Craft Cafe Artisan Interview - Aphrodite's Attique
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Meet Michele Wolfe from Aphrodite's Attique
♥ Please tell us about yourself:
I'm a 57 year old widowed mom and grandmom from northern Georgia, a mother hen and collector of "strays" (both 2- and 4-legged), spent most of my working life in office administration until illness and the economy forced me into "involuntary premature retirement", lol. I love playing with patterns and colors, and have been a crafter all my life, doing everything from crochet to soft sculpture and sewing, silk flower arrangement, paper crafts, and beading...whatever looks interesting and fun. When computers came along, I began to do graphic and website design, and digital art and photography - since I can't draw a stick figure with pencil and paper, it was thrilling to discover I could now create recognizable artwork, lol! When I'm not creating, I love to dance and cook (although I can't follow a recipe exactly to save my life), hang out with my family and friends, and have fun with my furry kids.
♥ How long have you been in business?
The Attique was officially opened in February 2012, and has been on Craft Cafe since mid-August.
♥ Please describe your business:
A little of this, a little of that, all handmade with love! Beaded jewelry and suncatchers, crochet apparel and accessories, printable graphics...and lots more to come!
♥ Tell us what inspires you:
Anything and everything! People, animals, nature...something I see, read, hear...a "challenge" (can I make something like this? what can I make with this?)...I also love things that can be used or worn in several different ways, and am always looking for unusual ways to use ordinary objects!
♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
Not sure if I've found my best techniques yet, lol, but I think social network marketing is going to be a big one, along with plain, "old-fashioned" networking...anything that spreads the word about you and your business.
♥ What do you love most about your business?
Doing what I love...and being able to do it any hour of the day or night, whenever the mood, need or inspiration arises!
♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
Divine intervention, lol! I had a store on another site, but wasn't happy with it, so I was researching other options and kept coming back to Craft Cafe - the price was very reasonable, there were no extra fees, I liked the store layout, it was a new venue with great possibilities for growth, and sellers there did seem to be making some sales....but I wasn't quite ready to commit. Then, one night, I was randomly browsing some CC stores when I hit on one called B'ead Unique, owned by a Tammy McCoy...and years ago, I was friends with a lady of the same name and had lost touch with her. My first thought was "naw, it can't be", but I followed her Facebook link, messaged her, and sure enough, it WAS her...and she highly recommended Craft Cafe. So I figured being reunited with an old friend through CC was the "sign" I was looking for, and I signed up for my store that week...and have been very happy - with the site itself, with the "family" of CC store owners, and with the wonderful, helpful folks behind the scenes who really do seem to have our best interests at heart!
♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
Since I'm just starting out myself, this might be a little presumptuous, but I'd say "PROMOTE, PROMOTE, PROMOTE"! Take any opportunity to get your name and your product out there in front of people in a positive way - enter contests, do interviews like this one, swap business cards, ask for positive feedback/word of mouth from your customers, teach a class or write a tutorial - think outside the box and get creative, you never know what might work. Also, don't give up - it takes time and effort, but if you believe in yourself and your creations (and promote, promote, promote), eventually you'll find your niche...at least, that's what I tell myself!
♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
Supporting me well enough that I can delay using my Social Security benefits, lol! By then, I'd like to have a solid customer base online (with an ever-growing online presence), and have my creations in several local "brick and morter" stores. Ultimately, I'd like to have the need to, and be able to, employ/contract a few folks (even part-time) to help with crafting, shipping, and whatever else needs to be done. Hey, if you're going to dream, you might as well dream big!
♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
Get 15% off your order with coupon code "ccblogaa" - and thanks for shopping with Aphrodite's Attique at Craft Cafe!
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We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to Michele for all her love and support.
Be sure to visit Aphrodite's Attique soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook / Pinterest
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