We recently connected with Amber Murphy and have shared our conversation below.

Amber, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start on the operational side – do you spend more of your time/focus/energy on growing revenue or cutting costs?

I have experienced times where both are necessary and I would argue that cutting costs (responsibly) is more important. Revenue will continue to grow, even if at a slow and steady pace. Cutting costs is a skill that can help your business stay afloat no matter the economy or market at the time. When inflation was at it’s highest, my sales had slowed down considerably. Makes sense, right? No one NEEDS hair accessories. They are a want. It was at that time that I really shopped around for better thread prices per yard, research different fabric distributors and overall manage my time more efficiently.

The hidden costs of things such as your time working back end things in your business really add up. Cutting costs without affecting quality is a skill that can carry your business through unexpected downturns.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My first mothers day we had just started our family and things were tight- I really wanted to decorate our first apartment together but needed to do so on a very tight budget. My husband and I had been saving our change in a coffee can at the time and I asked him if I could cash it in for a used sewing machine from Facebook Marketplace as my Mother’s Day gift. About an hour and a half later I was home from picking up the machine and some sheets from the thrift store and on Youtube watching tutorials learning to sew. I made our own curtains with my machine and have been hooked ever since.

I love sewing so much-but not just the sewing. Feeling the weight of the fabric and different textures, trying new fabric types-it’s a craft that never gets boring because there’s sew much versatility! (Sew, hah, get it? We appreciate puns around here.)

The Barefooted Bobbin started because I had been so frustrated with the quality of store bought headbands. They either slipped off, or if they happened to stay on they gave me major headaches. I had a feeling I could make them myself and after a few prototypes I had a pattern I was happy with and knew I had to spread the word!

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Frugality has always been in my blood. Once I drafted a headband pattern that didn’t give headaches and paired it with the most butter soft material I knew I had to share it with others. I also had very little initial capital. Much like when I looked to Facebook Marketplace for my first sewing machine, I looked for everything after that used too. If I couldn’t find it used, I waited and saved and once I had enough to buy it full price, I still looked one more time on various platforms- Varage Sale, Craigslist, FBM, Local buy/sell FB groups and oftentimes during the time spent saving and waiting I would find it at the last moment!

Here is a list of everything I have bought used for The Barefooted Bobbin:

Polymailers on ebay
My first studio desk
My office Chair
My Serger Machine
My first Sewing Machine
My cube organizer
My slat wall
My pegs for my slat wall
My Label printer
My Square POS stand
My Market Tables

and more I can’t think of.

I know it’s tempting to go buy the shiniest and newest and fanciest of equipment. It can seem like it will make your business more legitimate. I urge you to resist and try your hand at buying used. It’s a mindset and skill I’ve found that has helped save me money and time throughout the last 3 years.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

So many! A few of the ones that come to mind are:

-Profit First by Mike Michalowicz
-Why we buy : Paco Underhill
-Purple Cow : Seth Godin

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thebarefootedbobbin.com
• Instagram: The Barefooted Bobbin
• Facebook: The Barefooted Bobbin

Image Credits
Amber Murphy