Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Albani.
Hi Nicole , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have always loved making things. For as long as I can remember I was doing some sort of craft, and would give handmade items on special occasions and holidays. When I was a teenager, my mother and I got into card making and started taking a monthly class together. This became my passion. When I had my daughter in 2021 I decided to start an Etsy shop while I was out on maternity leave and it quickly became successful. I can now share my passion with so many people- in fact in 2024 my shop reached people in all 50 states! It has been a wonderful outlet for creativity and to give me purpose outside of motherhood.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I don’t think any road to success is every truly smooth. The bumps are what teaches us the most. Learning how to use Etsy, starting a business from scratch, and finding out what would sell and what would not were HUGE learning curves for me. I was a teacher for a decade- I knew nothing about business. The more I learned, the more I loved what I was doing. Now almost 3 years later, I still have plenty of challenges including navigating social media, low sale periods, creativity slumps, and general overwhelm but I am able to handle these challenges so much better than I did at the beginning and I now take them as an opportunity to learn and improve.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I create handmade greeting cards and DIY card making kits. All of my items are stamped, colored, cut, and assembled by hand. My card making kits are what really made my business popular. People love to craft, but sometimes don’t know where to start. My kits have everything they need to make beautiful cards at home with minimal effort, and no artistic ability required!
I am most proud of how I grew this business from absolutely nothing; with no experience. Lots of trial and error, trusting those who knew more than me, and taking Etsy classes really helped me find my footing. I am thrilled to say that in 2024 my business reached all 50 states! To think I do this all in between being a full-time mom to an energetic 3 year old is one of my proudest accomplishments.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cardsncraftsstudio.etsy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cardsncraftsstudio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558116444516
