TIERNEY: Sometimes when people start a business
or something with something they love to do, and
they do it all the time and so much, sometimes
they don't like doing it anymore, but I like doing
it even more. Yeah, so I think now it's like I'm
doing something I love, but there's a purpose
to it.
TREVOR: Hello and welcome to the Founder's Shares
Podcast brought to you by Hutchison, a law firm
in Raleigh, North Carolina that helps founders
and entrepreneurs in technology and life science
companies start up, operate, get funded and exit.
So whether you're already an entrepreneur or want
to be one someday, or are just fascinated by the
stories of how a business goes from idea to success,
or not such a success, this podcast is for you.
So today we have something a little bit different
here for the Founder's Shares Podcast. And I'm
personally very excited for this episode. You
know, usually on the podcast we talk to founders
about businesses they started and kind of where
they kind of on the edge of an entrepreneurial
journey. So I'm happy today to have on my very
own daughter. Kierney Schmidt, welcome to the
Founder Shares Podcast.
TIERNEY: Thank you for having me.
TREVOR: So tell our listeners just a little bit
about yourself.
TIERNEY: Well, hi, my name is Tierney. I'm a 15
year old entrepreneur, and I'm also homeschooled
and in my sophomore year of high school. So yeah,
I mean, when I'm not crocheting or doing school,
I also do a lot of dance. So I dance in my dance
studio for like eight to 10 hours a week, so I'm
there pretty much all the time. And then when
I'm not at dance, I'm crocheting.
TREVOR: So I love it. You introduce yourself as
an entrepreneur. So like, when did you first start
to think of yourself as an entrepreneur?
TIERNEY: Well, I mean, since she was a young age,
so like, when my mom, when I was little, my sister
was in preschool, like... Me and my mom would
do these crafters at my sister's preschool and
I would always. Like. Sell these baked goods at
my sister's craft fair and all these things. So
it's like, I've been just kind of in a business
mindset since a young age and like, I don't know,
making money has always been kind of fun for me
to do.
TREVOR: Well, I said that's an interesting question.
Is that what drew you to it? Is this the chance
to make money? Did you like the making part of
it? What was it that drew you to being an entrepreneur?
TIERNEY: I mean, the money part was nice, I guess,
because my parents' allowance, I guess, didn't
contribute enough to my everyday purchases that
I would want to make. But so I was like, oh, I
need to find a fun, be more creative way. And
I guess, when I was that young, I was only six
years old, so I really didn't like, wasn't definitely
not old enough to get a job or anything. So it
was definitely like a way I could use my creative
skills to, I guess, I don't know, make money.
But I think my younger self, like $15, that I
would make at one of those craft fairs would like
seem like such a crazy life. Big.
TREVOR: Amount. Yeah, well, I mean, as I look
back on it, it seems like you really liked. The
control, I guess, of having your own money. And
then if you wanted something, you could buy it.
But it wasn't always, you've always done a good
job of not spending money just because you had
it, you would say, for goals and those types of
things. And so I've always wondered whether the
money was what motivated you or whether it was
the chance to kind of make something and have
other people excited about it.
TIERNEY: Yeah, I think it was like a little bit
of a mix of both though, because like, it's always
fun to see people like, excited about, I guess,
a product that you're selling or whatever, and
also be like, excited, like, oh, I wanted this
or whatever. Or then they're like, just so happy
or whatever, like when they like... See the thing
that you've gotten like that. They got from your
business or whatever and stuff like that. Or people
bring it up to you like, oh, I saw you do this
or whatever. And that's always fun. But yeah,
I guess it's also a mix of having money, I guess,
and always thinking of the future. So I guess
having money saved up for bigger purchases near
in the future.
TREVOR: So you mentioned kind of almost like bake
sales that you would do for your sister's craft
fair or something like that. What are some other
early businesses that you you did or ways that
you tried to make money.
TIERNEY: So when I was five years old, one of
my friends got me a Rainbow Loom kit kit for my birthday.
Actually, two of the friends got me Rainbow Loom kit
kits for my birthday. And so that, like I think
immediately that night, me and my dad were up
from YouTube, like researching YouTube videos
on like figuring out how to do this like... Rainbow
Loom kit sort of stuff. And so I spent hours and
hours and hours and hours doing all this Rainbow
Loom kit stuff. And I was like, who knows? People
might want to buy it. So one day I like sat up
like a little like stand in our driveway and I
was selling these Rainbow Loom kit things and
I like made some money. So I was like, oh my gosh,
like things I can make it can actually become
profitable.
TREVOR: This is the thing too that always got
to me is like your perseverance and your desire
to do it. Probably even in spite of... Your parents'
hesitation? Because I remember that one. So like,
how old do you think you were when you did that?
TIERNEY: I was probably like seven-ish.
TREVOR: You came to us and you're like, hey, dad,
mom, I want to set up a booth at the end of the
driveway to sell our Rainbow Loom kit creations.
And we're like, oh. Okay, yeah, those will be
nice, man. But like despite kind of our hesitations
or our reservations, you're like, yeah. I'm gonna
do it and people are gonna buy it. And so my memory
of that is like, We put you out at the end of
the driveway and we go away because I think we're
probably just. Honestly a little mortified at
like what's gonna happen and how you can feel
at the end of it We come back after two hours
and like hey, I've got like $15 that people bought
this stuff So despite our reservations you seem
to find a way to to get people interested in it.
TIERNEY: That's why I don't have to like, even
if my parents are discouraging, not really discouraging,
but like, not as like, I guess, thinking it's
gonna be successful, I have to keep persisting
and pushing through, so. I mean, I was probably
out there for probably four hours or so, but like...
I guess it would still, every sale made me keep
wanting to stay out there, so it was always.
TREVOR: Well, I think that's important, I mean,
because even for the other founders that we talked
to, this idea of perseverance in the face of people
saying no or investors saying no or people not
liking, I mean, there's this knack of being able
to believe in yourself. Believe in what you're
trying to do, take people's advice,
TIERNEY: I mean, like Lemonade stand are definitely
a very big part of like my entrepreneur shift.
