1 00:00:01,680 --> 00:00:06,440 Gift biz unwrapped episode 45 Instantly from that moment, 2 00:00:06,470 --> 00:00:07,490 I was just like, 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:08,990 there was a fire inside. 4 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:10,550 This is John Lee, 5 00:00:10,550 --> 00:00:12,710 Dumas of entrepreneur on fire, 6 00:00:12,710 --> 00:00:15,260 and you're listening to the gift of biz unwrapped. 7 00:00:15,260 --> 00:00:20,000 And now it's time to light it up. 8 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:21,530 Welcome to gift biz, 9 00:00:21,650 --> 00:00:25,520 unwrapped your source for industry specific insights and advice to develop 10 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:26,660 and grow your business. 11 00:00:26,990 --> 00:00:28,460 And now here's your host, 12 00:00:28,610 --> 00:00:29,660 Sue Monheit. 13 00:00:30,530 --> 00:00:31,010 Hi there. 14 00:00:31,130 --> 00:00:33,560 I'm Sue and welcome to the gift beers, 15 00:00:33,590 --> 00:00:34,790 unwrapped podcast, 16 00:00:35,030 --> 00:00:38,540 whether you're Brick and mortar shop sell online or are just 17 00:00:38,540 --> 00:00:39,380 getting started. 18 00:00:39,530 --> 00:00:43,070 You'll discover new insight to gain traction and to get your 19 00:00:43,070 --> 00:00:45,050 business going today. 20 00:00:45,050 --> 00:00:47,930 I am so thrilled to have joining us London. 21 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:52,370 K London is a classically trained dancer who discovered her passion 22 00:00:52,370 --> 00:00:53,450 for crochet. 23 00:00:53,510 --> 00:00:54,830 At the age of 13, 24 00:00:55,100 --> 00:00:59,900 London received a dance scholarship to NYU and after graduation dove 25 00:00:59,900 --> 00:01:02,090 into the local street art scene, 26 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:06,530 she began developing her signature style by crocheting on fences. 27 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:10,250 She has adorned the windows of ABC carpet and home, 28 00:01:10,490 --> 00:01:13,400 and has recently crocheted pieces for major brands, 29 00:01:13,430 --> 00:01:15,320 including Starbucks Miller, 30 00:01:15,320 --> 00:01:18,950 light checks mix and the TBS network. 31 00:01:19,310 --> 00:01:21,290 According to Conde Nast traveler, 32 00:01:21,590 --> 00:01:25,610 London K is the one to watch and we have her 33 00:01:25,610 --> 00:01:28,190 here live talking to us today. 34 00:01:28,250 --> 00:01:28,850 Welcome lunch. 35 00:01:29,540 --> 00:01:30,470 Thank you. 36 00:01:30,500 --> 00:01:31,280 How are you? 37 00:01:31,610 --> 00:01:32,120 I'm good. 38 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:33,290 How are you doing today? 39 00:01:33,590 --> 00:01:34,640 I'm doing great. 40 00:01:34,730 --> 00:01:35,150 Good, Good. 41 00:01:35,300 --> 00:01:37,250 Well, just to let our listeners know, 42 00:01:37,250 --> 00:01:39,680 and some of them who may have been following me on 43 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:43,760 scope London is the one that I introduced you all to. 44 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:46,190 And I met when I was at the craft and hobby 45 00:01:46,190 --> 00:01:47,780 show this past January. 46 00:01:47,930 --> 00:01:49,160 So I was showing everybody, 47 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:50,120 if you remember London, 48 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:53,900 how beautiful your project was that you had put up there. 49 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:56,270 And I was telling everyone how beautiful it was. 50 00:01:56,270 --> 00:01:57,260 And you said, 51 00:01:57,470 --> 00:01:58,400 Oh, thank you. 52 00:01:58,400 --> 00:01:59,150 And I turned around. 53 00:01:59,190 --> 00:01:59,480 I'm like, 54 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:00,650 wait, who's there. 55 00:02:01,970 --> 00:02:03,020 It was meant to be. 56 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:04,100 There you go. 57 00:02:04,250 --> 00:02:06,710 Would you like to add anything to the intro that I've 58 00:02:06,710 --> 00:02:08,480 already done before we get started? 59 00:02:09,050 --> 00:02:10,400 You said it beautifully. 60 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:11,840 I have nothing more to add. 61 00:02:11,900 --> 00:02:13,160 Okay. Well, 62 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:14,330 as our listeners know, 63 00:02:14,330 --> 00:02:16,670 we like to align the conversation around the life of a 64 00:02:16,670 --> 00:02:18,050 motivational candle. 65 00:02:18,290 --> 00:02:21,380 The light shines on you while you share your stories and 66 00:02:21,380 --> 00:02:23,340 experiences. So are you ready? 67 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:25,740 I am ready to write it up. 68 00:02:25,820 --> 00:02:26,570 Oh, okay. 69 00:02:27,140 --> 00:02:30,350 You're walking into a gift shop and you come upon a 70 00:02:30,350 --> 00:02:32,990 shelf of all these motivational candles. 71 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:37,160 What color candle would you gravitate to and what would be 72 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:38,330 the quote on that candle? 73 00:02:39,410 --> 00:02:43,070 The color candle I would gravitate to would be like a 74 00:02:43,070 --> 00:02:46,790 nice white ivory color because I love the smell of vanilla 75 00:02:46,790 --> 00:02:49,220 candles. So it'll have to be one of those. 76 00:02:49,550 --> 00:02:53,180 And the quote on it would be trust your own perception. 77 00:02:53,810 --> 00:02:55,850 That's interesting coming from an artist. 78 00:02:55,850 --> 00:02:56,600 What does that mean? 79 00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:58,910 It is a little affirmation. 80 00:02:58,910 --> 00:03:01,780 I, you could say that I grabbed from the book artist 81 00:03:01,780 --> 00:03:06,850 way and it just always kind of helps me through times 82 00:03:06,850 --> 00:03:09,940 when I may be questioning myself or unsure of something. 83 00:03:10,180 --> 00:03:11,470 I can take a deep breath, 84 00:03:12,130 --> 00:03:12,820 tell myself, 85 00:03:12,820 --> 00:03:16,720 trust your own perception and just keep going and repeat that 86 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:17,770 over and over again. 87 00:03:17,770 --> 00:03:19,510 And it's helped me a lot. 88 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:21,490 So that would be my candle. 89 00:03:21,630 --> 00:03:22,260 There you go. 90 00:03:22,290 --> 00:03:24,330 You're making your own reality in a way. 91 00:03:25,260 --> 00:03:25,740 Got it. 92 00:03:25,740 --> 00:03:31,140 So I just recently heard about this whole concept of Yarn 93 00:03:31,140 --> 00:03:35,400 bombing. And Maybe you could explain that a little bit because 94 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:36,300 in your bio, 95 00:03:36,300 --> 00:03:39,120 I'm not sure that everyone's getting the full flavor for what 96 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:40,350 you're actually doing. 97 00:03:40,380 --> 00:03:42,750 Can you describe what that's all about? 98 00:03:42,750 --> 00:03:43,950 And you do call what you're doing. 99 00:03:45,300 --> 00:03:48,630 Yes. Yarn bombing is definitely something that's new. 100 00:03:48,630 --> 00:03:51,030 It's getting more and more popular. 101 00:03:51,270 --> 00:03:51,600 I mean, 102 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:52,980 it feels like every day, 103 00:03:53,010 --> 00:03:56,820 but it is basically where you take a piece of knit 104 00:03:56,850 --> 00:03:58,050 or crochet, 105 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:00,330 goodness that you've made in the past. 106 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:02,640 And you wrap it around a tree, 107 00:04:02,700 --> 00:04:03,990 a fire hydrant, 108 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:08,700 you cover something in an outdoor space with yarn and you 109 00:04:08,700 --> 00:04:10,740 leave it there for people to simply enjoy. 