Well I suppose it’s time for an update (I mean, its only been like….a year :P)
Once again, we are returning from the One of a Kind Show in Toronto (at least we were when I began writing this post over a month ago hehe). First things first, I want to say thank you so much to my friends, family, and amazing customers who came by to support us. Whether you sent us well wishes on social media, or you went out of your way to pay us a visit and show your support. You have no idea how much it means to us, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for just being there and showing some love. Also a super special thanks to those who came all the way from Huntsville to help setup, visit, restock, and take down (you know who you are, and you’re amazing!). The show went off without a hitch and we will be returning again next year! As many of you know I have recently purchased a new saw that I am absolutely in love with and therefore have added a new line to our collection. Be sure to check in soon to see more of our new designs! I also applied and was accepted to the By Hand wholesale show at the International Centre in Toronto. This is my first wholesale show so I’m a weee bit anxious…. and excited. We also have some new designs that I can’t wait to share! I will keep you posted on how it goes :) Until next time, Heidi
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My oh my! What an adventure!
I must say, since quitting my teaching carreer before it got a chance to even really begin and starting my own business, it seems that some sort of ambitious, work-loving, volcano has erupted inside me. I don’t think that if someone else told me I had to work 40-70 hours a week, live with my parents for basically the rest of my life and destroy their house day in and day out…well, lets just say, you couldn’t pay me enough. BUT it seems that starting your own business is a lot like having a baby (or so I imagine :P) and here is how:
We got accepted to the OOAK Show in Toronto, which is mostly exciting… but also terrifying! Making sure we’ll have enough stock and designing/building a booth is enough to keep me busy for a year…except I don’t have a year… I have a month! EEK! For those of you that are not familiar with the One Of A Kind Show, it is largest consumer craft show in North America. Their Christmas Show features more than 800 exhibitors (from Canada & Uniter States) and is attended by 140,000 shoppers. This is our first big show, so we are treading even more into unfamiliar waters (and que the anxiety!). The show runs from Nov 26th- Dec 6th (we’ll be there for the first 5 days), so if you’re looking for unique gifts for Christmas, be sure to head to the OOAK Show in Toronto and pay us a visit! We have also become partners with Ontario Wood; an organization that aims to bring light to the importance of, and the impacts of using locally produced lumber. You can learn more about them here: http://www.ontario.ca/business-and-economy/ontario-wood. And, thanks to the good fellas over there at Ontario Wood, we were featured in House & Home’s online Christmas Gift Buying Guide! And, last but not least you can now purchase Muskoka Folk pieces from Stone Home Design in Collingwood (for more information, check out their website at: http://www.barnbuiltfurniture.com/#!contact/c1wn8. Until next time, Heidi The past six months have been such an adventure for me! It has certainly had its ups and downs, but I could not be happier with where it has brought me, and so I want to take a minute to say THANK YOU to all of the people that have encouraged, supported, and believed in our business along the way. I am continuously amazed by the support and resources offered to new businesses, not only from other businesses in the community, but by family, friends, and strangers! If you’re reading this, it is because of YOU that Muskoka Folk has found its way into stores across Muskoka and I get to continue to do what I love.
This business also wouldn’t be where it is without my incredibly artistic mother by my side, my amazing father with his never-ending patience and speedy-fast saw skills☺, and my boyfriend who encourages and challenges me to do things I never thought I could. This whole “entrepreneur” thing has been one of the most interesting and rewarding endeavors I have yet to take and I am certain this is just the beginning! Anywho, enough of that mushy-gushy crap! Here is where you can find our work: The Old Palmer House- Hwy. 60, Dwight Kelly’s Home Furniture- Hwy. 60, Huntsville Simply Cottage- Entrance Drive, Bracebridge Rosseau Farmers Market for Summer 2015. We are also in the process of building a workshop/studio at our home in Huntsville that we estimate to be finished by Summer 2015. Ya’ll are welcome to come to our home in the meantime but by appointment only (705-789-3351). With much love, Heidi Well, our first market was a success and we certainly learned a lot! My mom, dad, and I built our very first booth together and we had so much fun doing it. Also, the people that organised the show and all the other vendors were all so friendly and supportive, it made our day just that much better! I even got to use my Square reader for the very first time (which for any of you that run your own business, the Square reader is amazing!!) hehe. Anyway, I cannot wait for our next market in the spring! and thank you sooo much to those of you that came out to support us there!
I love businesses where you get to know who is making your product. Knowing that it’s a person that lives just like me, and works hard to make that item, somehow makes it special. I’m such a sucker at markets because it’s all hard-working entrapreneurs trying to make a living off their passion. I was at a market a few days ago and there was a pottery booth, (which I have a bit of a soft spot for), and there was an elderly man (also whom I had a bit of a soft spot for) running the booth, who I spoke to briefly; he was a local man, who just loved to make pottery. I bought a mug off him, and I love knowing that it came from him. I love supporting peoples hardwork and passion for things, whatever that may be. My hope is that this blog can connect us: creator and consumer, so we can make something thats special for you!
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