TREVOR: God bless our neighbors.
TIERNEY: Yeah, lots of Lemonade stand, either
with friends or by myself or with my sister. Yeah,
I did lots of Lemonade stand, made good money
off of that.
TREVOR: Tell us about the restaurant, because
this was one of my favorite ones.
TIERNEY: Oh, so when I was younger, I was like
really into cooking and I was like, oh, my dream
was to own this restaurant called Dice-a-Lotta
and I was like, oh my gosh, I'm going to like
start this restaurant. So I was like, I better
start young or whatever. So like I saved up my
money and I went to the third store and I bought
all the groceries for all the dishes. And so then
I came home and with a little bit of help from
my... Dad, I cooked up things and I made all these
menus out of paper whenever an hour spent in my
room. Hand drawing all these menus and then like.
With prices definitely, but...
TREVOR: I was gonna say, because that was the
thing, is not only that you wanted to do this,
you wanted like almost a dry run for your restaurant.
So you're like, mom and dad, here's what's gonna
happen. You're gonna have a date. I'm going to
be your restaurant, I'm going to be your cook,
and you're going to pay for it. Like in our own
house? You're like, yeah, yeah, yeah, but it's
going to be great.
TIERNEY: So I'm going to pay for the groceries.
So technically I'm going to make a profit.
TREVOR: You did. So you legit like came up with
the menu, made menus with prices next to them,
went out and bought the groceries, cooked. There
was a little assistance because you were actually
frying homemade tortilla chips, if I recall correctly.
TIERNEY: I made homemade tortilla chips and all
that stuff.
TREVOR: Yeah, and ended up, I believe, making
a profit.
TIERNEY: Yep, I did. I think it was probably before
inflation, all that craziness, when I was probably
seven or eight years old. I think it was like
$20 for all the groceries and then I think I made
$36. At the restaurant thing. So yeah, definitely
made a profit.
TREVOR: So do you feel like you learned anything
from these early? Kind of like early businesses
that you did, anything that kind of stuck with
you that you think about still today.
TIERNEY: I guess like, I mean when I was little,
like the Rainbow Loom kit things, like I believe that
product would sell and I believe people would
want to buy it, so I think it was just like knowing
that people would actually be interested in purchasing.
So I guess like trial and error, like I only sold
Rainbow Loom kit items once and it was only like
a... One-time thing, but it was definitely like...
I guess I was like learning on what things people
are interested in purchasing and I guess like
also practicing like being a sales person has
definitely like influenced like being able to
run the business I'm currently running.
TREVOR: Well, I mean, that's interesting because
like the whole. Being a salesperson. I mean, in
my view, you've always been a very outgoing person.
Which is so foreign to me, because I'm a closet
introvert, happy to stay that way, but to see
you be able to go out and talk to anybody, how
does that translate into business for you? And
as you set up this business, how does that help
you or how do you think about that?
TIERNEY: I think being a confident person, or
more outgoing like I am. I think it's like...
People are more excited or I guess interested
to like hear what I have to talk about because
like. If you're more of a nervous person ever
and like. You're too nervous to talk to people,
then people aren't gonna be as interested in buying
your product because like. If you're not going
to be like brave enough or like confident enough
to like talk about your business or whatever or
like explain like what your product is and like
why you're doing this then like people are going
to be. As interested in supporting the business
or whatever, if you're not super confident in
outgoing with your business.
TREVOR: Yeah, so they respond to your confidence,
they respond to your ability to kind of tell them
about it and get them excited about it for sure.
Now, I know you spent a lot of time in Girl Scouts
and did a lot with Girl Scout Cookie Sales. How
do you think about that as it's impacted your
businesses and your ability to think about things
business-mindedly?
TIERNEY: Well, I think like definitely like since
I've been doing Girl Scouts since first year of
second grade like I have. Had the saleswoman experience
from a young age and I guess like being confident
and like. Advertising for these Cookies and like
even though like with Girl Scout cookies like
people are already gonna want to buy them because
they've been around for a long time so everyone
already knows what girls' cookies are and whatever.
Are interested in buying them. So it's definitely
like. It was helpful, I guess, to practice selling
a product. Even if it's a product people already
want to buy and already know about, it's so good
to talk about it and have a way of... I guess,
practicing that in-person business Marketing skills.
TREVOR: Yeah, well, I see that a lot too, because
again, going back to... My comfort level versus
your comfort level. I just was always impressed
with your ability to just walk up to anybody,
hey. Want some Girl Scout Cookies?
TIERNEY: I would sing to them and like have a,
I made up a rap of. Girl Scout Cookie Song and
I would like singing at the door of Harris Teeter
and everyone would be like either really scared
and run away or like I think it was humorous and
like followed me to the stand.
TREVOR: But you know, a hundred percent of that.
I mean, that's, I think in a lot of respects,
that's what Marketing is, right? You got to throw
something out there that's attracting people,
makes people look, whether they decide to come
that way or not. You've got eyes on you. You got
some attention, but I also think that the Girl
Scout Cookie Sales talk to me a little bit about
like kind of goal setting, cause I feel like that.
Influenced you in a certain way as well.
TIERNEY: Yeah, so like to get like one of these
Girl Scout Patches that was like register like
a goal on like the Girl Scout Cookie app. So like.
Usually our goal would probably be. Like 200 boxes,
like each, me and my sister, because like we had
to share the amount of cookies we sold. So if
we each sold 200 boxes, then that was 400 cookies.
Like 400 boxes of cookies or whatever. So we usually
set a goal on the line just to either get that
patch and whatever. My mom would usually do that,
but we could write on our cookie sign and just
be like, oh yeah, help reach our goal or whatever.
