We recently connected with April Finch and have shared our conversation below.
April, appreciate you joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea of The Barefoot Monkey came to fruition during Covid and after many trips traveling all over India with my family. Before I first stepped foot in India in 2015 the food, the authors and the idea of India were already in my bloodstream. When we first got off the plane to the sights, smells and horns of India I knew it wasn’t my last visit. When we returned to the southern region the following year I was still in awe of India but after my families third trip they said that you’re on your own now. So I kept going back with friends until Covid struck, the urge to return was still there and I thought how can i justify returning back to India. This is one reason that The Barefoot Monkey was started so that I could go back to India plus it gave me the creative outlet that I needed with my girls going off to college for the first time.
April, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My first print that I made in India I actually had carved myself in a lost wax jewelry class in Florida. Because I’m a Floridian I have a fondness for the wild parrots that loudly fly above my head. Once I carved my sweet parrots into a belt buckle I then cast them in sterling silver and so came my first print-Parrots in Love. From there on I was inspired from the love of my childhood growing up in Palm Beach, Florida that would send me down creative rabbit holes of ideas. Being one of five children to extremely creative parents and my fondness for travel with my own wonderful family paved the way for The Barefoot Monkey. My mind is constantly spinning with ideas which luckily for me become prints of joy due to the artisans that I work with in India. I absolutely love what I do, who I work with and who I sell to which is why I keep down the lane I’m on.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I wouldn’t say that my four year old company started off like a race horse hot out of the gate. We are more like a cute working donkey that is always plugging away at the load on our back. We are the slow and steady trying to decipher what to do next, how to get followers, how to grow while I’m constantly asking myself should I continue with what I’m doing or stop. The idea of giving up lasts about a day and then I’m back out there like that reliable donkey working hard and carrying the load up that hill again. Each time I get another follower or even a website sale my heart actually does a little we got this dance. I don’t have advice on how to get followers, new clients or wholesale accounts but what I can offer is that if you do what you love it doesn’t feel like work. In my opinion loving what you do, what you sell and the people that you work for is the key to success and the best path to be on. With the determination that you have the rest will fall into place.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
I would say that the resource of new clients for me has been word of mouth. Friends buying for friends, friends following me on social media and from strangers walking into a store and trying us on. Having a small business you need the love and support of family and friends to get the ball rolling and then it’s all up to you to keep at marketing your company. It does take a village and I’m always so grateful to supportive friends, family and stores willing to try us out.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Thebarefootmonkey.com
- Instagram: Thebarefootmonkeypb
