, fact is it's like a roller coaster, when it's good, it's good and when it's slow and can be stressful, what I have learned with my business as well as having a front row seat to many start up businesses over the last 30 years due to the fact most people need signage or some form of advertizing is to not over spend in the beginning, plan on a minimum of 1 year before you actually start to recoup a bit of your investment, it's a fact that of 100 businesses that start on January 1st less than 50 are still open by December 31st with most small businesses. It is very important to delegate and not carry the whole load, focus on your strengths and outsource or find someone that is smart in other areas, Building Bridges Marketing has been a great example of people who are good with Social Media at low prices customized just for you! One thing I have learned is that you just cannot do it all yourself. Although I spend hours on this the last things I will share are:

#1 Be good to your customers, the customer isn't always right but in the end do everything possible to make their experience in business with you a great one.

#2 Take time to smell the roses, meaning, business can take a huge amount of time, the world won't end if it doesn't get done, be good to yourself.

#3 Treat your employees good, raises, bonuses, small tokens of appreciation for the work they do for you, it pays huge to do so, it will come back to haunt you if you do not.

#4 This should be first, Give thanks, reach out in the community to help, get involved and donate not only dos it be attention to your business and develop relationships, word of mouth is your best advertizing.

Did I always see myself as an Entrepreneur? (Laughing out loud) Nope, but found out that although working for someone else is a good thing at times, working for yourself is better, although I now have many bosses and am always looking for work it is mine, well more so it's God's, but I have freedoms that few have with working for someone else.

Do I use my own products? Of course! T-Shirts, and my signage an business card designs.

John Moore

Stickees

4401 N. Frazier (Inside the most grooviest kids place on earth, 7 acre Wood)

Conroe, Texas
832.954.8984 

stickees1@yahoo.com

Thanks John for taking the time to chat with us!! We know you are super busy! We absolutely ADORE the custom decals you made for us! Note to customers - these vinyl decals are fabulously easy to apply to almost any surface! We even have some Spiderman decals on our cars, all thanks to Stickees! They come with easy to read instructions, and you basically just need to decide where you want then placed and apply! We will definately be back for more! So many birthday ideas come to mind! 

We also had custom Gilmore Girl & Harley Quinn details designed!

Custom "She Hulk" & "Batman" vinyl decal

 

 

Mother Napture – A Natural Way of Living

Happy Saturday everyone! Today we are welcoming Kema - creator of a wonderful business called Mother Napture! We had the lovely pleasure of meeting this wonderful family at a local vendor market back in April. 

Building Bridges: Tell us a little bit about you, your family, and what you like to do for fun!

Kema Ward: My name is Kema Ward. I am the owner and creator of Mother Napture. My partner is Nicholas Hopper and we have a 5 year old daughter named Aaralyn. We enjoy dancing; Aaralyn is currently taking ballet and Nicholas and I teach Bachata classes at Studio Mio in the Galleria. We also love exercise and being active. We all love being outdoors.

 Building Bridges: Why did you decide to open your shop and why sell on Etsy.com (if applicable)?

Kema Ward:I decided to open my online shop at www.mothernapture.com to reach a wide variety of people that may be seeking natural products and/or information.

Building Bridges: Do you mind sharing the origin of how Mother Napture came to be? 

Kema Ward: I started making products for myself and my daughter after my Aunt passed away very young. She'd lost her battle with breast cancer. She was a very well established beautician and I was convinced that the chemicals she was exposed to on a daily basis for pretty much all of her adult life, contributed to her demise. So I started with hair products, then later as I did more research and learned more, I added skin care. Somewhere in this journey, I became vegan and overall a more healthy person. We started with just 2 products today, I have 9 products and we are preparing to launch item #10 This summer and #11 late in the summer. We are always growing and thinking of new, innovative ways to replace chemicals in our homes and lives. We do after all live in a chemically saturated age. I'm so grateful to get back to the earth, back to nature...back to God(love). 

Building Bridges: Did someone encourage you to start a business?

Kema Ward: Yes. My friends and family encourage me to sell my products.

Building Bridges: When did your shop officially open?

Kema Ward:Mothernapture.com launched in April of 2013

Building Bridges: Do you remember your first product that sold, what was it?

Kema Ward: Yes, randomly I do. It was the first version of what is now our Hair and Body Butter.

Building Bridges: Any current shop promo discounts, if so when do they end?

Kema Ward: Right now if you like us on Facebook you can get a code to get 20% off of your next purchase that is over $25.00, this is an ongoing promotion?

Building Bridges: Do you take custom orders?

Kema Ward: We make flax seed gel and Mother's mud to order and only for local clients because of their shelf life. They are heat sensitive.

Building Bridges: Why make handmade products? If applicable

Kema Ward: We make our products by hand from quality, raw ingredients to add a personal touch. And by making the products myself, I can be sure of all of the ingredients and with confidence say that my products are chemical and alcohol free.

Building Bridges: What do you love or hate about selling?

Kema Ward: I love being able to offer people something that is good for them and made with love.  I hate the "selling" aspect of it. A lot of times I will barter other goods and services. Other market venders are usually up for a fair trade.

Building Bridges: What is your favorite part about owning your own business?

Kema Ward: I can try all types of things owning my own business. Set my own schedule. There is a freedom that makes me less stressed that people are in traditional work environments. My personality can shine through in the end.

Building Bridges: Do you have a product that you prefer to design/create over others?

Kema Ward: No not really. I love making all of my products. The least fun is the lip balms. That process can get a bit mess. But at the end of the day, I love what I do. If I didn't I would not have made it my business...my baby.

Building Bridges: Do you have any advice for other crafters who would like to start selling their creations?

Kema Ward: Be patient with yourself and your business. Don't expect to make massive amounts of money the first year, no matter how great your product is. Work on building good customer relationships and the rest will fall into place.

Building Bridges: Best advice you received when you went into business for yourself?

Kema Ward: My aunt told me not to borrow any money. Start small and build with what you earn. It was the best advice EVER. I don't owe any money and my business is much bigger than it was a year ago. 

Building Bridges: We love to attend craft and vendor markets - do you?

Kema Ward: Craft and vendor markets are where we meet most of our customers. It is a chance to really showcase the products to people by allowing them to sample. I love markets. 

Building Bridges: Do you ever get nervous the night before a big event?

Kema Ward: Sometimes, I am always a little scared of rejection by the masses.

Building Bridges: Did you always see yourself becoming an entrepreneur? 

Kema Ward: No way. 5 years ago, I was in such a different place. If you told me that I would start my own business in a few years, I would have told you that you were crazy. 

Building Bridges: Do you use your own products?

Kema Ward: Absolutely! The entire reason Mother Napture got started was because I was making product for myself, close family and friends.

Building Bridges: What is your most popular product on the market right now?

Kema Ward: It would be a toss-up between the Facial System and the Body Butter

Building Bridges: What is the favorite item you make and why?

Kema Ward: The butter. I love watching the hard shea become fluffy, whipped goodness right before my eyes

Building Bridges: Thank you Kema for a great look into your business! Feel free to visit her business pages at: MotherNapture, Facebook, Twitter - @mothernapture, Tumber – Mothernapture, & Instagram -  @mothernapture. Kema resides in Texas with her lovely family.