And I think setting a goal help us have a realistic
mindset, I guess, or depending on how much the
goal was, unrealistic. And I guess to set your
expectations. I guess low if with a lower goal
and then if you exceed your goal, then it's like
a exciting like joy goal sure sure So yeah
TREVOR: So you talked about how... You know, the
sales part or the interpersonal part was always
easy for you. And you were very outgoing and confident.
TIERNEY: Probably because like with the business,
like with the Rainbow Loom kit or whatever, like
it was just in our Neighborhood. So like, I think
people support my business, like in the Neighborhood,
just cause they felt bad for me, I guess, or like
they were just being nice, nice neighbors to just
support like this young girl's business. So I
think it was just like, when I was younger, I
didn't, it wasn't very like commercial, I guess.
So like it didn't reach very many people. And
like I was too young to be Advertising on social
media or like. And like an Etsy shop was not necessary
for such little items. I had an experience where
I went into like a brick and mortar store where
they sold little craft things. And I think it
was my sister started sharing with the owner of
this market and she was like, she's like, Oh my
gosh, yeah, my sister sells these scrunchies.
Because that was my current business at the time
I sold all these scrunchies during when all that
was really popular, when they had all come back
in, I think it was like 2019, 2018 or whatever.
And so the lady was like, Oh, well, maybe you
should send me some pictures of your products
and I can see if I can get you like a little shelf
in our store. So then I sent her these pictures
of my scrunchies or whatever. And like, it makes
it into the store. And so then for about a year,
I sold my scrunchies at the store and she would
send me like my monthly paycheck or whatever.
Um, yeah, and I think that was like. The first
time, like I guess like. My businesses ever went
like. More, not more commercial per se, but.
TREVOR: It wasn't limited to your Neighborhood
anymore, people that you knew you were actually
selling to. Complete strangers at that point.
Do you remember the name of the story?
TIERNEY: It was... The artisan's market. Oh yeah,
it was artisans.
TREVOR: The artisan's market, yeah. So they do
a great job of kind of like promoting local artisans
and kind of including them within their stores.
So it was a great opportunity, again, for you
at a very young age to get some experience of.
Having to create enough inventory to kind of keep
the store full and kind of making sure that you
planned ahead with your supplies and those types
of things.
TIERNEY: Yeah, and like trying to make profit
off of like also having to buy the supplies and
all the things. So I bought all the supplies myself,
then I had to make it all. It would take hours
and hours and hours on the sewing machine, but.
Yeah, it was super fun and I really enjoyed like
having that entrepreneur like in brick and mortar
store.
TREVOR: Yeah, it was, it's always super exciting
because I still remember like we would be downtown
and we'd swing in and like, oh, this is your stuff.
How cool is that? You have stuff in the store,
so. So now I understand you're in a whole new
venture. Yes. Yes, tell us a little bit about
what you're doing.
TIERNEY: So currently I am running a small business
called Crochet Alata Alata. You guys can follow
me on Instagram, plug my Instagram.
TREVOR: So you say Crochet Alata Alata?
TIERNEY: Crochet Alata Alata. So it's spelled
Crochet Alata and then alata. So it's spelled
just how it sounds. And yeah, so you guys can
go follow me. I also have an Etsy shop. You can
follow me there too.
TREVOR: So what is Crochet Alata Alata?
TIERNEY: So Crochet Alata Alata Alata sells crochet items.
So currently I'm working on. Beanies for an upcoming
launch. So you guys get a little sneak peek there
because I haven't announced that.
TREVOR: I was gonna say for the people who are
just listening at home, you can't really see it,
but...
TIERNEY: I'm currently crocheting things.
TREVOR: She is actively filling supply for her
business while we do this podcast.
TIERNEY: So I'm working on beanies that I'm gonna...
Launch at a in-person market that I'm doing. And
I might put them on my Etsy shop too, depending
on how long they take me. But currently I'm selling
Crochet Alata items. So I don't know if you guys
can, if you're watching, you can see, but.
TREVOR: I was gonna say, check out the social
cause we've got pictures of some of the animals
that she created. So tell us about them.
TIERNEY: I have like many, I do a lot of like
animal type things. They're called animagroomy
or whatever. And it's like little just creatures.
And so I have up here on the little stand, I have
a little mini turtle, a mini sunflower turtle.
My dinosaurs are super popular. I have like decor
pumpkins for fall. And then like the reason why
I'm on the podcast today, a little insider.
TREVOR: So this is where the truth comes out here.
The reality folks is you can apparently bribe
me to get onto this podcast. Cause again, in some
respects, I think of you in some ways as a consummate
marketer for your age, always looking for that
opportunity to kind of promote your business and
get it out there. So you came to me. A little
bit of bribing. You did, you came to me and she's
like, what do I have to do to get on your podcast?
When are you gonna interview me on your podcast?
And I was like, I don't know. Here's the deal,
make me a hippo and then we can talk about it.
TIERNEY: So I crocheted him this hippo, it's up
here. It lives on his desk now in our house. But
yeah, so.
TREVOR: I'll tell you, two days later, I had a
hippo on my desk and she's like, all right, let's
book an episode.
TIERNEY: And it's been three months and I'm finally
on the podcast.
TREVOR: Three months is a little bit of a stretch
now. Let's not exaggerate.
TIERNEY: Try to make yourself look good.
TREVOR: But it's true. My getting her on the podcast
was longer than it took her to make the hippo.
TIERNEY: But his excuse was like, oh, we already
have a guest for two months. So yeah.
TREVOR: You know. But so, tell us, when did you
first start to Crochet Alata?
TIERNEY: So I've been crocheting since I was seven-year-
old. And so I guess I was a little bit self-taught
in a way. I mean, like I thought I was always
super cool to learn how to Crochet Alata. So I
think I... Had gotten some supplies somewhere.
And then there was like this knitting group at
our church and like, it was just a bunch of ladies.
They were all probably in their sixties or whatever.
