We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alexandra Bobbitt. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alexandra below.

Alexandra, appreciate you joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later?

If I could go back I would definitely start my business sooner and done so much differently at the beginning but I have learned a lot from each mistake or hesitation that has taught me so much.

Firstly, if I could go back I would have started drawing again much sooner, or even never stopped to begin with. The process of drawing and creating for me is so soothing I regret ever stopping in the first place. Someone had taunted me for it in college and I let my insecurities get the better of me. I stopped on the spot. It wasn’t till I found that exact drawing, half finished, years later that I picked up my pencil once again.

It took me a few more years still to start drawing items I debated selling but I let that voice in my head hold me back still. I ultimately got so fed up with the fear I just went for it and created Soul Feat. The name stands for an accomplishment of the soul to represent me overcoming my fear and the voices in my head holding me down.

Art was my release both of those voices and my creativity and it felt amazing. I couldn’t stop and was drawing everything and all the time. Since this was during the pandemic I had a lot of spare time too. I created a huge array of items, but still very shyly started selling them as a business item. I truly started the idea back in 2021 but did not give it my full go till 2022. I would also go back and change this. I originally wanted to create eco friendly socks that were cute comfy, athletic and sustainable and put my designs on them. The idea started because I needed new socks and couldn’t find ones that fit all the check marks. I hesitated greatly however as the financial investment was much more than I was brave enough to invest at the time. If I could go back I would have leapt into socks sooner. So much has changed in the world and on social media for businesses that had I started sooner I think naturally I could built a more solid business sooner.

Hindsight is always different though isn’t it though? Yes, the economy favored online markets better, and more sales in general as we were in an economic inflation that could help a business boom. As well social media rules and algorithms were much more attainable and changed a bit less often. So as much as I would go back, who is to say if I was able to what would be different and how i’d feel today. Would I have learned the same lessons? Would it have changed all that much? You’ll never know and I am happy and proud of how far i’ve come regardless.

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

Hello! I run Soul Feat, a one-of-a-kind gift and card boutique located in Austin, TX. My shop has a unique assortment of hand-illustrated, eco-friendly gift items is designed to put a smile on your face and a warm and lift your soul.

I have a wide selection of quirky greeting cards, adorable socks and shirts, and a few sassy stickers. I also offer a custom illustration and design service to help you create your own one-of-a-kind art objects. Anything from commemorative pet portrait, an extra-special personalized card, or a custom-designed T-shirt for your next party. My goal to bring a little bit of soul and creativity into every gift you give, be it custom or not, and do a little good for the planet at the same time.

At Soul Feat, I am passionate about creating products that are eco-conscious and ethical, as well as being fun, unique, and inspiring. Doing good for the planet doesn’t have to mean sucking all the joy out of life and gifts. I strive to make everything sustainable and friendly to the planet when possible. and without sacrificing creativity, quality, or beauty. Many items are made from sustainable materials like bamboo, or recycled paper while many are produced with solar energy. I also bank with a sustainable bank so that all interest and investments go toward good things for our planet too.

My story is a long one as it took me a bit to get where I am today. I recently reconnected with my creative side through art after a long hiatus and slowly it lead to the creation of Soul Feat. Soul Feat was created to help me combat the voices in my head that told me I couldn’t. We all have those little negative voices in our heads and Soul Feat was created to prove those voices wrong and remind us all we can do it. I want to remind everyone that with passion, creativity, and determination, that we can do it, and that we can do it with the earth in mind as well.

I also love animals, and particularly dogs. They are so pure and innocent, and they always make me smile. So naturally, I combined my two passions and started creating pet portraits of my dogs. But I really didn’t go for my business as more than a hobby until my beloved dog Vanity passed away suddenly. I was devastated, but I found solace in creating a fundraiser in her memory by selling a sticker of her. I didn’t expect to raise a lot of money, but I when I did the push to make this a business grew.

That was the moment I realized how powerful art can be and how it can bring so much joy to people’s lives. It also struck me that my art could be a great way to raise money for other worthy causes. And so the push for Soul Feat to thrive and be a full blown business start.

Today we are still slowly growing but I stand behind my business and the belief in what I am doing fully. I am proud of where I have gotten and proud of our mission and goals I am to accomplish. We donate 20% of our profits to a great cause that helps behavior and disabled dogs get out of shelters, thrive and often get adopted to new loving homes. The more we grow the more good we can do and I am determined to make that happen through fun sustainable socks, cards and custom images.

Soul Feats mission is to remind you that we can do good for this earth and have some fun along the way. And that you can do anything you put your soul to.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Creating a business at the end of an economic inflation and the beginning of a uncertain recession has been a whirl wind. Not that any small business is ever easy to begin but you could feel the definite shift in customers at the end of 2022. I went from attending markets and getting my business and name out there to eager customers, and at the minimum making back my market fee if not a little profit, to polite and courteous lookie loos who were not interested in purchasing at all and selling a sticker or two. The shift was insane and dramatic. But I truly believe in what I am doing and keep trudging on and trying different avenues to get my name and mission out there. I have taken funds I would have used to attend markets and invested it in professionals to help spruce up my website as well as increasing my online reach to find a more niche audience who will love my products and business. It was really hard going to markets and feeling like your products weren’t well received. It is very hard to not associate your art and products not selling with their value. It was a hard lesson to learn and remember that if you’re not in front of the right audience your business may not be received well for that and only that. You can not cater to everyone and that is okay. I can see many businesses giving up on something they really believe in because if they don’t sell in the beginning they don’t think their art of product has value. But many businesses do not take off overnight, and just because you do not see their small staggered growth in the beginning doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. To own a small business is to be resilient and keep going despite low sales, set backs and hurdles. It has taught me to keep going, focus on what I love to create and let the rest work itself out. Because at the very least that brings me joy and at the end of the day I win if I at least get that.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is seeing peoples faces light up at what you’ve created. I love getting lost in the process of creating something beautiful and just drawing and getting lost in the artwork brings me so much joy. The creative release keeps me going and gives me purpose. But I love even more sharing it with others who enjoy it as well. For me it doesn’t matter what it is, be it a normal item on my shop I created or a custom piece for the client seeing their face light up or especially laugh brings me so much joy. I will say the joy of creating a custom piece and seeing someones face light up, or often eyes tear up as I have created many commemorative memorial pieces, fills my soul to the brim. Those people who enjoy my work is what keeps me going and keeping my passion for drawing as more than a hobby I keep to myself at home. If my business ever fails, i’ll always have art as a part of my life, but I will miss bringing joy to people and sharing my art immensely.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mysoulfeat.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mysoulfeat/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/mysoulfeat
• Other: Etsy: https://etsy.com/shop/mysoulfeat TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mysoulfeat

Image Credits
All photos were taken by me on my own iphone. No credits are needed as I have all the rights to each photo.