How My Handmade Crochet Business Took Off
If you love crocheting, creating and crochet business, then you came to the right place.Hey there, I'm Karen. Owner, and founder of Canada Bliss. We are in the business of selling crochet and knit hats and accessories. This blog is a place where I talk about my passion for handmade crochet, business, and productivity. My goal is to share as much useful information as possible to help you start and grow your own business.Today, I am taking you back to where it all began. We are gonna get a little personal up in here. So, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and let’s get into it!!
Early days with crochet
It’s hard to imagine my childhood without crocheting or some type of crafting. My mom taught me how to crochet as a kid and I've been doing it since as a way to relax and unwind. Something about the rhythm and repetitiveness that I find calming and therapeutic. Seeing your creation slowly unfold is very rewarding. In 2012, I started a blog called Simple Career Life. I was working in corporate and at the same time crocheting as a hobby. It was during this period that I started to feel this underlying need to pursue something more creative in my life. I wasn't sure if I wanted it to come from my job or look outside of corporate work to exercise my creative license. Simply put, I was feeling dissatisfied.
So, I did what anyone did back in the early 2000s and started a blog..Like most crocheters, I got the idea of selling my handmade creations online. I started my Etsy shop with a few of my designs. Almost immediately I got good responses and feedback with my products. It gave me the fulfillment and creativity that I was looking for. I felt motivated to continue running my small business while working full-time.
In this video, I talk more about my personal story and how my Etsy business took off in detail..Solace in the face of adversity.
At the time that my business was picking up, our family was faced with devastating news. As life would have it, my husband was diagnosed with a cancerous skull-based tumor. Crochet played a big part in how I coped during this difficult time. It was a blessing that I had crochet projects to keep me busy because I spent a lot of time in waiting rooms and doctor’s offices. Fortunately, my husband survived cancer and he is still with us today. Happy and healthy.
From Etsy to Golden Globes
As my husband continued to get better and our family began to heal, something really amazing happened. An opportunity fell on my lap and I was invited to showcase my hats and bring them to the Golden Globe Awards for the nominees and presenters. I could not believe it!
Thanks to the wonderful ladies who helped me crochet I was able to bring a hundred of my hats to the Golden Globes. Celebrities like Viola Davis, RuPaul, and Gina Rodriguez wore my creations. It was a hit!
Various news outlets here in Canada featured my story following the Golden Globes. My business was getting a lot of media attention and traction. At that at some point, it was hard to keep up. The whole experience was so surreal and incredibly exciting. My online presence grew and that propelled me to grow my business and start working with local wholesalers and retailers here in Canada.
The Real Work Begins
It was all amazing. The Gloden Globes, New York Fashion Week, and all the business traction helped grow my business quickly. I learned so much about myself as a business owner. But, as much as I loved the progress that my business was achieving, the real work needed to be done. I had to build a strong foundation for my business. I needed to know my customers well and develop products that will serve them.
Migrating my business model to focus more on online business proved to be the best decision as I was able to connect with more people from different parts of the world.
Moving Forward
Our company continues to grow and serve our customers worldwide. You can find our products online at www.canada-bliss.com. We also offer our products through our partner wholesalers and retailers across Canada. I've also started a Youtube channel and leveraged my years of experience in HR and marketing to help other aspiring handmakers.
The purpose of the blog is to address the growing demand to share my knowledge in running a small business. I've since expanded my product-based business to coaching others on how to start and grow their own business.
Book your free exploration research call with Karen and talk about your handmade business. Here!
Shop Canada Bliss online: Here
More ways to connect
Bliss by Hand Facebook Group:
Bliss by HandMy YouTube channel:Watch here
Have a safe, healthy and happy handmaking life!