Taking the leap to invest in your small business is something a lot of us in the SF Etsy community struggle with, so I wanted to talk to a maker who has gone through the entire process of getting a Kiva interest-free loan, from application through repayment.

Some of you may know Kyla O'Neill  from our SF Etsy shows. For the past eight years, Kyla has been creating gorgeous jewelry from pressed flowers, under the business name IMPRESSED by nature.

In this interview, we talk to Kyla about why she decided to apply for a Kiva loan and what she learned from the process. 
- Kaelen Van Cura,
SF Etsy's Kiva Maven, and owner of Darling Marcelle
 

What was your main motivation for applying for a Kiva loan?

I started looking into external funding because I wanted to grow my business. In order to scale up, I knew I needed to streamline my production process and take some of the work off my plate. I felt that raising some capital would give me the freedom to expand my business and still have the money to support myself (my business is my main source of income). Initially, I explored traditional forms of funding, like bank loans, but they required annual revenue levels that I didn't have yet. I was pretty disappointed, but a chat with [SF Etsy Co-Captain] Rebecca Saylor quickly sparked new hope. She was confident that a Kiva loan would be a great fit for what I needed--and she was right!


Were you able to accomplish the goals you had with your loan?

Yes, I was able to accomplish my goals! I raised $10,000 and set out to use half of it for hiring production help and streamlining my process, a quarter of it for marketing, and a quarter of it to pay off business debt. When my loan was first funded, I spent the first quarter to help pay down business debt that I accrued from doing a number of expensive out-of-town wholesale trade shows. The shows were a successful way to launch my business into the wholesale world, which has created a solid foundation for my entire business to stand on. They are, however, very expensive and hard to keep up with, as many shows require commitment for the next show soon after the previous show ends, so much of my profit from the show went to paying for my next booth fee - it's a difficult cycle to get ahead of. The Kiva loan helped me make a dent in these debts, which were quickly accruing interest, unlike my Kiva loan!

The second quarter of the loan was used to fund marketing efforts to continue growing my wholesale business and increase exposure to my wedding offerings. For the latter, I worked with a marketing consultant to pitch my story to blogs and magazines in order to attract more wedding customers to my bouquet preservation package, and I was featured in a few publications!

​The largest chunk of my loan I used gradually to hire ongoing production help. This was something I wanted to do for awhile but never had the extra funds to make it happen. Having the money set aside for this purpose allowed me to dedicate time to examine my process and see where I really needed the help. And once I hired help, not only did I have more inventory in the end, but it also freed me up to focus on other aspects of my business.


What was the hardest part of the whole process between application and repayment?

 I have to say that the whole process was very straightforward and smooth. The hardest part was probably deciding that I was going to do it. I had a mental block about it at first. I was worried that I wouldn't get the support I needed to fund the loan. Rebecca [Saylor] was really encouraging, and I'm so glad because I was fully funded in just over a week. It was so easy with the support of the SFEtsy Team and the Kiva community!

Since 1994 when the Craft and Hobby Association announced that March will be National Craft Month, makers have celebrated and rediscovered the joy of crafting and making something with their own hands. We honor these makers this March by sharing these upcoming DIY classes and workshops hosted by our SF Etsy teammates . We hope that you take this opportunity to get out into your community, learn a new craft, and have a maker adventure ( hopefully with a glue gun! )

Clear out your craft closet & come meet other crafty/artsy folks.
Makers WorkSpace, 1150 Sixth Street, Berkeley, California
Link for Tickets

You will take some basic leather making skills and apply them towards designing and making your very own leather half-moon bag. It’s a mini size that is perfect for holding extra goodies in your bag or taking it solo out on the town. It holds cards, lip products and other small things. You won’t leave home without it!
Hosted by Rebecca Saylor from OodleBaDoodle
gather,  541 Octavia St, San Francisco, California
Link for Tickets

Create your own scented soy candles! 
Create your own clean burning, scented soy candles. Blend your own scents using fragrance and essential oils! 
Hosted by: Erica Skone-Rees
at Rare Bird
3883 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA
Link for Tickets

Learn to make a modern macrame plant hanger.
Hosted by GoGoCraft
Woodside Library, 3140 Woodside Rd, Woodside, California
​More Information and Upcoming Events

hosted by Brandi Chalker of Sunshine and Succulents 
​(Fundraiser for Rancho Cotate High School ASB)
​at Rancho Cotate High School, 5450 Snyder Ln, Rohnert Park, California
Link for Tickets

Hosted by Erin Garcia from Feed the Fish Co
​at Rare Bird
3883 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA
Link for Tickets

Hosted by Brandi Chalker of Sunshine and Succulents 
​Matter of Trust, 1566 Howard St, San Francisco , California
Link for Tickets

​Are you just starting out with your creative business and feeling overwhelmed? We’ve all been there! Join members of the Creative Pursuit Collective in a panel discussion to answer YOUR questions about running a handmade business. 
Mischief, 3908 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, California 
Link for Tickets

Learn the art of infusing plants in oil for making your own healing salve. We will use a variety of simple-to-grow plants and learn their medicinal and skin healing benefits. Leave with a healing all purpose salve and the confidence to start making your own infused oils and salves. 
Hosted by: Join local Herbalist Beth Sachnoff 
​at Rare Bird
3883 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA
Link for Tickets

Hosted by Brandi Chalker of Sunshine and Succulents 
​SF Botanical Garden, 1199 9th Ave, San Francisco, California
Link for Tickets

Hosted by Brandi Chalker, Sunshine and Succulents ​
​SF Botanical Garden, 1199 9th Ave, San Francisco, California
Link for Tickets 