Like seven year old me would be dropped off on
like Thursday mornings at our our church and like
this lady these ladies would like talk to me and
all these things and like they taught me. A lot
of how to Crochet Alata Alata Alata Alata like
basic like single crochet and double crochet and triple crochet
and stuff like that. So it's definitely like,
I learned from them, but I was a little bit self-taught
in a way. And like currently like learning how
to do all the things I can do to like make these
little Crochet Alata animals and stuff. I've done
a lot of YouTube videos and online searching.
So I'm a pretty self-taught Crochet Alata person,
but I've definitely had like, help from in-person
people as well as YouTube videos.
TREVOR: Yeah, it was great because it really was
kind of a little old lady's knitting circle.
TIERNEY: And then seven-year-old me.
TREVOR: In pops tyranny. Yeah. And they gave her
cookies and some instructions on crocheting and
knitting at the time. And you know, here she is
today. So like, again, you talk about kind of
self-taught. So like, if you wanted to learn how
to make something new today, what's your first
step? What do you go to kind of figure it out?
TIERNEY: So usually most of my patterns are not
original. I only have one original pattern. So
I mostly just like search on YouTube for patterns
and stuff, because they're usually just free.
And like with YouTube videos, it's like, they
show you each step like in a video by hand. So
it's like super helpful to be able to just like
watch like the person do it and you can like copy
it along. But like. There's lots of great books
out there. And also having someone literally sit
down with you and show you how to Crochet Alata
is always super helpful because you can see what
they're actually doing with their hands and stuff.
So that's also super helpful, but YouTube's a
great resource. Use the internet.
TREVOR: Yeah. So you touched on it a little bit,
but what would you say is the hardest part about
learning to Crochet Alata?
TIERNEY: Personally for me it was like learning
how to hold like the yarn and like have enough
tension like with the yarn and stuff because Like
if you're just like. Flopping your yarn like this
or whatever, and like not holding onto it. It's
gonna be really hard to consistently grab the
yarn without getting frustrating. So it's like
holding the yarn so it's enough tension so your
stitches are all not tight or not too loose or
whatever. So I think it was the tension of holding
the yarn. And then I guess learning stitches wasn't
as hard, I think, for me. It was probably just
learning how to hold the yarn or whatever and
how to hold the hook. So it was the best way to.
TREVOR: So if somebody was just thinking about,
hey, you know, crocheting sounds like fun, what's
the first thing that they should do?
TIERNEY: Well, you probably need to buy the supplies
to learn how to Crochet Alata.
TREVOR: It does help to have a Crochet Alata hook
and some yarn.
TIERNEY: Yes. So yeah, I guess like find yourself
a YouTube video. There's lots of good YouTube
videos out there. Or on my Instagram right now,
I'm currently working on some how to Crochet Alata
videos, if you want to go. Check that out. I have
videos of what supplies you're gonna need, and
then how to first start, I have another one of
those videos, which I need to film still, but
it'll be out hopefully by the end of the week.
And that's just like walks you through all the
steps you need to start learning how to Crochet Alata.
But if you want like a more in-depth video, definitely
go on YouTube. Because like there's so many incredible
videos and resources and like lots of different
other people who, like this is again what they
do for their like actual job. So like there's
so many great resources out there.
TREVOR: So now when you first started to Crochet Alata,
were you thinking about starting a business or
kind of when did it go from something you did
for fun to, oh, you know, maybe I'll start a business
about this.
TIERNEY: Um, so like from about seven to probably
from like seven to fifteen, I um, just crocheted.
Like scarves and stuff and I didn't know how to
do like any of the stitches to like make little
Crochet Alata animals. So I just did single crochets
and double crochets which are like just the simple
stitches and really only make straight lines and
stuff. So that year when I learned how to Crochet Alata,
I made scarves for literally all my family members
and stuff for Christmas presents. So, I mean,
really just probably in January, I was bored and
so I went on Outschool, which is like a really
good resource since I am homeschooled. I don't
have any clubs or anything I could do at school.
So I went on Outschool and I was like, oh, look
at this video. It's like a how to Crochet Alata
this little bumblebee. And so like that, like.
In-person class taught me how to do the magic
ring, which is how you start all the endogroomy.
Creatures and stuff so like that so that one video
kind of like jump started like, oh, am I crocheting
again? Because I hadn't crocheted in many, many
years, just because of like... I was busy and
I didn't know what else to like Crochet Alata,
so that video kind of definitely jump started
my love for Crochet Alata again and I haven't
stopped since. But yeah, so I think it was just
like. And then I was like, oh, this is cute. And
my mom's like, oh my gosh, yeah, this like, it's
definitely like work as something. And I have
always wanted to do a craft fair and start an
Etsy shop and all that stuff, so. I researched
for months and months and months and applied to
so many different craft shows and got so many
no's and then like... I finally got a yes. For
a craft show and yeah, then I did my first craft
show. And it's kind of story that sits from there.
TREVOR: Yeah, so what was the first craft show
that you did?
TIERNEY: So it was a craft show through Echo.
TREVOR: Yeah, shout out to Echo.
TIERNEY: Oh yeah, they were on the podcast too.
TREVOR: Our former guest, Jerome and his team.
TIERNEY: Yeah, so they had a Children's Business
Fair since they have one of their programs, I
think, is helping young children start entrepreneurship
or whatever. And so, yeah, so I applied to the
Business Fair and yeah, it was so fun. It was
right during Centerfest also, so I was like, perfect
timing for that. So yeah, I had super fun there
and I made my first profit. And I was like, wow,
this is actually like a profitable thing. So I
thought I was just gonna do like one craft show
and be done with it. But yeah.
TREVOR: So tell us a little bit about the craft
fair. So what did you have to do to kind of prep
for that that was different than anything you'd
done to that point?
TIERNEY: So pretty much up to that point, I had
just been making inventory and stuff. And then
I also had to like. I was practicing my displays
and stuff so that I would look good and draw people
in and then all that stuff. So I had to, I guess,
me and my dad built some display shelves and things
to put on the craft fair table and all that stuff.
