We were lucky to catch up with Caitlin Wood recently and have shared our conversation below.

Caitlin , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

I started playing around with tie-dye about 2018. I was currently working at our local Pizza Hut as a shift manager and worked my way up to assistant. Not long after I became the assistant manager in 2019 I found out I was pregnant with my second child. I ended up getting all in my feelings about working 50 hour plus weeks and managing time with my at the time 8 year old son and a newborn. I ended up making the decision to leave my corporate job and stay home to pursue my own business. A couple months after I had my daughter in 2020 I started working towards my goal. The corona virus came into play that year so it made it really hard to do just about anything especially with a newer baby. My plan was to vend at local events to get my name and work out there. Towards the middle of that year I decided to start making children’s bows. That became a pretty good selling item and eventually I started making children’s clothes as well. During 2021 I was able to vend for different events and into 2022. Now at almost the end of 2022 I have gained quite a bit of business, purchased a business license, and I am also working on a website currently. I have also officially made my first international sale which was super exciting! I still have a long ways to go on where I want to take my business but I am really glad that I took the risk in creating my own business. It has been a learning experience and I continue to grow from it.

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

I am Caitlin, owner of Cat Mandala Art. I am a tie-dye artist and seamstress located in Hohenwald, TN. I am a mother of two wonderful children a boy and girl. Best of both worlds. I have been creating art since childhood but really put in the work around 2018. I started playing with borosillicate glass, taught by my partner, Derrick Weaver who has been creating glass creations for about 10-12 years. I found that I was ok at it but I give credit to him for really pushing me to find something that I liked to do and to be creative. I then dove into tie-dye head first not knowing that it would become a passion. I love art and I love colorful. I create all kinds of fun pieces and designs. Never too afraid to try something new. I make tie-dye shirts, dresses, tapestries, pants etc.. If I can dye it I am going to do it! I hand make items like baby and kids hairbows, bell bottoms, dresses, pants and much more. I believe in small businesses and supporting them. With mine I believe what makes me a tad bit different is that I put intention and love behind everything I make. I want whoever that purchases an item from me to wear or display a piece of mine with happiness and appreciation for my hard work and the beauty in it.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Growing my clientele has been HARD, I am not really great at sharing on social media business wise, which is a no no. In any business social media is definitely key. I believe what has been my bread and butter for my growing my clientele is actually being able to interact with each customer personally. Since I do not have a website yet at this time I have been personally speaking with each customer on orders instead of an automated message. Customers want to feel appreciated and heard. Being able to speak with each one and see their excitement in a message or a picture with product shown is really touching.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2021 a lot of my sales were based on consigning in a couple different places and vending events. Eventually, I had to pull out of one because my sales were slow and another they ended up closing shop. It was hard because it was steady, at least steady enough income for me at the time. I thought man what am I going to do now? It was hard to adjust. Luckily, a customer I gained from the place that shut down continued to order from me. She ended up making a Tiktok video and it went viral on a small scale and that is when my business grew. Not every closed door is a bad thing. We always have to look for the good in the bad. It was a huge blessing for me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/catmandalaart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cat-Mandala-Art-111632700541191

Image Credits
Family photo- Jamie Reeves all other photos were taken by myself