Welcome to “Meet a Maker” by CreativeIncome! We love makers of all kinds, and this series puts a spotlight on crafters who are making a living selling their handmade creations. Whether it’s craft fair advice, how to start an Etsy shop, or even customer service tips, we’re going straight to the experts in this series. Enjoy!
Meet Araya from Wind & Willow Home! Araya makes quality wood products for the home that are super functional and oh-so-beautiful. Let’s just say her gorgeous (and non-slip!) wood bowls are on our wish-lists. Check out Wind & Willow Home online for more info and to check out her shop.
Meet a Maker: Araya from Wind & Willow Home
CREATIVE INCOME: Your line focuses on wood products for the home — why do you choose to work with that specific material?
ARAYA: I love the fact that each piece of wood is unique in it’s grain and coloring. It’s subtle and simple and most importantly, natural.
CI: Besides being a maker, you were previously an interior designer. How does interior design influence your work?
ARAYA: I was specifically a kitchen and bathroom designer and this practice influenced my work in many ways from the materials that I use to the proportions of my designs, but mostly with each of my products, I start with a piece that is functional and then add beautiful elements from there.
CI: Wind and Willow Home has a solid Instagram following and your feed is full of gorgeous snapshots. Do you have any advice for other makers on how to use Instagram to promote your brand?
ARAYA: I love using instagram for inspiration. I take a lot of images that I see as the real, yet beautiful parts of my day, whether that be the colorful mess I leave on my work table or my kids’ mess in my studio.
CI: You definitely know how to create a beautiful craft fair booth. What’s your secret to success when setting up your craft fair booth?
ARAYA: I really want my booth to represent my brand which is simple and clean. I think it is important that my customers can identify my booth even without the products in it.
CI: What is your top-selling item? Why do you think it is so popular?
ARAYA: My salad bowls are my top-selling items, and I believe they are an invited update on a classic piece that has memories attached to them. You know, like watching your grandmother mix bread dough in a wooden bowl or sitting around the table on a summer evening scooping a (fresh from the garden) salad from a wooden bowl. I have just made it a bit more functional by adding the slip resistant rubber and making this rubber beautiful to boot with seasonal, curated colors.
Make sure to check out all of Araya’s work at www.WindandWillowHome.com. Also, don’t forget to check out her amazing Instagram.
Looking for more advice on craft fair tips and small business advice? Try these popular articles:
7 Customer Service Mistakes to Avoid at a Craft Fair
7 Tips to Help Grow Your Etsy Shop
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