110 00:04:11,070 --> 00:04:15,300 And it's a kind of unique twist on classic crochet and 111 00:04:15,300 --> 00:04:20,460 knitting. It's almost reinventing this tradition of scarves and blankets and 112 00:04:20,490 --> 00:04:23,610 things that we all love and bringing it to the new 113 00:04:23,610 --> 00:04:27,690 generation. It's so much fun and I absolutely love it. 114 00:04:27,750 --> 00:04:32,040 And it's cool to be able to put things outside simply 115 00:04:32,340 --> 00:04:35,250 to make people happy and kind of be a part of 116 00:04:35,250 --> 00:04:36,810 that whole street art scene, 117 00:04:37,470 --> 00:04:39,390 but doing it in a way that it doesn't hurt the 118 00:04:39,390 --> 00:04:42,840 environment and doing it in a way that allows me to 119 00:04:42,840 --> 00:04:44,190 do what I love most of all, 120 00:04:44,220 --> 00:04:47,430 which is crochet and just surprise people. 121 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:51,480 Did you have this idea before you knew about yarn bombing 122 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:53,370 or had you seen other people doing it? 123 00:04:53,370 --> 00:04:54,600 Like, how did you get started? 124 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:55,620 You're in New York city. 125 00:04:55,620 --> 00:04:57,960 So it's not a small place, 126 00:04:57,960 --> 00:04:58,140 you know, 127 00:04:58,140 --> 00:05:00,960 it's not like rural America somewhere. 128 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:02,820 You seen people doing this already, 129 00:05:02,820 --> 00:05:05,790 or how did you actually know what to do that very 130 00:05:05,790 --> 00:05:05,880 first time, 131 00:05:06,660 --> 00:05:09,660 I really hadn't seen it around and it was about three 132 00:05:09,660 --> 00:05:10,650 and a half years ago. 133 00:05:10,650 --> 00:05:13,830 And I met an artist and she used yarn and unusual 134 00:05:13,830 --> 00:05:18,000 ways. So she would sell things to galleries with yarn and 135 00:05:18,060 --> 00:05:20,700 that I hopped on the internet right after I met her 136 00:05:20,700 --> 00:05:21,960 and just started Googling. 137 00:05:21,990 --> 00:05:25,740 And that's how I discovered yarn bombing instantly from that moment, 138 00:05:25,770 --> 00:05:26,820 I was just like, 139 00:05:26,850 --> 00:05:28,290 there was a fire inside. 140 00:05:28,350 --> 00:05:28,740 I was like, 141 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:29,910 I'm taking a scarf, 142 00:05:29,910 --> 00:05:32,100 I'm wrapping it around a tree outside my house. 143 00:05:32,220 --> 00:05:33,900 And from that moment on, 144 00:05:33,900 --> 00:05:34,230 I mean, 145 00:05:34,230 --> 00:05:37,290 I haven't stopped and it's not illegal to do that. 146 00:05:37,590 --> 00:05:41,250 It's not because of the fact that it's not really hurting 147 00:05:41,250 --> 00:05:44,550 anything. People can hang up signs on street poles and that's 148 00:05:44,550 --> 00:05:47,370 fine. So I do always do it in the middle of 149 00:05:47,370 --> 00:05:47,970 the day. 150 00:05:48,330 --> 00:05:50,130 I never tried to be like, 151 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:51,510 hide what I'm doing. 152 00:05:52,140 --> 00:05:54,120 I'm always open to what I'm doing. 153 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:56,670 So, and I try to get permission as much as possible. 154 00:05:56,820 --> 00:06:00,410 Got, and now this Has developed into a full-time business for 155 00:06:00,410 --> 00:06:02,290 you. Oh yeah. 156 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:05,830 And I never could have expected ever in a million years. 157 00:06:06,130 --> 00:06:06,970 That's crazy. 158 00:06:07,060 --> 00:06:09,040 So talk about how that happened. 159 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:09,760 So you were out, 160 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:10,420 you were enjoying it, 161 00:06:10,420 --> 00:06:12,070 you did the first one right outside your house, 162 00:06:12,190 --> 00:06:15,610 and then you started doing other things all around New York. 163 00:06:15,610 --> 00:06:16,930 And then what happened? 164 00:06:16,930 --> 00:06:19,960 How did you get your first paid commission or just walk, 165 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:21,970 walk us through how that all developed? 166 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:24,340 Well, I had been looking for a really long time. 167 00:06:24,340 --> 00:06:27,310 I was working a full-time job nine to five for a 168 00:06:27,310 --> 00:06:29,440 big company and it was okay. 169 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:31,780 But I knew there was more so what I did is 170 00:06:31,780 --> 00:06:33,640 I gave myself a 30 day challenge. 171 00:06:33,790 --> 00:06:34,120 I was like, 172 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:36,700 if this is something I really love every single day for 173 00:06:36,700 --> 00:06:37,510 30 days, 174 00:06:37,510 --> 00:06:38,920 I'm just going to crochet something, 175 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:41,460 put it outside and leave it there for people to enjoy. 176 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:43,870 And with every piece that I put up, 177 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:46,270 I would put a tag next to it with my website. 178 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:48,220 And just, 179 00:06:48,340 --> 00:06:50,740 I would say within that first 30 days of me doing 180 00:06:50,740 --> 00:06:51,640 it every day, 181 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:53,620 people started getting interested. 182 00:06:53,620 --> 00:06:55,900 My Instagram followers started going up. 183 00:06:56,110 --> 00:06:57,910 I would post photos of everything I did. 184 00:06:58,270 --> 00:07:01,180 And people started reaching out to me through my website. 185 00:07:01,180 --> 00:07:05,350 And the first thing that actually came through my site was, 186 00:07:05,500 --> 00:07:08,380 Hey, we want to do a collaboration with you for New 187 00:07:08,380 --> 00:07:09,490 York city fashion week. 188 00:07:09,610 --> 00:07:10,720 My mind was blown. 189 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:11,650 I couldn't believe it. 190 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:14,110 And so I knew I was onto something. 191 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:17,020 And instead of doing it for 30 days straight, 192 00:07:17,020 --> 00:07:19,420 I did it for like 50 days straight without taking a 193 00:07:19,420 --> 00:07:23,590 break. And that got me into this groove of being very 194 00:07:23,590 --> 00:07:24,730 quick with my work. 195 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:27,160 And I just loved every second of it. 196 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:29,770 So that's how I got started. 197 00:07:30,250 --> 00:07:32,230 And so that was your first paid job? 198 00:07:32,260 --> 00:07:34,450 Yes, That was my first paid job. 199 00:07:34,750 --> 00:07:37,150 And I want to say ever since then, 200 00:07:37,750 --> 00:07:38,980 I've been very lucky. 201 00:07:38,980 --> 00:07:42,460 Everything that I've ever gotten has been through people reaching out 202 00:07:42,460 --> 00:07:43,990 to me through my site, 203 00:07:44,260 --> 00:07:48,490 simply because of me doing something with no intention of getting 204 00:07:48,490 --> 00:07:49,210 paid for it, 205 00:07:49,210 --> 00:07:50,380 putting it outside, 206 00:07:50,770 --> 00:07:53,740 I feel like there's some sort of like balance there. 207 00:07:54,130 --> 00:07:57,310 That's allowing me to get actually paid work from, 208 00:07:57,460 --> 00:07:58,720 work me just doing, 209 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:00,070 because I love it so much. 210 00:08:00,340 --> 00:08:02,890 And so what do you see as your future with this? 211 00:08:02,890 --> 00:08:04,030 Where do you think you're going? 