TREVOR: Well, when you say you built inventory,
I mean, how many hours are we talking about to
kind of get ready for a craft build?
TIERNEY: Oh, I don't know. Each, so each item,
so there's a little turtle up here and that took
me probably an hour and a half to two hours, so
it's definitely like... And imagine that repeated,
I think I had... I don't know. I think it's like
50 or 60 different like Crochet Alata animals.
So just like do the math there. It's like so many
hundreds of hours of like... And just constant
crocheting and buying supplies and all that stuff.
And also setting up and stuff for business.
TREVOR: Well, talk to us a little bit about kind
of like the because you had some other things
that were there like. Created like a spinning
wheel to get people to have a discount. Business
Cards, because you had business. So like, where
did the kind of these additional steps come into
your mind or what made you kind of? Go beyond
just having a table and having your animals on
the table.
TIERNEY: Yeah, so I've been doing some research
on YouTube and stuff about different other people
who do this as their jobs or whatever, and I found
this one person. Who like, she literally only
does Crochet Alata markets, so that's like her.
Main way of selling her products. She doesn't
do any online stuff, so she has so much different
resources and stuff on her YouTube channel and
Instagram and stuff about. What needs to bring
to your market and like all these things like
all these things like that have helped her. Grow
her business in the seven or eight years she's
been doing craft shows and stuff. So yeah, I was
definitely like... Nice to find some more online
people who I can just, even though I don't know
them personally, like I attribute to them for
definitely helping me. To start my business or
whatever, because it definitely all their tips
and tricks and stuff that they've posted have
been like really beneficial to my success. So
it's definitely been really nice having just even
like people online who I think I'm friends with
in my mind, but not really in person.
TREVOR: Well, I mean, I think it's important because
they, again, thinking back through some of the
other interviews I've had with other founders,
the importance of having people who have been
down the same path before can offer advice, can
offer kind of wisdom along that lines, you know,
it's exactly what you did. Kind of with these
craft our people and took some ideas and not just
kind of directly copied them, but, you know, made
them on your own. Again, you touched on this,
but it seems there's a difference in my mind between,
let's do a craft fair and see what we can do versus
making this into a business. So when did you decide,
like, hey, I'm going to do this? This is gonna
be more than just a one-time show.
TIERNEY: Umm, I think like... When I added up
the numbers or whatever, of like how much money
I made at my craft fair, I was like, oh. Like
this is like awesome, like I have all this stuff.
And so then like. I had an Instagram like at that
time, but I hadn't, I didn't, was not a consistent
poster and whatever. But like I've heard a lot
of people at the market were saying hell like.
Social media and stuff like really helps them,
their business grow and get more exposure and
all that stuff. So then I began to post more consistently
and get more followers and get more account views
and stuff, which also like. Help them like get
more orders and stuff. So currently, so when I
was doing a Craft Market, I was only taking orders.
Like through Instagram and stuff. But now like
I'm taking orders like. Through my Etsy shop and
like also I can still take orders through Instagram
but. Mostly my Etsy shop now, but. Yeah, I think
it was just realizing that I love doing this and
prepping all that stuff was super fun. And yes,
I am going to still do craft shows, but I think
also like knowing how my schedule is, I think.
Selling online is definitely more, like works
better for my schedule than just doing weekend
craft shows and stuff like that.
TREVOR: Well, I mean, touch on it a little bit,
but I feel like there's a lot of things that you
had to learn how to do, not only to do, the craft
fair, but then now you talk about setting up your
Stripe account so that you could take credit card
payments, kind of talk through. Figuring out that
you needed to do that and the steps that it took
to kind of learn what you needed.
TIERNEY: Yeah, so it's definitely still with the
people, like I was saying. Who the YouTube videos
I watched and all the people I did loads and so
much research and stuff of like what important
things I need to bring and like this one person
suggested like. To get like a square chip reader
so you can do credit card. And I had never thought,
oh, to do credit card. I was like, that's... Crazy
and So then I had to like go and apparently like
small business owners out there like Square sends
you a free card reader. When you make an account.
On their website. So I got my like swear card
reader and like I had to learn how to set that
up and like I was in our living room, I was making
transactions with my dad's credit card and stuff
like that. I also had to learn. About. I had to
bring cash or whatever to the craft fair also
to have change and then I also did Venmo so it's
definitely like. Learning the different payments
and things like that.
TREVOR: Right, because again, especially kind
of on the craft fair scenario, you don't know.
What people are going to have to be able to buy
what you need. And so, you know, that chance that
they don't have the right payment options as they're
walking through, that's a significant potential
loss of sales. So, and again, you know, as you
were kind of practicing with the card reader and
those types of things, learning, oh, okay, if
I take a card payment. That's going to impact
my bottom line because I'm not gonna make as much
off of, you know.
TIERNEY: Yeah, because the card payment takes,
I think. Probably a total of 30 cents per transaction.
Like if it was only a $10 item that they purchased,
like I was only gonna make. Like $9.20 on the
item, so it was definitely like. A learning experience
of how to price my items to. Still make a profit
if they are like a nice card or cash or Venmo
or whatever for payment.
TREVOR: And so that brings an interesting question
too. You're creating these things, you're putting
hours and hours and hours of time into it. How
do you go about thinking about pricing them and
what was your process for that?
TIERNEY: So there was the same, again, the person
who I learned all my information and stuff about
my small business from. Said that you need to
like use how many hours it took you plus the cost
of your supplies plus your hourly like Crochet
Alata like minimum. Like I guess wage per hour,
which I still haven't figured out technically,
but like the general idea of like how long it
takes me and how much the cost of supplies is
usually what I factor into like pricing and stuff.
So like even if my items seem a little bit pricey,
like they've taken like the minimum how long it
takes me to do something is an hour to an hour
and a half. So it's like. These are definitely
taking a long time. I use the nice plush yarn,
so it definitely is a more expensive yarn, just
to have the nicer material, I guess. I definitely
have to like. Counter and like all of like the
pricing and All that stuff.
