Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Beth Legge, owner of Boerne Handmade Market, located in Boerne, TX, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is Boerne Handmade Market; it is a two-day, handmade-only market located in Boerne, TX. Our customers are people that love to support local, handmade and unique makers. My customers are also the vendors. I see BHM as a business that is for the vendors as much as for the shoppers. I want vendors to always feel like they were thought of and well taken care of for our market.
Tell us about yourself
I'm a stay-at-home mom to two little ones that also loves to make things. I'm your typical " I could make that" lady that attempts all the DIY's. A friend of mine started BHM in the fall of 2012 with a different business partner. When her partner left BHM to start a nonprofit, I stepped in. I LOVED coordinating BHM together. We went to markets all over Texas to find handmade vendors, scoured Etsy, and spent HOURS reaching out to makers. In 2019 my sweet friend moved, and BHM became just mine! I thoroughly enjoy almost all aspects of the market. I love hearing shoppers talk about their excitement for an upcoming BHM- and it's equally thrilling when vendors recommend the market to their friends!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I think our biggest accomplishment is surviving the pandemic. I moved three markets online, which in a way, was super fun- we got to have some vendors from out of state participate and met some new friends! But, this was VERY time-consuming. I was on my phone for 15-18 hours a day monitoring posts, making sure there were no scams, making sure posts were getting up in time, and organizing time slots. It was A LOT. I was SO happy to have BHM back in person in 2021!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Juggling! I run BHM as well as a balloon business and clean beauty business; I ALWAYS have something I should be doing- but I also have to fit in squirt gun fights with my babies, bath times, and dinner and bedtime stories. It's a lot and usually means my only consistent "work hours" are 8 pm-10 pm and during naptime.
I'm very thankful for the notes app otherwise, I'd be a scattered mess!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure you LOVE it. There are going to be hard times, and you have to love it enough to stick with it.
- Make sure your family loves it. I could not run BHM without my husband, mom, kiddos, and best friends. They all step in over the prep months and at the actual market to help me. There's no way I could do it alone.
- Wait to send emails. I used to be the worst about responding to emails right away, firing off my feelings. I have been so blessed to have awesome partners and bosses that have helped me take a deep breath before losing my mind and typing out my exact thoughts.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Boerne Handmade Market is one of my major loves. There are parts that are excruciating- sending rejection emails, in particular, is incredibly hard. But, I try to remain focused on making BHM a destination market- one vendors WANT to be at, and shoppers come from all over to attend. I hope that as we near our tenth anniversary, BHM continues to be fun for everyone there!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.boernehandmademarket.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boernehandmademarket
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boernehandmademarket/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.