212 00:08:04,660 --> 00:08:05,680 I'm just going to keep, 213 00:08:05,860 --> 00:08:06,370 I mean, 214 00:08:06,460 --> 00:08:09,420 the biggest thing that surprised me with crocheting is that there's 215 00:08:09,420 --> 00:08:12,100 so many different ways that you can use it and so 216 00:08:12,100 --> 00:08:14,050 many different things that you can do with yarn. 217 00:08:14,410 --> 00:08:18,310 So I'm just continuing to see where it takes me. 218 00:08:18,340 --> 00:08:19,570 Try really hard, 219 00:08:19,570 --> 00:08:23,620 push every boundary and explore all the different kind of areas 220 00:08:23,650 --> 00:08:26,800 that open up or that I think are kind of interesting 221 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:27,520 or unique. 222 00:08:27,580 --> 00:08:28,990 That's kind of where I'm going. 223 00:08:29,830 --> 00:08:30,970 So give biz listeners, 224 00:08:30,970 --> 00:08:33,160 if you had a chance to see on the scope, 225 00:08:33,190 --> 00:08:34,780 what you put up at the cha show, 226 00:08:34,780 --> 00:08:36,820 this was just not like a basic scarf. 227 00:08:36,820 --> 00:08:38,470 This is a whole pattern design. 228 00:08:38,470 --> 00:08:42,010 I mean the detail and the quality to what you're putting 229 00:08:42,010 --> 00:08:43,600 up is spectacular. 230 00:08:43,870 --> 00:08:44,740 Thank you, 231 00:08:45,130 --> 00:08:46,600 mermaids and whales. 232 00:08:46,630 --> 00:08:48,760 Those are my favorite things to crochet. 233 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:50,830 So when people ask me on the subway, 234 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:53,470 because I'll be crochet like a mad woman on the subway 235 00:08:53,560 --> 00:08:54,250 and people are like, 236 00:08:54,250 --> 00:08:55,300 what are you crocheted? 237 00:08:55,470 --> 00:08:56,250 I used to be like, 238 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:58,260 Oh, I'm making a tomato now. 239 00:08:58,260 --> 00:08:58,890 I just am like, 240 00:08:58,890 --> 00:08:59,850 I'm making a blanket. 241 00:09:00,180 --> 00:09:01,440 People just think I'm too weird. 242 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:04,830 If I start rattling off all these ridiculous things that I'm 243 00:09:04,830 --> 00:09:05,730 actually making. 244 00:09:06,470 --> 00:09:09,560 Have you found that there's now a community around, 245 00:09:09,560 --> 00:09:09,680 you know, 246 00:09:09,680 --> 00:09:12,530 like with people in different cities or even different countries, 247 00:09:12,530 --> 00:09:15,290 I understand that it's going on in the UK as well. 248 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:17,870 Are you having a community now of all of you who 249 00:09:17,870 --> 00:09:18,860 are doing this? 250 00:09:19,190 --> 00:09:22,040 Yeah, there's absolutely a lot of people. 251 00:09:22,550 --> 00:09:22,760 I mean, 252 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:24,890 not a huge number of people that are doing it, 253 00:09:24,890 --> 00:09:27,530 but there is a group of people that are doing it 254 00:09:27,530 --> 00:09:31,670 and really Instagram and Facebook without social media. 255 00:09:31,730 --> 00:09:32,090 I mean, 256 00:09:32,090 --> 00:09:34,730 I don't know how we would have ever connected or found 257 00:09:34,730 --> 00:09:35,870 each other without it, 258 00:09:36,230 --> 00:09:37,580 but people are doing it. 259 00:09:37,580 --> 00:09:38,480 And I love, 260 00:09:38,540 --> 00:09:42,800 love, love that more and more people are starting to yarn 261 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:45,260 bomb because it's just really cool. 262 00:09:46,460 --> 00:09:47,690 It's really cool. 263 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:48,740 It is really cool. 264 00:09:48,740 --> 00:09:49,870 And how long can they stay? 265 00:09:50,330 --> 00:09:53,960 My pieces stay up anywhere between a day to nine or 266 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:54,590 10 months. 267 00:09:54,620 --> 00:09:58,010 It really just depends on if somebody takes it down. 268 00:09:58,280 --> 00:09:58,730 Got it. 269 00:09:58,940 --> 00:09:59,210 All right. 270 00:09:59,210 --> 00:10:01,970 And let's talk about now because a lot of our listeners 271 00:10:01,970 --> 00:10:04,640 are people who are thinking of maybe starting some type of 272 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:06,890 a business out of a craft that they do, 273 00:10:07,220 --> 00:10:10,400 perhaps it's jewelry that they make or they're bakers, 274 00:10:10,460 --> 00:10:12,650 and they want to start selling their product. 275 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,470 What did you do to start formulating this into a more 276 00:10:15,470 --> 00:10:19,100 structured business where there was going to be money exchanging hands? 277 00:10:19,850 --> 00:10:21,530 It was a pretty natural progression, 278 00:10:21,530 --> 00:10:23,990 but I've always been very business minded. 279 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:27,680 I started my first scarf business when I was 13 years 280 00:10:27,680 --> 00:10:30,080 old. I grew up at a dance studio and I would 281 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:33,740 always crochet scarves for all the different girls at the studio. 282 00:10:33,740 --> 00:10:36,140 And they would pick their colors and this and that. 283 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:38,450 I went on to buy my car with the money I 284 00:10:38,450 --> 00:10:40,010 made from crochet and scarfs. 285 00:10:40,340 --> 00:10:41,420 Then I needed a break. 286 00:10:41,570 --> 00:10:44,150 So then when this all started up, 287 00:10:44,180 --> 00:10:46,820 I was always thinking about how it could turn into more 288 00:10:46,820 --> 00:10:48,950 than just the passion behind it. 289 00:10:48,950 --> 00:10:51,080 So the website was huge. 290 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:54,380 I used Squarespace consistently updating my website, 291 00:10:54,380 --> 00:10:56,120 having a blog on my website, 292 00:10:56,330 --> 00:10:59,990 guiding people to my website was probably the first step. 293 00:11:00,260 --> 00:11:03,230 And having that contact form in a way for people to, 294 00:11:03,410 --> 00:11:04,940 it may sound a little silly, 295 00:11:04,940 --> 00:11:07,190 but a way for people to give me money through my 296 00:11:07,190 --> 00:11:10,150 site, I've had stores up on my sites, 297 00:11:10,150 --> 00:11:13,310 selling different products like crocheted sneakers or bags. 298 00:11:13,580 --> 00:11:16,970 There's always been some way for people to give money or 299 00:11:16,970 --> 00:11:18,740 support what I'm doing. 300 00:11:19,010 --> 00:11:20,450 That's easy and accessible. 301 00:11:20,660 --> 00:11:23,150 It's so easy when we have a company and we are 302 00:11:23,150 --> 00:11:24,350 presenting a product. 303 00:11:24,710 --> 00:11:27,560 We forget sometimes that we need to walk the path from 304 00:11:27,560 --> 00:11:28,130 the consumer. 305 00:11:28,130 --> 00:11:29,660 Who's going to be interacting with us, 306 00:11:29,660 --> 00:11:29,810 you know, 307 00:11:29,810 --> 00:11:31,460 do you have everything in place? 308 00:11:31,670 --> 00:11:32,570 And just as you're saying, 309 00:11:32,570 --> 00:11:32,750 you know, 310 00:11:32,750 --> 00:11:35,330 how are you going to run that transaction through in a 311 00:11:35,330 --> 00:11:36,380 professional manner? 312 00:11:36,560 --> 00:11:39,500 So really good point for people who are starting out or 313 00:11:39,500 --> 00:11:42,520 anyone who has a business think about that from the customer's 314 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:46,310 standpoint, how does it feel to be a customer of yours 315 00:11:46,310 --> 00:11:47,780 and are your processes smooth? 316 00:11:47,810 --> 00:11:49,700 Do you have everything in place that you need to be 317 00:11:49,700 --> 00:11:51,320 able to conduct a full transaction? 318 00:11:51,650 --> 00:11:54,100 Yes. And also I just remembered, 319 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:55,540 I do think it's so important. 