TREVOR: So did you learn anything I guess about
pricing after the, I mean, did you feel like you
set the price as well? Did you feel like you had
to adjust it after the craft fair?
TIERNEY: Um, yeah, I think my purchases were pretty
good. I think like a few of the things I was like,
oh yeah, maybe it should be like a little bit
more expensive or a little bit cheaper or whatever,
just to like, I don't know, make them more, people
will want to buy them more, I guess. So yeah,
I definitely think. Like my prices were good and
I think I definitely like. The research and stuff
that I completed. Beforehand definitely helped
know how much to price things.
TREVOR: So were there any surprises from kind
of that craft fair about like how Customers responded
to you or about how they responded to different
animals? Even like, did you expect one to sell
more and then it turned out to be something different?
Talk to us a little bit about that.
TIERNEY: Yeah, so like another reason, like what
I decided like what I was gonna sell or whatever,
I would also like look up. What other people also
know about other small business owners like what
sold best at their markets. So that was definitely
really helpful to like know like, oh, this person
sold this many or of whatever of this item at
their market and that sold super well and they
made a good profit with that. Um, so yeah, I used
a little bit of that, but I also was like, Oh,
I think this item's cute. And I would also ask
my family members, I'd be like, Oh, would you
like this item? Would you? Buy it if you saw it
here or whatever. And I'd ask my friends and stuff
like what items were their favorite and things
like that. So it was definitely like a lot of
like asking people around like what they would
think. Would be the most. Popular item or what
they would actually want to purchase themselves.
And like my Little Dinos which are up here were
my most popular because I had them in all different
colors and they were just a nice things. I guess
everyone liked the dinos. I'll definitely be making
them again for body craft fair I have in December.
TREVOR: There you go. Well, I mean, again, seeing
those parallels between kind of what you're doing
now and kind of what these other startups that
we talked to are doing, it's just market research,
talking to your Customers, getting feedback, taking
that feedback and kind of adjusting what you're
doing and kind of planning going forward. It all
just seems to just line up at a different level
of what you're doing here. So you moved on from
the craft fair. And then decided to set up an
online presence. So talk a little bit about that
and how that's going.
TIERNEY: Yeah, so I currently have an Etsy shop
and I'm also. On Instagram, so I've been having
so much fun. I love making my Reels on Instagram
and posting there. And I just did my first ever
giveaway, so yeah.
TREVOR: So what was the giveaway? Why'd you do
a giveaway?
TIERNEY: So I had reached 100 followers, so it
doesn't even seem like very much, but people,
like my giveaway reel had like almost 700 views
and like everyone was looking at other people's
giveaways and like, They're always super popular
and like one of the requirements right away was
to follow me. So I would gain followers that way.
Um, so yeah, I definitely. Having a giveaway like
gave exposure because people had also tagged people
in my comment section to be entered. To the prize.
So definitely like expose my business to more
people, even though pretty much everyone who ever
did, I knew them personally, but it was definitely
like. It was nice because they would tags people
who didn't know me and I didn't know them and
like expose my business to more people, which
was nice.
TREVOR: So you say you enjoy kind of the Instagram
Marketing. Talk a little bit about it. I mean,
how are you learning to do that? Are you comfortable
with it? Like what has surprised you or what's
been the hardest part about that?
TIERNEY: Yeah, so I follow a bunch of other like
small business accounts. On Instagram and like
the audios they use, I try to use more trending
audios that are popular because then more people
are going to view it if it's popular at that moment.
So then I kind of see what other small businesses
are posting and what Reels they post that are
getting a lot of views. I use some of their ideas
but I make it again my own so I'm not copying
them but I'm borrowing their ideas in a way. So
it's been really fun just filming Reels. Also
like sharing my products and stuff like through
that. So yeah, that's been.
TREVOR: Do you find that exhausting at all or
is that just energizing for you?
TIERNEY: It's a little bit exhausting because
it's just like, to film a reel, it's like, one,
you have to then scroll to find an audio, find
an audio that will work, and then think of an
idea that... Kind of not hasn't been done, but
like, I guess, is unique to you that they would
think would get you more views. So yeah, I think
it's definitely a little bit tiring, and also
having the time to sit down and film a reel. It's
just a little bit of a lot of work. I can just
post them from there.
TREVOR: So talk to us a little bit about the Etsy
shop. So where is that at? That's a whole other
learning curve that you have to go through.
TIERNEY: Yeah, so like with the Etsy shop, I launched
it earlier in October and it was just like posting
the listings and that takes so long because I
have to like take pictures of all the products
and then I have to edit the photos and then I
have to post them onto the Etsy shop and then
I have to name the thing and write a description
and like all this stuff. So definitely posting
to the Etsy shop takes a long time. So it's definitely
like not one of my favorite tasks of my small
business owning, but I definitely like. I haven't
gotten any orders so far in my Etsy because I
probably haven't done the best job of like Advertising
that I do have an Etsy. So I think I need to do
better about that. Like just learning how to post
onto Etsy and like advertise it in a way that
like people are going to like. See your Etsy and
what to purchase from it.
TREVOR: And talking about the Etsy shop and selling
through Instagram, you've entered in a whole other
dynamic to your business because at a craft fair,
somebody comes in, they buy it, you hand it to
them, they walk out with it. Now you're shipping.
TIERNEY: I have to figure out how much to charge
for shipping so that I'm not paying too much for
shipping and the cheapest way to send things is
always my goal.
TREVOR: Any bad experiences with that so far?
TIERNEY: Yeah, I sold this one. So for a while,
my shipping was $5 because of what people were
buying, how much it weighed. With that, it was
$5 shipping. And then I realized that one package,
I charged the person $5 shipping, and I didn't
like. Go to the post office first and figure out
how much it was actually going to cost. And the
shipping was $12 and I was like, oh no. So I can't
ask the customer now to send me more money. I
was like, oh, because I made a mistake. Then pay
that shipping so that I made less of a profit.
