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

Christina, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I first came up with the idea to have my own business when I was about 26 years old (2016). I used to make tutus and sell them to family and friends. That was the original idea of being a business owner. That went on for about a year. And it kinda just died off. I had three kids and was working full time. I lost interest after a while. I couldn’t find the time to perfect the craft then. Fast forward to May 2020. My friend’s birthday was coming up, and I asked her what she wanted for her birthday, and she stated. She has never had chocolate-covered strawberries. I told her I could make her some with no problem. So I did. I made 12 of them for her. And she loved them. I was happy with the results and thought they looked great.

So, without any thought, I started making a business out of them. I posted them on my Facebook page to share that I had made some. From there, different people commented on the post, asking if they could purchase some. I was shocked because I didn’t know how to price or advertise them then.

After the first sale, they have been pouring in non-stop since 2020.

After the first sale was complete, I never let up. After a couple of months, I knew it was worth it. I was able to bring smiles to different people’s faces. They would be so excited when they picked up their order. I never knew how much people loved chocolate-covered strawberries.

I knew this would work because, at the time, COVID-19 had just made an appearance, and a lot of businesses were closing down and decreasing their hours of operation. COVID was when I and many people started their small businesses. We were stuck in the house, just trying stuff, and it worked for many people, including me. With that, small businesses were getting a lot of support and respect. The communities were pouring into small businesses all around the city.

I don’t think I was solving a problem; it was more like proving a point that you can do anything you set out to do, whether big or small. I don’t know if it was unique at the time because, from what I could see, many people were doing it. But not everyone was successful at it. I just didn’t give up, even during the nonpeak seasons.

What excited me most about this idea was the amount of creativity I could pour into it—the never-ending possibilities. Making chocolate-covered strawberries turned into way more than I could ever imagine.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Christina Morris, and I am 36 years old. I Graduated from Northwest High School. I attended The Art Institute of Indianapolis for some time, from 2007 to 2009. I have my Associate of Science in Business from IWU. My first love is food. I wanted to be a professional/private chef. Cooking is my passion. I know my way around the kitchen with ease. That’s how I could enter into the baking industry so quickly.

I put myself in the business; I didn’t know what I was doing. But I was determined. Shortly after, my business took off. I went back to school to get a degree in business. I wanted to take it seriously; I saw the demand and wanted to ensure my ambition didn’t die. I created a plan and made vision boards. I wrote everything I wanted to do and what I saw for myself. I was determined.

Running a small business is hard—maintaining a healthy relationship with your company takes a lot of discipline and sacrifice. If your business can’t count on you, then it would be impossible for me someone else to count on me—long nights, early mornings. I’m talking about going to be at 2 am, waking up at 6 am in the kitchen til 6 pm that night. The hours in the beginning were crazy I couldn’t keep up.
I had to create control and order because I was exhausted and burnt out. Everything was moving so fast.

I provide a variety of sweet treats. I am starting with strawberries, cakepops, cupcakes, cake sicles, and various sweets. With this service I have started, I can provide these things for weddings, baby showers, bridal showers, and other special occasions. And doing this has put smiles on faces; this service I provide is often the party’s highlight.

I have solved the problem for my clients by knowing that I will deliver exactly what they ask for. It’s an honor to be able to do someone’s wedding desserts. That is a huge milestone in someone’s life. My customers will look back on it for years to come. That is what I want to give my clients—a beautiful, sweet memory.

What sets me apart from others is my excellent customer service and the details of my creative work.
I am most proud of my drive, work, passion, and will to not give up even when, at times, I felt like I was drowning.

I want potential clients and people reading this to know I offer various sweets and services that will wow you and your guests. I have poured my passion and craft into my brand. I enjoy what I do from start to finish. My brand is one of a kind to me. However, many do exactly what I do. I stand by Thee Craft Factory 1000%. Its uniqueness and creativity are immaculate.

Before I started my business, I knew I was creative, but not how much. Starting this business has allowed me to take my ideas and designs to a level I didn’t think I could or that it even existed. But I always say I’m just getting started.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I built my audience on Social media by following pages that were similar to mine. I originally started on my Facebook page and gradually moved over to Instagram; it has been more beneficial in keeping a clean, neat, polished look on the brand.

The advice I would give is simply to keep posting your work; someone is always watching and looking. Don’t let the lack of engagement allow you to feel threatened or feel like it’s not working. Everything works out when the time is accurate.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I had to pivot in business when I had to go back into everyday working life. When I started my business in 2020 I was working in the healthcare field. I was confident enough in my business that I only needed one source of income. When the opportunity presented itself for me to leave my place of employment (Oct 2021), I did. In 2022, I had to return to work. One reason Why I went back was that I wanted to keep my business up and running. The demand was slowing down. I didn’t want the flame to die. I went back to work to maintain a stable income in my household. I didn’t want to stop the business completely, so I went back to work to have a cash flow to my business.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theecraftfactory
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theecraftfactory

Image Credits

professional images Meshia Hayes