She Strengthens

Rekindling My Passion for Crafting

As a child, I was always drawn to creative pursuits. Whether it was painting rocks, collecting seashells, or making hemp necklaces, I found joy in creating something with my own hands. As I grew older, life got busy, and my crafting habits fell by the wayside. However, with the recent shutdowns, I’ve been given the opportunity to revisit my old hobbies and discover new ones.

The Mental Health Benefits of Crafting

Research has shown that engaging in creative activities can have a positive impact on our mental health, reducing stress and anxiety while increasing feelings of satisfaction and purpose. For me, crafting has become a way to cope with the uncertainty of the world and find meaning in a time that often feels flat.

Turning a Hobby into a Business

After a few expensive trips to the craft store, my roommate and I decided to turn our hobby into a small business. We started by determining our brand and focus, deciding to sell mask chains, which have become a timely and practical accessory. We then created a stock of products, tested them on friends and family, and figured out our pricing.

Establishing an Online Presence

Next, we established an online presence by taking high-quality photos of our products and setting up an Instagram account. We decided to sell directly through Instagram, which allows us to communicate with customers and offer a personalized experience. However, we may consider expanding to platforms like Etsy in the future.

Marketing and Promotion

To market our business, we use Instagram’s “follow people you know” tool to reach out to our network, share our profile on our personal accounts, and encourage our customers to share and tag us. We also post regularly to keep the momentum going and accumulate user-generated content.

Tracking Income and Impact

As our business grows, we track our income and expenses using a spreadsheet, making it easier to balance our books and prepare for tax season. We’ve also decided to donate a portion of our proceeds to a local support network in Toronto, which gives us a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

The Ups and Downs of Running a Business

Running a business, no matter how small, comes with its challenges. There’s the stress of managing orders, inventory, and finances, but there’s also the joy of seeing happy customers and making a difference in our community. Overall, turning my hobby into a business has been a positive experience, and I hope to inspire others to do the same.