Lasers + COLORS - SnowMade

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in arts and crafts but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Chelsea Snow, founder of SnowMade, located in Portland, OR, USA.

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

SnowMade is a woman-owned, family-run micro-manufacturer, design lab, and art studio. We make colorful laser-cut gifts and custom fabricated products. We believe in supporting independent brick and mortar shops, which is why you will only find our products in over 700 locally-owned small/medium-sized gift and specialty shops throughout the country. Our work is designed to make you laugh, to bring a little joy, and to remind you that everything is (probably) going to be fine.

Tell us about yourself

I grew up in retail - my mom and aunt opened a store when I was 6, and I worked there from day one. My sister now runs the store. It's in our DNA. What I learned from that early experience, as well as running my own shop later in life, is that small business owners are my people. They are resourceful, hard-working, creative, resilient, kind, committed, and interesting. I've always known I would run my own business because it's the only way I get to guarantee that I work with awesome people, both the amazing folks that help me run the studio as well as the incredible buyers who keep coming back for more. Having these relationships has not only inspired and encouraged me to grow my product line, they have helped me build a truly sustainable business.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

After the past two years, just existing feels like a huge accomplishment! But for real, last year, I took a big risk moving into a big space, having been operating in an extremely lean and makeshift capacity. This move allowed me to make space for myself (I have an office, sort of!) and begin to tiptoe into that elusive "life-work balance" everyone is always talking about. Plus, I can walk to work, which is the absolute best.

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

Starting a business on one's own, you learn to do all of the things. So when you grow, those things become bigger and sometimes unmanageable. For me, the hardest thing is knowing how and when to delegate–and allowing others to take the reins. Or, to put it another way: how to stay in control without being a freak.

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

A lot of creative people get turned off by numbers and planning, so my #1 tip is to treat your business plan as a creative project. Use your imagination to dream up ideas and outcomes, and then use your logic to figure out the steps to get there. My second tip has to do with money: get comfortable with it. Learn to love it, or at least make friends with it. I recommend Bari Tessler's book "The Art of Money" as a starting point. So often, our unconscious beliefs about money get in the way of real success. The third is to surround yourself with good people, smart people, funny people, and inspiring people. You get to choose who to do business with; make sure they are your people.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://snowmade.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/snowmadeprojects/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snowmade/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/snowmade/

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.