We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chelsea Chambliss a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Chelsea, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
During Covid, everyone needed a hobby or a way to escape the cruddy situation. I was filtering between different craft projects; like watercolors, those adult coloring books that do not relax me (no matter what they claim), sewing, even starting to do nail art. I randomly purchased an embroidery kit online and gave it a whirl. Once I figured out the basic stitches and finished my first piece I was hooked. The only downside, I couldn’t find a kit that matched my aesthetic. So I decided in classic Chelsea fashion “I’ll just draw the pattern myself “.
When we first started introducing embroidery at markets, it was an instant eye grab. Customers were loving the pieces, reminiscing on a family member that used to do embroidery, and also of how original our take was. We are heavily influenced by the film Practical Magic and the classic Addams Family tv show, which I feel people immediately notice.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Of course!
So first, hi there! Whimsical Wonders specializes in handmade home decor; we sell intentional based candles, embroidery art, and embroidery kits! We are firm believers that energy is passed through touch. With every product we make, we are infusing positive intentions for the next user. After all, the world could always use more positivity.
We like to call our style “spooky cottagecore”.
The main thing I think sets us apart is our production process with infusing the products with positive intentions. We strive to repurpose as much as we can, from beads all the way to fabric and packaging.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
As corny as it sounds, greet everyone. And I mean everyone. A simple greeting with positive body language makes not only you but your booth space that much more inviting.
I never want any of our customers to feel pressured into a conversation or buying a product, kind of like the kiosks in the mall. That’s such a turn off for me, and it’s actually one of the first “rules” I wanted to implement in our business. Everyone is welcome, you never know what someone is going through. And a simple conversation can help so much.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Not factoring in time.
When we first started, I was only concerned in covering the cost of the supplies to make the product. But I didn’t factor in the time it takes to make the product. For instance, our beaded anatomical heart takes almost 3 days to complete. I had to start timing how long a piece takes to make and adding it into the price.
I was worried customers would get upset about a price increase, but we haven’t had one person complain. When you find your people, you also find your fan base. And they love to watch you grow and thrive.
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