Museum of Craft and Design and SF Etsy want to help you find inspiration! Play around with adhesive vinyl as found in t.w.five's current exhibition, and contribute to an in-gallery crochet bomb.
Bring a friend and grab a craft beer while shopping at the MCD Store and  SF Etsy pop-up shops.
Museum of Craft and Design
2569 3rd St, San Francisco, California 
Link for Tickets

Hosted by Brandi Chalker, Sunshine and Succulents 
Ruth Bancroft Garden, 1552 Bancroft Rd, Walnut Creek, California
Link For Tickets

Hosted by Brandi Chalker, Sunshine and Succulents 
Radish 314 B Street Petaluma, California
Link for Tickets

Learn the basics of the art of weaving using a loom made from a cardboard box.
Hosted by GoGoCraft
Foster City Library, 1000 E Hillsdale Blvd, Foster City, California
More Information and Upcoming Events

Learn the basics of embroidery and create an adorable sampler. In this class Jennie Lennick will teach us how to successfully sew several different embroidery stitches that will create unique surfaces, lines, and texture. We will learn how to transfer images to fabric by using original patterns created by Jennie - choose from donuts, pizza, plants, leaves, or a combination of them all! This isn't your grandma's embroidery class!
Hosted by Jennie Lennick from Jenny Lemons
gather,  541 Octavia St, San Francisco, California
Link for Tickets

Building a stellar website is hard, but can be so rewarding! Join members of the Creative Pursuit Collective in a panel discussion to answer YOUR questions about how to sell your work online.
Mischief, 3908 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, California 
​Link for Tickets

There comes a time in a maker’s life where you begin to contemplate whether to sell your work in a public setting. Whether at craft shows, farmers markets, street fairs, or festivals… it takes a lot of thought, preparation, and investment to participate in these arenas, but the value that you can receive is often worth the effort. Here are 7 benefits of selling at craft fairs:
 
1. BRANDING: Preparing to sell at a craft fair gives you an opportunity to work on how best to display your work and focus on the type of branding, message, image, EMOTION you want to portray your work with. Every show that I do, I tweak my display either to improve it, to adapt to the show I’m doing, or to better display a new product. It’s always a work in progress.
 
2. GOAL-DRIVEN PRODUCT MAKING: When you have a show to prepare for, it drives you to CREATE PRODUCT...more so than in a normal timeline. This allows you to create product that even if you don't sell, you have in stock for wholesale purposes, or to have ready to sell online or to for future events. I never regret making more products for shows, even if I don't sell them. Sometimes this also jumpstarts your creative juices to create new designs and/or products you wouldn’t normally think of.
 
3. SALES PRACTICUM: Being able to talk about your work is necessary and invaluable: finding catchphrases about what is your story/hook about why your product is unique.... this is GREAT practice for when you're ready to speak with wholesalers and buyers (or customers in general). Selling is an art form of itself and takes practice.
 
4. BUSINESS PRACTICUM: There are so many little business details that you have to prepare prior to a show. Do you need a card reader, preparing money and fiscal tracking, business cards, bags, inventory tracking, etc.)...this is another great practice for your small business.
 
5. MARKET RESEARCH: Arguably the most valuable of all is the ability to witness on the spot market research by watching and listening to your customers to see what they are attracted to. What are your best sellers? What do THEY think makes your items unique? What can you improve on? What can you do more of? What products can you let go of? This allows you to find progress in your work.
 
6. NETWORKING: I can't tell you how many times the unexpected has happened at a show in reference to networking. I've been to a show where I didn't sell a thing, but a store owner happened to be walking by, picked up a business card, and carried my work in their store the next week, and now is the most profitable store for me. Or another vendor who makes clothing who asked to borrow my jewelry for a photo shoot...and now almost exclusively uses my jewelry (and gives me loads of free promotion!). And I LOVE all the market friends I've made....they are great sources for sharing booths, sharing show notices, sharing ideas, and sharing the community of the maker life.
 
7. INTANGIBLE BENEFITS: There is so much value to the act of simply putting yourself out there. It's vulnerable. This is your ART. This is a part of you. Allowing yourself to be seen takes courage. We are brave people for what we do....because we know it's risky. Also, for many of us, it's just plain fun to do shows. We meet new maker friends, often get to eat yummy street food, barter for items, and get to really feel our identity as a business owner. Plus, observing and learning from others is often one of the greatest teachers.
 
There are more benefits beyond this list, this is just to name a few, but only you will know if you’re ready to dive into the world of craft shows and fairs. And if you’re hesitant to invest in large shows and the equipment that comes along with preparing for a show, start small! Look at your local farmer's markets as they are usually reasonably priced, and local schools and churches often have craft fairs during the holiday season. And if you’re ready for the big ones, visit them before you participate…that’s the best way to find out whether the location, audience, and types of other vendors participating fit with what you are bringing to the table.

by Kyla O'Neill

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to be a studio audience member for Creative Live’s “Craft Photography Fundamentals” class with Candice Stringham. If you don’t know about Creative Live, I highly recommend checking it out regularly as a resource for your business. They host expert teachers who teach high quality classes on a variety of topics in an engaging and approachable streaming video medium. Also, it is completely free to watch while the segment is live, so as long as you can make it work with your schedule, you can definitely afford it!

For my brand, IMPRESSED by nature, I take all of the photos, which are used for my Etsy shop, website, and biannual catalog (print and web). I have a decent knowledge of photography, and still, most of the time, I end up hacking my way through the process in the hopes of creating a cohesive look while expressing a mood that feels fresh each time. Having had some great experiences with Creative Live as a virtual audience member, I thought it was a great opportunity to get really focused on this topic and make some connections with other makers, including the lovely SFEtsy team leader, Rebecca Saylor of OodleBaDoodle. ​