Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in arts and crafts but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jennifer Parr, owner of DIYvinci, located in Peoria, IL, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

DIYvinci is an art supply online retail shop that I founded in September of 2016. Today, we offer quality art and craft supplies, easy-to-follow craft kits, home decor, and digital products such as printable coloring pages and quilling patterns.

The idea for DIYvinci came to life after hearing from multiple people that they wished they could be creative but didn't believe they had the ability to. I firmly believe that it isn't that they don't have the ability to be creative, but instead feel that it can be difficult to start a project without any previous knowledge on how to use the medium and the additional pressure they put on themselves to create something attractive. This leads to many hanging up their creative crafts for good after only one or two tries. My solution to this was to create kits that showed exactly how to create a finished project. This offers reassurance to those who are trying something new and proves to them that they can create.

Tell us about yourself

I’ve often been asked why I feel it is important for others to explore their creativity. Everyone’s art journey begins in different ways. Some are looking for a hobby to keep them busy, while others prefer to learn skills that may someday turn into a new career path. While these reasons are true for me, creating art has been so much more. To me, it’s a process of self-discovery, confidence-building, and healing.

It wasn’t until age 30 that I was finally able to put a name to my lifelong struggles. I discovered I am autistic, ADHD, Dyslexic, and Dyspraxia. Art is both meditative and therapeutic. I love developing ideas and concepts for artwork that focus on a particular emotion or subject that is important to me. Tapping into my creativity has been such a blessing. It has become my passion for helping others discover their creative voice. My personal artwork can be found at www.JenParr.com.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I believe success isn’t measured by one monumental event but by a series of small events that make up the whole journey. I’d say the biggest accomplishment as a business owner is becoming one by taking that first step into the entrepreneurial adventure.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

As a small business, we face many challenges, including space for inventory, having enough working capital, affording marketing efforts, and being overshadowed by large corporations. Over the years, we’ve been creating to combat this by utilizing the personal property for inventory, exploring free and minimal cost advertising solutions, and keeping our products unique while stocking more hard-to-find items larger stores don’t usually carry and developing our own unique items.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Community is everything. Not only is connecting with other entrepreneurs essential but connecting with your audience within their community will help you learn and grow.
  2. Be authentic and unique. It can be tempting to try to look and sound corporate in the beginning to make your business seem more authoritative. However, this will quickly cause your business to become lost among the countless of other small businesses out there. Being authentic will not only feel right to you, but it will draw the right audience to your company because you’re offering something no one else can.
  3. Pivot. Businesses change over time. It’s critical to learn how to pivot and handle change, seeing it as an opportunity instead of a roadblock.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Our future goals include expanding our newly launched social networking platform called DIYvinci Studio. This allows us to connect with our customers and other creatives beyond a simple transaction. This is where we share tips information, share artwork, offer courses, live virtual events, and connect with our audience on a personal and global level. This platform can be found at www.DIYvinci.Studio.

I truly believe a connection with an audience is essential. Not only do I wish to educate our followers on how to use their art and craft supplies, but I also receive feedback to help make decisions about how best to serve our community. Being a neurodivergent, I have also come to realize that many of us who are autistic use art as a way to communicate. Since we also enjoy online spaces, I am also using this platform as a safe space for others like me who wish to express themselves through art.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://diyvinci.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diyvinci
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diyvinci/

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.