Than I would have if. I. Have fun. So now I weigh
all my packages before taking them to the post
office.
TREVOR: So. Again, you know. Learning curve. You're
paying to learn something at that point in time,
right? So where have you shipped to now?
TIERNEY: So I've shipped to Tennessee, North Carolina,
obviously, Colorado, and then I had a package
I sent to Hawaii the other day, which was super
exciting.
TREVOR: Well, this was kind of cool, because you
did this one on your own too. Tell us a little
bit why you shipped one to Hawaii.
TIERNEY: So there's this one person on Instagram,
I've been following her for a while, and she reviews
small businesses. So I was like, you know, give
it a try, you know, send this person a package.
And she lives in Hawaii. So I was like, oh, perfect.
And I also checked that off my sales map of different
states that my packages have been sent to. And
so she reviewed my business and she has almost
3000 followers on Instagram. So a lot more than
me. So then all the people who like follow her,
like saw the video that she posted to review my
business. And then that day that her video got
posted, I gained like 20 new followers. So I think
like, That was really helpful for my business
to like. Have it be even exposed on other people's
accounts. And I've had like other small business
owners like tags me in their posts or whatever,
and stuff like that, especially at the Craft Market.
But like having someone who again lives in Hawaii
and has a bigger following like has definitely
been like really helpful to expand, I guess, who
my business gets known to.
TREVOR: So other than these connections kind of
online that you've been following and learning
from, would you say you have any mentors or people?
Like. I don't know, face to face, that had been
helping you or kind of guiding you on the way
or talk about that.
TIERNEY: Yeah, I guess a little bit because my
mom has a friend. And she is a social media. Like
her job before she had kids was literally to like
advertise on social media and advertise brands
on social media. So I was, she was like, hey,
if you ever want to talk about your business sometime,
I'll have you talk to you. So I was like, great,
I'll call her just, I guess see what she wants
to talk about. And so she made a lot of tips and
stuff on what I should like do and stuff like
that. So she's definitely been like, I've only
talked once about my business and stuff, but it
was like very helpful. Just like a different person
who like, that's literally their job is to work
with social media and stuff to like. Had that
insight of like, what's, how does it work and
giving me tips and tricks. On how. To use Instagram
and how to make it more following.
TREVOR: Yeah, well, funny full circle story, because
actually the reason we have a podcast today was
this same person, because I was helping her just
record some voiceovers for some Marketing that
she was doing, and she started talking about doing
business podcasts, and I was like, I really never
really thought about this. This was years ago.
And that kind of germinated the idea, and here
we are with Founder Shares. So shout out to Jamie
for that. What would you say are some of the challenges
that you've faced so far in your business? What's
been the hardest thing?
TIERNEY: I think it's probably been like discouragement
and disappointment of like not getting any sales.
So like currently it's October, I think 20th today
and like I haven't gotten any sales this month.
But like. In September I made so many sales. So
I think it's definitely not getting discouraged
when you're not making sales, even though like.
Started my Etsy shop, I've gotten more followers
here on Instagram. So it's definitely like...
Not getting discouraged when you're not making
profit and making sales and stuff. So definitely
keep posting even if your views aren't getting,
even if your Reels aren't getting that many views.
TREVOR: Well, I mean, that's the thing too, because
I think in a lot of ways, you're laying the groundwork
now for future success. You're going to have to
have that shop in place. You're going to have
to have followers and Marketing in place. And
then sales will come in after that. So what would
you say is the most rewarding aspect of what you've
been doing so far?
TIERNEY: I think making sales, I love packaging
the orders I get so much, they're so fun for me
to do. I think the chef's like... Every time I
get an order, even if it's someone I know, I'm
just like, oh my gosh, another order I get. Just
like, growing my business even more. And I think
it's just been really fun. I also just love crocheting.
Sometimes when people start like a business or
something with something they love to do and they
do it all the time and so Much like sometimes
like they don't like doing it anymore, but like
I like doing it even more And I think having a
business is like, I have a reason to do it. I
think it's something like beforehand, like I was
making scarves to give to people that people are
never actually get away with my seven year old
self. Yeah, so I think now it's like I'm doing
something I love, but there's a purpose to it.
TREVOR: Yeah, for sure. Talking a little bit,
you talk about the purpose, but do you have specific
goals for the business or things that you want
to accomplish?
TIERNEY: Yeah, so currently my goal is to make
more consistent sales for my business, but I definitely
like... My overall goal is to probably make like
four figures a month like with my Crochet Alata business.
So I definitely think like I was really close
to that in September, but. October. Looks like
it's not going to make it that way. But I think
just having more consistent sales, like an average
of at least seven sales a week. So even if that
means three sales on Wednesday, but only one on
Thursday, having it average out to about seven
sales a week just to continue it being consistent.
It's going to take a lot more work and stuff like
that, and a lot more exposure. And I think I just
need that one viral video to go, to help get my
business out there. And I think, but like doing
things like the podcast, or like having people
review my business is like getting it out there.
So I think it just needs to. Be getting out to
more people to like have people be interested
in selling.
TREVOR: So what are some of the other challenges?
I mean, because you talk about how labor intensive
kind of creating these things are. So. What happens
when it does blow up and go big and you get an
order for like 50 animals or something like that?
I mean, do you think about that and kind of those
challenges?
TIERNEY: Yeah, I think also because I am such
a busy person, I mean, I'm still, I'm a sophomore
in high school, so I'm still doing all high school
stuff. I'm still trying to have a social life
and also. I don't do any sports, but I dance all
the time. So I think it's also like trying to
figure out like, oh, here I can Crochet Alata
for 20 minutes in between this class and this
class and like try to like make sales and stuff
that way. But I think like definitely I try to,
whenever I'm not have any active sales. So this
month I've been really trying to just build inventory
and stuff for a Christmas Market that I'm doing,
but also like in case like do get any orders,
then I can get it out as soon as possible or whatever.