320 00:11:55,540 --> 00:11:57,160 Also finding that balance. 321 00:11:57,160 --> 00:12:00,790 We're making these things from scratch and the value of that. 322 00:12:01,090 --> 00:12:02,890 It's so easy to be like, 323 00:12:03,010 --> 00:12:05,260 Oh, you can buy this from me for $20. 324 00:12:05,260 --> 00:12:07,960 Great. But that was something that was handmade. 325 00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:09,220 That took a lot of time, 326 00:12:09,220 --> 00:12:13,810 like actually charging what your time is worth was a big 327 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:17,380 obstacle as well is getting comfortable saying those numbers that maybe 328 00:12:17,380 --> 00:12:19,810 are a little higher than what my pocket book is. 329 00:12:19,810 --> 00:12:20,470 Okay. With. 330 00:12:21,190 --> 00:12:24,370 That was another big kind of like way to take the 331 00:12:24,370 --> 00:12:26,020 business to another level. 332 00:12:26,250 --> 00:12:27,210 I'm really, 333 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:29,910 really glad you brought that up London because it's true. 334 00:12:29,910 --> 00:12:32,070 We always under estimate. 335 00:12:32,070 --> 00:12:33,840 If we've made something with our own hands, 336 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:38,520 we underestimate the value that that has to notorious in this 337 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:39,690 industry. Yeah. 338 00:12:39,780 --> 00:12:41,880 So how did you arrive upon your price? 339 00:12:42,540 --> 00:12:42,810 I mean, 340 00:12:42,810 --> 00:12:44,160 it took a really long time, 341 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:47,760 but really it was just coming up with a good numbers, 342 00:12:47,820 --> 00:12:52,890 spreadsheet or Excel spreadsheet where now it's very formulaic. 343 00:12:52,890 --> 00:12:55,050 If somebody wants something of this size, 344 00:12:55,050 --> 00:12:57,390 I can simply plug in how big they want it. 345 00:12:57,630 --> 00:12:59,370 And I've put in all my costs, 346 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:01,860 I put in how much I want to be paid per 347 00:13:01,860 --> 00:13:04,170 hour and how much it'll cost for the, 348 00:13:04,170 --> 00:13:06,960 like behind the scenes and figuring things out on that side 349 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:07,290 of it. 350 00:13:07,530 --> 00:13:09,480 And then it just shoots out a number at the bottom. 351 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,990 So that has made it easier for me because then also 352 00:13:12,990 --> 00:13:13,950 for your client, 353 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:16,860 they can see this very in depth breakdown. 354 00:13:17,130 --> 00:13:19,620 So they understand why it's costing this. 355 00:13:19,890 --> 00:13:21,810 It's not just a big number that they're like, 356 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:23,040 well, how did you come to that? 357 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:24,360 So that's helped a lot. 358 00:13:24,900 --> 00:13:27,480 And do you put your margin then in with your production 359 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:28,680 time? Yes. 360 00:13:29,010 --> 00:13:29,340 Got it. 361 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:30,690 All right. 362 00:13:30,690 --> 00:13:31,890 Super. Okay. 363 00:13:31,890 --> 00:13:33,750 So this sounds so fun because yarn, 364 00:13:33,750 --> 00:13:34,350 as we all know, 365 00:13:34,350 --> 00:13:35,070 is beautiful, 366 00:13:35,070 --> 00:13:37,680 colorful, Creative, 367 00:13:37,680 --> 00:13:38,670 And all of that, 368 00:13:38,730 --> 00:13:41,070 but there had to be some challenges that you met up 369 00:13:41,070 --> 00:13:42,030 with along the way. 370 00:13:42,180 --> 00:13:45,180 Can you give us one story of something that happened that 371 00:13:45,180 --> 00:13:47,790 kind of caught you off guard or made you stop in 372 00:13:47,790 --> 00:13:48,630 your tracks a little bit? 373 00:13:48,630 --> 00:13:50,730 You had to rethink and figure out how to deal with 374 00:13:50,730 --> 00:13:51,720 it. Oh yeah. 375 00:13:52,380 --> 00:13:52,890 My mouth. 376 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:56,250 Well now I'm curious just by that reaction. 377 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:00,240 I mean everything cause you're right with yarn, 378 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:01,140 it's so positive. 379 00:14:01,140 --> 00:14:01,650 It's happy. 380 00:14:01,650 --> 00:14:02,460 It's colorful. 381 00:14:02,460 --> 00:14:03,090 It's fun. 382 00:14:03,690 --> 00:14:04,170 All right. 383 00:14:04,260 --> 00:14:05,970 So I live in Bushwick, 384 00:14:06,150 --> 00:14:09,270 Brooklyn, which is a really like the cool area. 385 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:10,920 We got a lot of street art going on, 386 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:11,970 tons of painting, 387 00:14:12,270 --> 00:14:13,290 fun coffee shops, 388 00:14:13,290 --> 00:14:14,340 bars, the whole nine. 389 00:14:14,370 --> 00:14:14,970 It's great, 390 00:14:15,210 --> 00:14:18,360 but the neighborhood is definitely gentrifying. 391 00:14:18,390 --> 00:14:22,320 So there's a lot of different people from all different backgrounds. 392 00:14:22,620 --> 00:14:25,680 And I recently over the summer, 393 00:14:25,770 --> 00:14:27,930 so, well now it's not so recently, 394 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:30,510 but in August of 2015, 395 00:14:30,740 --> 00:14:35,310 a gentleman purchased an empty lot and he was going to 396 00:14:35,310 --> 00:14:38,340 have a flea market there for people to sell their goods 397 00:14:38,730 --> 00:14:39,840 and all sorts of things. 398 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:42,090 And he wanted more art in the space. 399 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:45,930 So he asked me if I wanted to crochet a mural 400 00:14:45,930 --> 00:14:47,250 for him for this wall, 401 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:49,050 I spent months, 402 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:52,190 it was three 15 tall people. 403 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:55,610 I did this for free simply to like have the experience 404 00:14:55,610 --> 00:14:59,960 of making something of that size and spent months making it. 405 00:15:00,170 --> 00:15:01,430 I go and install it. 406 00:15:01,430 --> 00:15:02,600 It takes days. 407 00:15:02,810 --> 00:15:03,620 I like it. 408 00:15:03,620 --> 00:15:04,850 It's not my favorite piece, 409 00:15:04,850 --> 00:15:07,550 but I really like it a few months later, 410 00:15:07,850 --> 00:15:11,030 the neighbor to this lot is not okay with it. 411 00:15:11,330 --> 00:15:14,480 And apparently the gentleman who's flea market is, 412 00:15:14,510 --> 00:15:17,630 did not ask the correct permission to get my art put 413 00:15:17,630 --> 00:15:20,240 there. And it turns into a huge issue. 414 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:22,430 There were protests in front of my mural. 415 00:15:22,670 --> 00:15:25,550 There were news stories written about it and I was kind 416 00:15:25,550 --> 00:15:26,540 of caught in the middle, 417 00:15:26,930 --> 00:15:29,570 but it was the first time that I ever really realized 418 00:15:29,570 --> 00:15:33,920 how much my art or art in general really can affect 419 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:37,100 the community and how important it is to have a deeper 420 00:15:37,100 --> 00:15:41,540 meaning to everything you do and do more research with everything 421 00:15:41,540 --> 00:15:41,960 you do, 422 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:45,080 because you never know how it's going to affect people. 423 00:15:45,260 --> 00:15:49,400 And it was a huge to do for about a month. 