Are you getting too many sales in your online shop?
If not, and you want to experience what that is like, then listen up!
I met Alaina while going to art school in Knoxvilleand was immediately drawn to her thoughtful and bright way of being in the world. This chat inspired me to take her entrepreneurship class and catapulted me to wake up my sleepy online shop that never got much action. I’m just starting to implement some of her ideas but I got more sales in my shop overnight than i had had in 2 years!
Which is to say, grab a pen and get ready to take notes.
Seriously great ideas that can help your creative business to thrive!
And if you want the cliff Notes version you can head to my Patreon where I have a worksheet with some creative prompts, affirmations and a checklist for creative businesses. That’s at www.patreon.com\thymeinthestudio
Bio:
Alaina Smith is the hands and brain behind Cold Gold: an accessories brand specializing in colorful leather goods and geometric jewelry. She opened the company in 2013 after receiving her BFA in printmaking from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She has served on Knoxville’s Mayor’s Maker Council since 2016, and was committee chair of Knoxville’s Maker City Summit in 2018 and 2019. She also teaches an Etsy Craft Entrepreneurship class, which covers things like branding, photography, and optimizing Etsy listings for search. Along with that, Alaina has participated in 40+ craft fairs and 2 trade shows and sells her line to more than 80 retail stores worldwide.
Social:
Website: ShopColdGold.com
Instagram: @ShopColdGold
Thymelights:
Links to friends and mentors:
Tanika Harper: Tanika Harper runs three small businesses including Harper's Naturals, a skincare line that helps those with sensitive skin, and Shora Foundation, a non-profit that provides a safe space after school program and other services and resources to inner city teens in the East Knoxville area. We volunteer together with The Maker City, and have co-chaired The Maker City Summit together.
https://www.instagram.com/harpers_naturals/
https://www.instagram.com/shorafoundation/
https://www.instagram.com/themakercity/
https://www.instagram.com/shoprala/
Nanci Solomon of Rala: Rala sells eclectic handmade goods and art, including my own. I worked at Rala as a buyer and merchandiser for 7 years! Owner, Nanci Solomon, encouraged me to start Cold Gold, shared mountains of wisdom about owning a small biz, and has remained one of my biggest supporters to this day.
music by Aaron Travers
@aa.travers
https://www.instagram.com/aa.travers/
Thyme in the Studio links:
https://www.patreon.com/thymeinthestudio
https://www.etsy.com/shop/AidaZeaArts
https://www.instagram.com/thymeinthestudiopodcast/
https://www.instagram.com/aida.zea.arts/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/403582056803336/
www.aidazea.com
www.thymeinthestudio.com
Contact me: sara@aidazea.com
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