Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby Jacobs, Ryan French, Taylor Bedetti and Cari Shagena.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Simply Made Local was founded by three nurses with a long history with, and passion for all things crafty! In 2017, I [Abby] met fellow nurses Ryan and Taylor. Soon our love of arts and crafts took over, and a strong friendship developed. We each had a history of selling crafts, so during that time, we started getting together outside of work and formed what we called our “side hustle support group.” We were able to share different strategies to increase sales.
In 2019, I left my job as a nurse to stay home and spend more time with my toddler. I wanted to focus on my small craft business to help bring in extra income. The problem was, I struggled to find a product I could make that would be profitable minus all the fees associated with the leading handmade marketplaces. Most marketplaces, in my opinion, have become oversaturated with artists. I didn’t feel a sense of community, and I felt that my products were quickly buried.
Seemingly, this meant paying for promotional listings, dealing with the complex and ever-changing algorithms, and most suggest that artists offer free shipping now as well. Since this was not optimal for my situation, my next thought was to sell on a marketplace where you can list second-hand goods and provide local delivery. However, after attempting this, I discovered that handmade art really doesn’t belong in a second-hand marketplace free-for-all.
With all that in mind, I teamed up with Ryan and Taylor, and we decided to create a new handmade marketplace. We wanted it to offer all the best features of current marketplaces, bundled nicely into an elite business-centered hub. We aimed to fill it with like-minded entrepreneurs empowering each other to find success. It was at that moment that Simply Made Local was born. Soon after, we welcomed the addition of our fourth team member, Cari. Within nine months, our digital marketplace launched to the public in January of 2020.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think it would be naïve to believe that owning a start-up company will be consistently smooth. We knew early on when starting this company that it was going to be challenging at times. Still, we have always maintained a “stay flexible” kind of mindset. Our team consists of four women with four different personalities and talents, all bringing so much to the table. It has been a beautiful experience to watch us blossom into becoming a united front. This opportunity has required each of us to push ourselves to new heights, and we are eagerly performing at capacities we never thought we’d be capable of. Whenever a challenging situation has presented itself, we’ve adapted and welcomed the opportunity to learn and grow together as a team.
I would have to say our biggest challenge has been creating a website that aligns with our vision and passion for wanting to support other creative entrepreneurs. Our goal from day one has always been to create a new hybrid digital space that offers unique opportunities for success for small artistic businesses. Thankfully, we had the opportunity to work with Small World, a technology consulting firm based out of San Diego, California. Small World’s team of experts assisted Simply Made Local to develop an attractive online marketplace and helped to organize and grow our digital presence and brand.
Please tell us about Simply Made Local.
Simply Made Local is an online marketplace for buying and selling unique handmade goods and crafts, locally and nationwide. Created by makers for makers – our mission is to endorse the sustainability of the handmade industry. By choosing Simply Made Local, buyers can support their local community of artisans while shopping online. Moreover, makers can list products for free, connect with customers in person, and decrease their carbon footprint by delivering locally to avoid shipping hassles. Makers can also offer to ship if preferred. We are working to bring the handmade industry back to its roots by connecting real people with quality goods.
Simply Made Local is a robust website suitable for handmade art, featuring a marketplace locator to find and promote craft events in your area. We also have an expansive blog featuring the best of handmade products, DIY tutorials, and industry-related hot topics to assist with enhancing small businesses.
We are most proud of our community of like-minded creative entrepreneurs across all social media. We are a community of makers supporting other makers, sharing inspiration, and working together to drive product and brand awareness.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Simply Made Local’s most essential characteristics are transparency and our mission to put the artist first. What makes Simply Made Local so great is our hybrid features. We bundled all the best features we thought were beneficial for crafters into one business-centered approach. At Simply Made Local, you won’t encounter listing or commission fees, or competitive paid boosting.
We have a free basic membership for novice crafters, or you can purchase a monthly premium membership geared toward small businesses. With our most popular membership, premium members can expect unlimited product listings, unlimited open conversations over our convenient messaging service, and access to private business-enhancing articles. You also have the access and ability to list craft shows and events, craft parties or classes in your town, and big conventions or festivals.
Pricing:
- Basic Membership: FREE!
- Premium Membership: $25 Monthly
- Access to Marketplace Locator to find and post craft events in your local area: FREE!
- Access to DIY craft tutorials and vendor features: FREE!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://simplymadelocal.com/
- Email: Support@SimplyMadeLocal.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplymadelocal/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearesimplymadelocal/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/simplymadelocal
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/art9438/
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