424 00:15:49,550 --> 00:15:51,320 But now that it's all passed, 425 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:52,310 I've learned a lot, 426 00:15:52,850 --> 00:15:55,790 but I never thought a little bit of yarn could get 427 00:15:55,790 --> 00:15:57,470 caught in the middle of such a big, 428 00:15:57,530 --> 00:15:58,340 hot topic. 429 00:15:58,660 --> 00:16:01,750 Wow. That is a crazy story. 430 00:16:01,750 --> 00:16:04,540 So you're saying it took a few months for everything to 431 00:16:04,540 --> 00:16:06,820 wind down and get back to normal. 432 00:16:06,910 --> 00:16:08,170 What did you have to do? 433 00:16:08,170 --> 00:16:10,660 Or how did the whole thing ended up resolving itself? 434 00:16:10,660 --> 00:16:12,850 Did you just take it down or what happened? 435 00:16:13,180 --> 00:16:15,340 I did take it down and that helped, 436 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:19,210 but I think the biggest thing was the people on the 437 00:16:19,210 --> 00:16:23,500 internet, everybody there's always something new that's going on and something 438 00:16:23,500 --> 00:16:24,850 that's catching people's eye. 439 00:16:24,850 --> 00:16:25,630 And I mean, 440 00:16:25,630 --> 00:16:27,640 it wasn't like 15 minutes of fame really, 441 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:31,360 but I think the mass majority that people were not happy 442 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:31,720 with it. 443 00:16:31,750 --> 00:16:34,240 There was something else that came into their spectrum and one 444 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:35,890 day kind of it all just shifted. 445 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:37,900 Yay. The next big thing. 446 00:16:38,770 --> 00:16:42,460 Exactly. The next thing just kind of came and we moved 447 00:16:42,460 --> 00:16:43,450 on. Yeah. 448 00:16:43,510 --> 00:16:43,960 Well, you know, 449 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:44,620 you did say that, 450 00:16:44,620 --> 00:16:44,800 you know, 451 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:47,080 you learned a lesson in terms of doing research and all 452 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:47,440 of that, 453 00:16:47,620 --> 00:16:47,920 you know, 454 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:49,550 sometimes, especially with you in, 455 00:16:49,550 --> 00:16:51,130 in your field as an artist, 456 00:16:51,130 --> 00:16:51,570 you, you, 457 00:16:51,630 --> 00:16:54,250 we're all gonna take chances and there will be things that 458 00:16:54,310 --> 00:16:55,270 aren't going to work out. 459 00:16:55,330 --> 00:16:56,440 Right. So what do you do? 460 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:59,020 You work through it as best you can learn from it 461 00:16:59,020 --> 00:16:59,890 and go on. 462 00:17:00,100 --> 00:17:03,280 Definitely. What types of things do you do now? 463 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:05,230 And I think I know already what you're going to say, 464 00:17:05,230 --> 00:17:06,880 but I'll wait for you to say it. 465 00:17:06,910 --> 00:17:10,000 What do you do now so that you are visible and 466 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:11,620 that where you can capture business? 467 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:15,460 I'm always continuing to do yarn bomb. 468 00:17:15,500 --> 00:17:16,330 So, I mean, 469 00:17:16,330 --> 00:17:16,990 just this week, 470 00:17:16,990 --> 00:17:19,600 I've put up two because I just love it so much. 471 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:21,790 So that's a great way to always be putting out new 472 00:17:21,790 --> 00:17:24,910 material and connecting with people on social media. 473 00:17:25,210 --> 00:17:28,600 Also, I always carry around these little crocheted hearts that I 474 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:31,240 make and we'll give them to people, 475 00:17:31,360 --> 00:17:34,570 any customers that I meet or meetings that I have, 476 00:17:34,570 --> 00:17:37,000 everybody will always get a handmade, 477 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:40,450 crocheted heart with a number on it and a little card 478 00:17:40,510 --> 00:17:42,430 telling them about the project and what I do. 479 00:17:42,700 --> 00:17:43,960 I want one. 480 00:17:44,170 --> 00:17:45,490 Yeah, definitely. 481 00:17:46,510 --> 00:17:47,800 I will make sure to send one out. 482 00:17:48,550 --> 00:17:51,630 So you put up Your yarn bombs that are free. 483 00:17:51,630 --> 00:17:53,760 So that's kind of like your PR call when, 484 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:53,940 you know, 485 00:17:53,940 --> 00:17:56,250 when you put those up and then just sharing when you 486 00:17:56,250 --> 00:17:57,300 run into people, 487 00:17:57,450 --> 00:17:59,010 face-to-face with the hearts and the cards, 488 00:17:59,010 --> 00:17:59,610 just like you're saying, 489 00:18:00,470 --> 00:18:04,310 Right. It's a lot of just doing things like random acts 490 00:18:04,310 --> 00:18:05,060 of kindness. 491 00:18:05,390 --> 00:18:08,480 I'm such a big believer on the more that you give 492 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:10,100 to the universe and the world, 493 00:18:10,100 --> 00:18:11,060 then, then you know, 494 00:18:11,120 --> 00:18:12,320 more will come back to you. 495 00:18:12,650 --> 00:18:15,530 Absolutely. And do you do anything then with some of these 496 00:18:15,530 --> 00:18:17,120 big names that you were talking about before, 497 00:18:17,120 --> 00:18:17,330 you know, 498 00:18:17,330 --> 00:18:18,470 Starbucks, Miller light, 499 00:18:18,590 --> 00:18:21,470 do you do anything to try and spread the word? 500 00:18:21,500 --> 00:18:22,880 They may have some context too, 501 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:24,890 for you in terms of referrals. 502 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:26,600 Yeah. It's, 503 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:29,570 I'm lucky with the crochet niche. 504 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:31,490 And I think a lot of people in the gifting world, 505 00:18:31,490 --> 00:18:34,370 we all have such a great opportunity because we have a 506 00:18:34,370 --> 00:18:37,850 specific thing that we do with that comes pressed. 507 00:18:37,850 --> 00:18:43,130 So because there's this first ever crocheted billboard in times square 508 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:44,270 for Miller light, 509 00:18:44,510 --> 00:18:47,270 that's going to catch on through the media and then other 510 00:18:47,270 --> 00:18:49,970 companies will see it and then come back to me to 511 00:18:49,970 --> 00:18:50,900 do more work. 512 00:18:51,230 --> 00:18:51,680 Got it. 513 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:56,120 Let's talk just a little bit about Facebook and Instagram, 514 00:18:56,120 --> 00:18:58,970 cause you've mentioned both of those and that you're using both 515 00:18:58,970 --> 00:19:01,160 of those platforms for exposure. 516 00:19:01,730 --> 00:19:03,830 Can you take each of those platforms and just talk a 517 00:19:03,830 --> 00:19:06,980 little bit about the type of things you posting, 518 00:19:06,980 --> 00:19:07,700 what you're seeing, 519 00:19:07,700 --> 00:19:11,630 just your experience from an advice perspective for our listener? 520 00:19:12,770 --> 00:19:17,270 Yeah. I started with Instagram because with art, 521 00:19:17,300 --> 00:19:17,900 it is, 522 00:19:18,050 --> 00:19:18,350 you know, 523 00:19:18,350 --> 00:19:19,460 it could be gone tomorrow. 524 00:19:19,580 --> 00:19:22,070 So I like to take a picture to capture it. 525 00:19:22,310 --> 00:19:25,400 And I definitely think about at the beginning, 526 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:27,170 I was trying to get followers, 527 00:19:27,170 --> 00:19:28,160 followers, followers. 528 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:31,850 It was about gaining people to follow me using you always 529 00:19:31,850 --> 00:19:33,290 want to use the right hashtags, 530 00:19:33,290 --> 00:19:35,090 but not too many hashtags. 