So, but I mean like if I sit down, I can get an
order out pretty quickly depending on how many
items it is, but yeah, so definitely like. The
time management skills of it.
TREVOR: Yeah, well, it's good that you say you
still enjoy doing it because again, when it's
all that work, you do have to have that kind of...
Reason for doing it and enjoyment of it. So that's
good.
TIERNEY: I definitely like, I get some pain in
my Wrist and stuff now, so I have to like practice
like stretching out my Wrist and things so that
I don't get like arthritis or anything in my fingers.
TREVOR: I was gonna say, that's real. You're way
too young for carpal tunnel at this point. But
you know, the dangers of a- I just gotta stretch
out the Wrist. The dangers of a Crochet Alata business.
So do you, would you say you have any sort of
like business role models, people you look up
to and they're like, oh, that would be amazing
to be like that person.
TIERNEY: Yeah, there's this person online and
she's, I've talked about her already today, but
I'll give her a plugger in right now. She's, it's
her, I think her Instagram handle is Camryn's
Cute Creations and like, she's a Crochet Alata
business and like, all she does is markets, but
like, she like has all these tips and tricks out
there and all these things and like, as a person,
I am crocheting and she's also crocheting. And
so like, knowing that this business can be successful,
like with the right exposure and the right, Like.
Way of doing it. So I think it's just like. Yeah,
probably her than I guess other small, I'm just,
I admire all small business owners who like do
this full time. I'm like, wow, I wish to be you,
stuff like that.
TREVOR: So. Yeah, for sure. So have people offered
advice, unsolicited advice to you? And if so,
what would you say the best advice you've received
so far in connection with your business? Um, let's
see. You don't have to have.
TIERNEY: I don't know. I haven't received any
specific advice, but like. I guess me personally,
I tell myself, is it gonna keep going, like whatever,
even if you're not getting any views on your Reels
or whatever, you just gotta keep making them because
eventually one day people are gonna see it. So
I don't know.
TREVOR: I feel like at the craft fair too, you
talk to a lot of the other people who own stalls
there, anything that they suggested to you or
any tips or tricks?
TIERNEY: Yeah, I mean, all of them are basically
saying how social media has really helped them
and just to get their business out there and stuff.
So definitely they're just like, keep posting
on social media and keep doing all these things.
And so people suggested going live and stuff to
really interact with people. So I haven't done
that yet, but. It's definitely like, they were,
it just like gave tips and stuff on like how they
had success. So I think it was just like talking
to other people and just like learning like what
works for them and stuff.
TREVOR: So I guess what's next? What do you see
coming up for Crochet Alata a lot of?
TIERNEY: Well, Crochet Alata lotta has a, um,
Like, Kraftler coming up, it's December 5th.
TREVOR: Where's that going to be?
TIERNEY: It's going to be at King's Park International
Church. It's going to be in the morning, middle
of the day. Yeah, but I'm releasing things to
my Etsy shop, so just like growing Etsy, making
more Reels, just. Keep going, I don't think I'll
be doing any more markets this fall, but I'm hoping
to do, my goal is to do at least like four markets
a year. That's gonna be my like one every quarter.
Okay. Will be my, again, a goal starting next
year. So we'll see.
TREVOR: And then aside from Crochet Alata a lot
of any other businesses in mind.
TIERNEY: I don't know. We'll see.
TREVOR: Come on. I need the preview here so we
can come back to this podcast.
TIERNEY: I mean, no. Right now it's just crocheting
and I'm trying to get through high school.
TREVOR: No. We'll see. Is high school really nec...
No, I'm just kidding. I'm your dad. High school,
of course, is necessary.
TIERNEY: So necessary. Some things I'm learning,
I'm like, is that really necessary?
TREVOR: So we are the Founder Shares Podcast.
And I like to ask all of our guests, if there
was one piece of advice that you would share with
somebody who's thinking about starting a company,
what would that advice be?
TIERNEY: I mean, my advice would probably don't
get discouraged when you don't have any sales
because I feel like. It could be really discouraging
like this month. I could have like given up like,
oh my gosh, didn't get a single sale this month
and like give up on posting Reels, give up on
my Etsy shop, give up on like making markets and
going to markets and things like that. So I think
just something like, don't give up. Like even
though you're gonna have a few off months, you
guys just like gotta keep pushing through and
like eventually you'll get yeses to your business
and eventually you'll like go make more sales,
but you just gotta like keep pushing through.
TREVOR: So where do you find that strength? Where
do you find that encouragement to kind of keep
pushing on?
TIERNEY: Well, I think I like people like other
people, other small business owners, like I'm
like it worked for them. Like they eventually
had success, but even though they probably had
a lot of like struggles and like it didn't happen
right away, like it didn't happen overnight, like
there is struggles, but like it worked for them.
So I think just like knowing that it is possible,
but it's gonna be a lot of work, but it is possible
to keep going.
TREVOR: All right, so now's your chance. So how
are our listeners supposed to connect with you?
How do they find out about Crochet Alata Allada?
TIERNEY: Okay, so if you go to my Instagram, you
can follow me on at Crochet Alata Allada. It's
just Crochet Alata and then Allada. And then my.
Etsy shop is linked in my bio and then you can
also DM me with custom orders and then I'll be
yet. Future market song. I always advertise them
on my social media, so. If you want to see me
in person at a market. I'll be Advertising on
social media.
TREVOR: Sounds good. Well, Tierney, I can't wait
to see where this goes. Can't see what the next
business holds and thanks for coming along.
TIERNEY: Thanks for having me.
TREVOR: Thanks for listening to this episode of
the Founder Shares Podcast. If you're a founder
or business owner and need legal advice, be sure
to check out our team at hutchlaw.com. That's
hutchlaw.com. We have the capacity to help you
out with just about any legal need your company
may be facing. We're passionate about the innovation
economy and ready to help you on your entrepreneurial
journey. The show was edited and produced by Earfluence
. I'm Trevor Schmidt, and thanks for listening
to the Founder Shares Podcast.