Today we’d like to introduce you to Camille Hinkle.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Camille. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have been crafting, creating most of my life from when I was a small child learning to sew from my mother. She tried to teach me to knit and crochet which was an exercise which leads to disaster. She was right-handed and I was left handed, not a great combination for that skill. She gave up and handed me a little green book that you follow the steps to learn to knit and crochet. I followed the book and taught myself. After many years I realized the book taught me this skill set as a right-handed person. Kinda funny in hind site.
Over the years I have ventured into many many different kinds of crafts, not really afraid to try different things.
Crafting took a somewhat a back seat while working full time and raising a family. I sort of strayed away from it for a time. It wasn’t until after my mother passed and I found myself in a deep pit that I truly could not climb out of. I am not the kind of person that feels the need to rely on medical stimulation to combat depression. I somehow found that turning back to creating gave me the direction that I needed to climb out of the pit and find joy in life again. It was the stimulation that I needed.
Creating was uplifting and better yet when someone wanted to purchase what you made, well what better reward could you have than that, it was uplifting. I pursued finding different avenues to sell my wares, whether it was something I sewed, crocheted, painted, glued and many other different things. Most it was going to small church bizarre and local community events. I finally got in better shows over the years and have met so many wonderful people.
Whether they are fellow crafters or customers. After a couple of years, I found this little store in a local mall that took items on consignment.
I was quite nervous about trying to solicit my wares, but I approached the woman that owned the store and asked how I would go about finding out how to consign in her store. For me, it is always worrisome that someone won’t like what you make. But apparently she liked what I made and I started to consign in her store. Well after two years had passed, I get this phone call from the owner of the store and she asked if I would be interested in taking over the store as she was just DONE. She wanted someone who would carry on in the direction she had started by taking on various vendors of handmade items.
Having a little store was a dream that I had always had, never thinking that it would turn into a reality. So after thinking for about two seconds, I said yes. So as of January 1, 2018, I was the proud owner of Handmade Market in the Grossmont Center in La Mesa.
My business model is a little different than the previous owner. I require my consignment vendors to work in the store. This enables them to interact with customers and to talk about what they create. I also encourage them to bring their craft to work on if feasible. It also allows me the time I need on my own to work on my craft.
So here we are today, I have about 20 different vendors in our tiny little store. I am always looking for something new and unique to add. Our customers love our new look and we love being able to make them happy.
Has it been a smooth road?
I guess I can honestly say it has not been too bad of a struggle getting this store the way I need it to be. I have just taken the slower path and deal with what comes up. I am not having to work 80 hours a week because our vendors are amazing. Always there for their shifts. I try to keep myself freed up, so I can be there for them. Most of our vendors have other jobs or small children so you try to make it as easy as possible for everyone. This is supposed to be fun.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Handmade Market story. Tell us more about the business.
The store Handmade Market is exactly as the name implies. We specialize in handmade items by artists, craftsmen and designers. To enable them to have a storefront to sell what they make. I have settled into sewing and make mostly handbags and totes.
I think I am most proud that I was actually able to do something like this, never really thinking it possible. What sets me apart, not really sure, as a small business owner I think we all know that we have to be there, it’s your business and you need to take care of it as if I were your child.
I think my father would be proud of me, he tried many different things in life to make a living until he found the one thing that really worked for him. Money really doesn’t motivate me anymore like it used to, sure we all need it to live on, but really if your secure, I think that is enough. I am so happy to be able to help other artists pursue their dreams.
Where do you see your industry going over the next 5-10 years? Any big shifts, changes, trends, etc?
In the next 5 -10 years, gosh you never know. I don’t need much, would just like to keep selling what I make.
Probably at some point in time, I might get tired of making handbags and more into something else.
Contact Info:
- Address: 5500 Grossmont Center Dr La Mesa, CA 91942
- Website: www.handmademarketsd.com
- Phone: 6193792245
- Email: handmademarketsd@gmail.com
- Instagram: @handmademarketsd
- Facebook: /handmademarketsd
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