531 00:19:35,360 --> 00:19:37,640 So I tend to stick to two good ones on each 532 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:41,390 post and go with it and looking up different things that 533 00:19:41,390 --> 00:19:44,120 you're interested on Instagram. 534 00:19:44,120 --> 00:19:45,800 We'll start with that one to be specific. 535 00:19:45,860 --> 00:19:47,030 So I like street art. 536 00:19:47,060 --> 00:19:50,720 I'll go through photos that have hashtag street art and look 537 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:52,370 at files like a few photographs, 538 00:19:52,370 --> 00:19:53,600 maybe comment on one. 539 00:19:53,780 --> 00:19:56,690 That's a great way to kind of build your following is 540 00:19:56,690 --> 00:19:59,600 finding other people who are interested in what you like. 541 00:19:59,870 --> 00:20:02,480 So you're saying that by going and finding something you're interested 542 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:05,000 in and then commenting on their photos, 543 00:20:05,210 --> 00:20:06,140 they come back, 544 00:20:06,170 --> 00:20:08,600 look at your stuff and then follow it. 545 00:20:09,170 --> 00:20:13,610 Exactly. And you don't necessarily have to follow them so that 546 00:20:13,610 --> 00:20:14,360 they follow you. 547 00:20:14,360 --> 00:20:17,900 As long as your account is a really nice looking profile. 548 00:20:17,930 --> 00:20:20,480 I am not one to post selfies. 549 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:22,670 I don't post socializing. 550 00:20:22,670 --> 00:20:24,470 I don't post food. 551 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:27,050 It is what on my Instagram account. 552 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:30,860 It is totally curated to look beautiful and just have yarn 553 00:20:30,860 --> 00:20:33,890 bombs so that when people get to that account, 554 00:20:33,890 --> 00:20:34,250 they're like, 555 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:34,730 Oh wow, 556 00:20:34,730 --> 00:20:35,570 this is really cool. 557 00:20:35,570 --> 00:20:37,940 I'm not going to get like an ultrasound on this, 558 00:20:37,940 --> 00:20:38,660 on this account. 559 00:20:38,660 --> 00:20:40,820 I can follow that for my love of art. 560 00:20:41,120 --> 00:20:43,610 Right. And you're not confusing anybody either when they get to 561 00:20:43,610 --> 00:20:44,060 your site, 562 00:20:44,060 --> 00:20:45,770 they know exactly what it's about. 563 00:20:46,250 --> 00:20:50,380 Exactly. So those would be my biggest Instagram tips. 564 00:20:51,090 --> 00:20:54,030 So you post that on Instagram whenever you have a project 565 00:20:54,030 --> 00:20:55,490 completed. Oh yeah. 566 00:20:55,490 --> 00:20:58,200 Okay. Every once in a while I'll do work in progress. 567 00:20:58,290 --> 00:20:59,280 It's pretty rare. 568 00:20:59,460 --> 00:21:01,590 I usually just like to show the finished, 569 00:21:01,710 --> 00:21:02,400 finished work. 570 00:21:02,430 --> 00:21:04,740 Okay. And then for Facebook, 571 00:21:04,770 --> 00:21:06,570 I, it's a little more personal for me, 572 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:08,880 not in the sense that I'm posting photos of me and 573 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:09,600 my friends. 574 00:21:09,750 --> 00:21:11,670 Just more like I like to give a little more of 575 00:21:11,670 --> 00:21:12,420 a story. 576 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:14,790 So I was just at the event, 577 00:21:14,790 --> 00:21:16,260 the craft and hobby show, 578 00:21:16,260 --> 00:21:18,930 and you'll tag them in your Facebook post to kind of 579 00:21:19,140 --> 00:21:20,880 get their eye on it as well. 580 00:21:21,180 --> 00:21:22,890 And I give a little more background posts, 581 00:21:22,890 --> 00:21:25,590 maybe three or four photos about that. 582 00:21:25,650 --> 00:21:26,970 And hashtags, 583 00:21:26,970 --> 00:21:28,620 I don't really use on Facebook, 584 00:21:28,650 --> 00:21:31,500 but I like using it because I make a different from 585 00:21:31,500 --> 00:21:32,250 the Instagram, 586 00:21:32,280 --> 00:21:34,350 just in the sense that you can include a little more 587 00:21:34,350 --> 00:21:39,480 information. And I think it's a nice compliment to just Photos. 588 00:21:39,570 --> 00:21:41,280 Are you doing any Facebook video yet? 589 00:21:41,850 --> 00:21:42,990 No, I'm not. 590 00:21:42,990 --> 00:21:45,030 Sometimes I'll post videos on Facebook, 591 00:21:45,060 --> 00:21:46,920 but it is that new. 592 00:21:47,130 --> 00:21:47,490 It is. 593 00:21:47,490 --> 00:21:49,290 Name is new. 594 00:21:49,470 --> 00:21:53,070 Yeah. You can do video short little clips of video and 595 00:21:53,070 --> 00:21:54,390 they go directly to Facebook. 596 00:21:54,930 --> 00:21:56,280 Well, I will have to check it out. 597 00:21:56,400 --> 00:21:57,150 Yeah. That, 598 00:21:57,210 --> 00:21:57,960 that could be cool. 599 00:21:57,960 --> 00:21:59,940 Like just when you're putting something up or you're taking a 600 00:21:59,940 --> 00:22:02,280 break for a minute and show your progress or, 601 00:22:02,340 --> 00:22:02,580 you know, 602 00:22:02,610 --> 00:22:03,360 who knows what, 603 00:22:04,140 --> 00:22:05,940 who knows what your artistic mind will come up with. 604 00:22:06,630 --> 00:22:08,430 So that's a great tip. 605 00:22:08,460 --> 00:22:09,240 I love it. 606 00:22:12,270 --> 00:22:15,090 What I really like about what London's just been talking about 607 00:22:15,090 --> 00:22:19,110 is she has very specific reasons behind what she's doing on 608 00:22:19,110 --> 00:22:21,420 each platform you heard from her that on Instagram, 609 00:22:21,420 --> 00:22:25,230 it is very much all about the business finished product, 610 00:22:25,260 --> 00:22:28,500 very clean and beautiful and colorful, 611 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:31,170 which is a great way for her to be attracting people 612 00:22:31,170 --> 00:22:32,700 to want to follow her on Instagram. 613 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:34,230 And then on Facebook you heard, 614 00:22:34,230 --> 00:22:34,380 you know, 615 00:22:34,380 --> 00:22:37,860 she's still doing the same thing it's for business because especially 616 00:22:37,860 --> 00:22:39,870 as you're attracting bigger names, 617 00:22:39,930 --> 00:22:43,260 you want every single picture that you put in really any 618 00:22:43,260 --> 00:22:47,220 platform to be something that would be all right for others 619 00:22:47,220 --> 00:22:49,200 to see in terms of the larger brands, 620 00:22:49,230 --> 00:22:51,510 but she takes a little bit more of a personal approach 621 00:22:51,510 --> 00:22:52,020 with it. 622 00:22:52,050 --> 00:22:54,810 So even though they're both visual platforms, 623 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:58,830 Instagram of course being more so she's using the platforms into 624 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:01,530 different yet comparable ways, 625 00:23:02,370 --> 00:23:04,020 I guess is the best way for me to say that, 626 00:23:04,110 --> 00:23:05,040 say what my thought is. 627 00:23:06,060 --> 00:23:06,960 Perfect. Yeah. 628 00:23:07,110 --> 00:23:08,670 That sums it up beautifully. 629 00:23:08,940 --> 00:23:09,210 All right. 630 00:23:09,210 --> 00:23:11,820 We're going to move on now into our reflection section. 631 00:23:12,180 --> 00:23:14,220 This is a place where we take a look at you 632 00:23:14,310 --> 00:23:16,380 and kind of unpeel. 633 00:23:16,380 --> 00:23:18,810 What has made you successful along the way? 634 00:23:19,350 --> 00:23:22,530 What would you say is one natural trait that you've always 635 00:23:22,530 --> 00:23:27,240 had that you call upon in your current success For this 636 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:28,290 business? That I'm in? 637 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:31,770 The biggest thing that's helped me is how much I just 638 00:23:31,770 --> 00:23:32,760 love to crochet. 