We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alexandra Aiken a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Alexandra thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

My business started in college at UCSC in 2008 with my enjoyment of sewing. I’d always watched my mother and grandmother sew, and took a class in college that expanded my sewing and designing skills. As most college students do, I enjoyed coffee to help keep me going through my studies. The paper coffee cup cuffs weren’t thick enough to protect my hands from the heat and I wanted something more eco friendly and reusable. I’ve always had a love of bats and volunteered and apprenticed with them at the Oakland Zoo before and after college. Therefore, I created a reusable coffee cup cozy shaped like a bat. From there I saw an embroidery machine at the fabric store and was intrigued. After investing in a small machine, I was hooked! While I loved the foggy mornings in Santa Cruz, it could get very cold. So I then created items like hooded scarves with pockets and embroidered accents, as well as sturdy tote bags that withstood a LOT of library books. I am always creating new things, especially when I can’t find something after I’ve looked everywhere else.

Alexandra, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Alexandra Aiken, and I’m the owner of Alex’s Creative Collections. I started my business through Etsy while in college. While I grew my Etsy business, I also volunteered, interned, apprenticed and then eventually became a zookeeper. The unique and amazing animals inspired a lot of the items I offer. I started with items like bat cup sleeves, hooded scarves and totes, but branched out adding more items. Some of the items I have added include embroidered towels, cosmetic bags, laser cut/engraved items, dog leashes, collars and costumes, cryptozoology items but always bat items. I was laid off from my zookeeping job during 2020 due to lack of funds, so I decided to make Etsy my full time job.

I have had many customers through the years contact me regarding custom orders. I love connecting with them and creating exactly what they’ve been searching for. I’m proud of the variety of items I create and that I really take pride in the quality of work. I think my items are pretty unique. When I come up with an idea, I try to make sure it hasn’t been already done, or if it has, I think of how I can change my concept to make it my own and unique.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

My favorite story of an item I created was a dog costume I made for my dalmatian/beagle Cassie. She is a gorgeous rescue who loves to model my collars, leashes and costumes. We were having a Stranger Things themed party for Halloween and I needed a costume for Cassie. I thought a demodog would be the perfect idea for her costume, but couldn’t find any I liked online. I decided to create my own and list it incase anyone else might enjoy one, too. It became the item I’ve sold the most of and to every state in the US, as well as a few international! It was quite the busy holiday season and continued the next year, too. I had a customer ask for a sandworm dog custome and that was pretty popular too. I LOVED seeing the photo reviews of people with their demodogs and sandworms.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

When I made Etsy my full time business I decided to start my social media accounts to help increase my audience and clientele. I’m not a very tech savvy person so it was hard getting started with online advertising. I was part of a coaching class for women entrepreneurs by Jessica Oyanagi of Thrive Studios who helped me through advice with changes to my online presence. She also created a website for me and helped me start a monthly newsletter. In my newsletters I include a sneak peak of upcoming items I’m going to list, store discounts and what’s going on with me personally. In terms of advice, I would say look at people you like to follow on Instagram and FB to see what aspects interest you from their content. Is it the colors, music, what they’re posting etc, and then see what speaks to you and shows your personality.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://chopperchick93.wixsite.com/alexscreations
• Instagram: @alexscreativecollections
• Facebook: Alex’s Creative Collections
• Linkedin:

Image Credits

All photos by Alex Aiken, models: Stephanie Aiken and Cassie Aiken