639 00:23:32,970 --> 00:23:36,360 I will crochet all day every day and it would not 640 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:39,090 bother me like that's an ideal day. 641 00:23:39,540 --> 00:23:44,880 So having just that passion for being in this field is 642 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:47,210 the one thing that's helped me succeed. 643 00:23:47,650 --> 00:23:49,510 So there's never been a time when you're like, 644 00:23:49,570 --> 00:23:51,790 Oh, I just want to be done with this project. 645 00:23:52,990 --> 00:23:53,770 Yeah, well, 646 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:54,760 yeah. Yeah. 647 00:23:54,790 --> 00:23:56,110 I have had that feeling, 648 00:23:56,110 --> 00:23:58,000 but it's never been like, 649 00:23:58,030 --> 00:23:59,830 Oh, I just want to be done with this project and 650 00:23:59,830 --> 00:24:01,840 take a break from crocheting for two weeks. 651 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:04,540 Like I just want to be done with this project so 652 00:24:04,540 --> 00:24:05,980 I can crochet something else. 653 00:24:06,310 --> 00:24:07,330 Okay. And again, 654 00:24:07,330 --> 00:24:07,600 you know, 655 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:11,530 I've seen this consistency within podcasts that we've been doing is 656 00:24:11,530 --> 00:24:14,950 a lot of people are calling on things that they absolutely 657 00:24:14,950 --> 00:24:18,880 loved as children and turned them into businesses. 658 00:24:18,940 --> 00:24:19,060 You know, 659 00:24:19,060 --> 00:24:23,110 there's something about that innate very innocent passion that you have 660 00:24:23,110 --> 00:24:24,100 when you're younger. 661 00:24:24,490 --> 00:24:28,420 That is interesting to look back on and I would suggest 662 00:24:28,420 --> 00:24:29,410 anybody who's listening. 663 00:24:29,410 --> 00:24:32,110 Who's thinking about starting a company because we also have people 664 00:24:32,110 --> 00:24:33,070 who, you know, 665 00:24:33,070 --> 00:24:34,990 they know they want to quit their nine to five. 666 00:24:34,990 --> 00:24:36,580 They want to start some type of a business, 667 00:24:36,580 --> 00:24:40,120 but they have absolutely no idea what it's going to be. 668 00:24:40,630 --> 00:24:42,820 What did you like to do when you were younger? 669 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:45,670 Or what do you love to do now that you could 670 00:24:45,670 --> 00:24:47,470 just sit and do for hours and hours? 671 00:24:47,470 --> 00:24:50,950 Like London's talking about something to consider and see what it 672 00:24:50,950 --> 00:24:52,990 could turn into in terms of a business. 673 00:24:53,320 --> 00:24:53,650 All right. 674 00:24:53,710 --> 00:24:55,150 Back to this London, 675 00:24:55,150 --> 00:24:58,960 what tool do you use regularly to keep you productive or 676 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:00,130 to keep balance in your life? 677 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:03,430 I actually just a, 678 00:25:03,430 --> 00:25:04,810 this holiday season, 679 00:25:04,810 --> 00:25:05,560 my sister, 680 00:25:05,590 --> 00:25:06,910 she gave me this planner. 681 00:25:06,910 --> 00:25:08,410 It's called my shining life. 682 00:25:08,590 --> 00:25:12,880 She got me one in particular called my business's shining life. 683 00:25:13,120 --> 00:25:15,280 And we laid out. 684 00:25:15,370 --> 00:25:16,540 It just goes through. 685 00:25:16,540 --> 00:25:20,530 And has you set goals and has you kind of list 686 00:25:20,530 --> 00:25:23,200 all your achievements from the previous year and where you want 687 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:26,290 to go this year and really get serious with the numbers 688 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:28,480 on how you're doing in your business? 689 00:25:28,510 --> 00:25:31,300 And it took us two days of working on this, 690 00:25:31,510 --> 00:25:33,640 my shining business planner. 691 00:25:33,820 --> 00:25:35,470 It was so great. 692 00:25:35,470 --> 00:25:38,530 And I think it's really kind of like put some good 693 00:25:38,530 --> 00:25:41,080 goals in place for this next year. 694 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:42,550 And even without that, 695 00:25:42,550 --> 00:25:45,430 I guess it would just be setting goals even this week, 696 00:25:45,460 --> 00:25:46,720 every week I have, 697 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:48,130 post-its where I write, 698 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:48,430 you know, 699 00:25:48,490 --> 00:25:48,970 this week, 700 00:25:48,970 --> 00:25:49,900 these are my goals. 701 00:25:50,380 --> 00:25:52,840 Cause it gets easy to forget you. 702 00:25:52,840 --> 00:25:53,230 You're like, 703 00:25:53,260 --> 00:25:54,460 Oh, I'm not doing well, 704 00:25:54,460 --> 00:25:54,940 but it's like, 705 00:25:54,970 --> 00:25:55,420 Oh wait, 706 00:25:55,420 --> 00:25:56,530 you achieved something. 707 00:25:56,530 --> 00:25:59,620 So I think having those little moments of little achievements that 708 00:25:59,620 --> 00:26:00,790 have happened in your life, 709 00:26:00,790 --> 00:26:02,890 I think it's very important to be able to be aware 710 00:26:02,890 --> 00:26:03,250 of that. 711 00:26:03,730 --> 00:26:06,130 Yeah. And when you have some big, 712 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:09,940 huge goal breaking it up into smaller goals, 713 00:26:09,940 --> 00:26:14,380 like you're saying makes it seem like it's not so insurmountable. 714 00:26:14,890 --> 00:26:16,420 Yeah. It makes you feel good too, 715 00:26:16,420 --> 00:26:18,400 when you can accomplish the little things. 716 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:20,440 And then of course the big things are great as well. 717 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:23,920 There's nothing Like checking off something from The list. 718 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:24,850 That's for sure. 719 00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:28,180 Definitely. What book have you read lately that you think our 720 00:26:28,180 --> 00:26:29,350 listeners could find valuable? 721 00:26:30,190 --> 00:26:32,920 Oh, the tipping point by Malcolm Gladwell. 722 00:26:33,190 --> 00:26:36,040 I don't know if you guys have read it or not, 723 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:40,150 but it's so great for businesses and just getting your mind 724 00:26:40,150 --> 00:26:42,850 thinking. Cause it's about how little things can make a big 725 00:26:42,870 --> 00:26:47,400 difference and how just starting small and trends can pick up 726 00:26:47,460 --> 00:26:49,230 and start to happen. 727 00:26:49,230 --> 00:26:52,740 And it was very inspiring to read and has always been 728 00:26:52,830 --> 00:26:55,110 the one book that I always go back to. 729 00:26:55,170 --> 00:26:57,630 He also writes one called David and Goliath. 730 00:26:57,840 --> 00:27:00,720 It's about how the little guy can work its way around 731 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:03,930 the big guy and ultimately have greater success. 732 00:27:04,260 --> 00:27:08,460 So I'm all about doing things in unusual ways and not 733 00:27:08,460 --> 00:27:11,550 going about it the way that maybe your mom or dad 734 00:27:11,550 --> 00:27:15,750 did before you and both of those books are great examples 735 00:27:15,750 --> 00:27:17,040 of ways to succeed. 736 00:27:17,630 --> 00:27:18,650 I love both those books, 737 00:27:18,650 --> 00:27:20,240 so great recommendations London. 738 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:21,050 I appreciate it. 739 00:27:21,380 --> 00:27:24,140 And give busy listeners just as you're listening to the podcast 740 00:27:24,140 --> 00:27:27,230 today, you can also listen to audio books with ease. 741 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:29,660 I've teamed up with audible for you to be able to 742 00:27:29,660 --> 00:27:32,360 get an audio book like both of these, 743 00:27:32,360 --> 00:27:35,690 that London is suggesting and you can get them for free. 744 00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:37,940 All you need to do is go to gift biz, 745 00:27:37,940 --> 00:27:40,700 book.com and make a selection. 746 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:41,690 That's gift biz, 747 00:27:41,690 --> 00:27:43,880 book.com. All right, 748 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:47,180 London, we are going to wind out in our dare to 749 00:27:47,180 --> 00:27:49,430 dream question and I can not wait to hear what you 750 00:27:49,430 --> 00:27:50,600 have to say about this. 751 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:53,360 I'd like to present you with a virtual gift. 752 00:27:53,510 --> 00:27:57,800 It's a magical box containing unlimited possibilities for your future. 753 00:27:58,250 --> 00:28:01,850 This is your dream or your goal of almost unreachable Heights 754 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:03,260 that you would wish to obtain. 755 00:28:03,830 --> 00:28:06,530 Please accept this gift and open it in our presence. 756 00:28:06,710 --> 00:28:10,220 What is inside your yarn wrap Box? 757 00:28:11,390 --> 00:28:13,850 Thank you so much for my yarn wrapped box. 758 00:28:16,280 --> 00:28:20,390 The ultimate dream for me has also I'm opening it right 759 00:28:20,390 --> 00:28:22,910 now, by the way. 760 00:28:23,570 --> 00:28:24,590 Okay, perfect. 761 00:28:24,620 --> 00:28:25,490 Just like the candle. 762 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:30,680 I'm like always just known that when I have succeeded, 763 00:28:30,770 --> 00:28:33,260 I will be able to just sit and crochet blankets on 764 00:28:33,260 --> 00:28:33,740 the beach. 765 00:28:33,950 --> 00:28:37,040 So this goal who knows when it'll happen, 766 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:39,260 I hope it's not tomorrow because I love what I'm doing. 767 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:42,170 But the ultimate goal for me is just to be able 768 00:28:42,170 --> 00:28:44,570 to sit on a warm beach, 769 00:28:44,780 --> 00:28:46,130 crocheting blankets, 770 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:49,730 then I know I've made it Go, 771 00:28:49,820 --> 00:28:50,690 Oh, I can see it. 772 00:28:50,780 --> 00:28:52,520 I can already see it happening. 773 00:28:55,010 --> 00:28:56,570 You Can already do it on vacations. 774 00:28:56,570 --> 00:28:57,770 You just can't do it forever yet. 775 00:28:58,370 --> 00:28:59,330 Right? Exactly. 776 00:28:59,660 --> 00:29:02,180 And I don't want to it's life is too fun right 777 00:29:02,180 --> 00:29:03,220 now. Wonderful. 778 00:29:03,230 --> 00:29:04,010 Love hearing that. 779 00:29:04,100 --> 00:29:05,270 And you can hear it in your voice, 780 00:29:05,270 --> 00:29:06,020 just how you talk. 781 00:29:06,020 --> 00:29:06,290 I mean, 782 00:29:06,290 --> 00:29:08,990 it's very clear how much you love what you're doing that 783 00:29:08,990 --> 00:29:10,340 shines through for sure. 784 00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:13,160 Oh, so give biz listeners. 785 00:29:13,190 --> 00:29:17,390 I will have all of the contact information for London on 786 00:29:17,390 --> 00:29:18,680 our show notes page, 787 00:29:18,830 --> 00:29:19,640 but London, 788 00:29:19,700 --> 00:29:21,860 for those of people who are in the car or who 789 00:29:21,860 --> 00:29:23,720 may not jump over to the show notes page, 790 00:29:23,750 --> 00:29:25,970 cause they're out and about listening while they're running, 791 00:29:25,970 --> 00:29:26,690 walking their dog, 792 00:29:26,690 --> 00:29:27,410 et cetera. 793 00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:30,680 If they wanted to take a look at some of what 794 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:31,310 you're doing, 795 00:29:31,310 --> 00:29:34,610 can you share with us your Instagram page and maybe your 796 00:29:34,610 --> 00:29:35,540 Facebook page? 797 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:36,980 Sure. Well, 798 00:29:36,980 --> 00:29:39,050 my name is London K London, 799 00:29:39,050 --> 00:29:41,560 like the city K spelled K a Y E. 800 00:29:41,860 --> 00:29:43,430 So you can check out my website, 801 00:29:43,480 --> 00:29:44,710 London k.com 802 00:29:45,130 --> 00:29:46,330 or on Instagram. 803 00:29:46,330 --> 00:29:51,100 I'm at made by London and for Facebook I'm under London. 804 00:29:51,100 --> 00:29:52,900 K. Perfect. 805 00:29:52,900 --> 00:29:53,980 Thank you for that. 806 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:55,480 And thank you so much London. 807 00:29:55,480 --> 00:29:59,680 You've given us really a good insight into such a fun 808 00:29:59,680 --> 00:30:02,410 and interesting creative business. 809 00:30:02,530 --> 00:30:04,210 I love how you've gotten started. 810 00:30:04,210 --> 00:30:05,800 I love where it's progressed. 811 00:30:05,830 --> 00:30:08,860 I love your enthusiasm and all that you're doing to grow 812 00:30:08,860 --> 00:30:09,520 the business. 813 00:30:09,580 --> 00:30:12,280 And I am going to watch and follow what you are 814 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:12,970 up to. 815 00:30:14,530 --> 00:30:15,310 And thank you. 816 00:30:15,310 --> 00:30:15,790 Thank you. 817 00:30:15,790 --> 00:30:16,450 Thank you. 818 00:30:16,450 --> 00:30:17,230 Because really, 819 00:30:17,230 --> 00:30:18,670 if I can do it honestly, 820 00:30:18,670 --> 00:30:19,660 anyone can, 821 00:30:19,750 --> 00:30:21,910 I believe that with all my heart. 822 00:30:21,910 --> 00:30:25,960 So keep making things and then life will be beautiful. 823 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:28,660 And I look forward to the day when I see you 824 00:30:28,660 --> 00:30:31,270 putting in yarn kind of symbolic, 825 00:30:31,750 --> 00:30:32,650 beautiful girl, 826 00:30:32,650 --> 00:30:34,030 sitting on the beach, 827 00:30:34,120 --> 00:30:35,980 just crocheting away. 828 00:30:36,560 --> 00:30:37,570 Thank you. 829 00:30:37,690 --> 00:30:40,360 That is what we hope for your future London and may 830 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:42,490 your candle always burn bright. 831 00:30:48,120 --> 00:30:51,210 Learn how to work smarter while developing and growing your business. 832 00:30:51,420 --> 00:30:54,960 Download our guide called 25 free tools to enhance your business 833 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:55,470 and life. 834 00:30:55,710 --> 00:30:59,460 It's our gift to you and available@giftbizonrap.com 835 00:30:59,460 --> 00:31:00,510 slash tools. 836 00:31:00,630 --> 00:31:02,850 Thanks for listening and be sure to join us for the 837 00:31:02,850 --> 00:31:03,720 next episode. 838 00:31:05,880 --> 00:31:08,850 Today's show is sponsored by the ribbon print company, 839 00:31:09,540 --> 00:31:12,060 looking for a new income source for your gift business. 840 00:31:12,450 --> 00:31:16,800 Customization is more popular now than ever grander products with your 841 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:18,720 logo or print a happy birthday. 842 00:31:18,720 --> 00:31:20,550 Jessica driven to add to a gift, 843 00:31:20,550 --> 00:31:21,360 right at checkout, 844 00:31:22,190 --> 00:31:22,650 all of a sudden, 845 00:31:22,650 --> 00:31:25,110 right in your shop for cross studio in seconds, 846 00:31:25,710 --> 00:31:28,140 check out the ribbon print company.com 847 00:31:28,260 --> 00:31:34,170 for more information after you listen to the show, 848 00:31:34,260 --> 00:31:35,610 if you like what you're hearing, 849 00:31:35,880 --> 00:31:38,670 make sure to jump over and subscribe to the show on 850 00:31:38,670 --> 00:31:42,450 iTunes. That way you'll automatically get the newest episodes when they 851 00:31:42,450 --> 00:31:42,900 go live. 852 00:31:43,680 --> 00:31:49,020 And thank you to those who have already by subscribing rating 853 00:31:49,020 --> 00:31:54,390 and reviewing help to increase the visibility of integrate way to 854 00:31:54,390 --> 00:31:55,170 pay it forward, 855 00:31:55,380 --> 00:31:58,350 to help others with their entrepreneurial journey as well.