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

Hi Chyanne, thanks for joining us today. Crazy stuff happening is almost as certain as death and taxes – it’s technically “unexpected” but something unexpected happening is to be expected and so can you share a crazy story with our readers

When I started this business, I didn’t think much about needing a truck to transport my products to events. Luckily, my dad was more than willing to help me out—he’d bring his truck to carry everything from my products to my tent for outdoor markets. This worked just fine for a while, and I never thought I’d run into any issues of not having my own vehicle at events. That all changed in September of 2024.

I was vending at an event in Salt Lake City, UT, about 30 minutes from home. My dad came over in the morning to help me load up, just like usual. When we arrived, the setting was stunning—a park with a little stream running through it and ducks swimming nearby. I was already excited for the day ahead.

One of my best friends, who’s been helping me at events without asking for anything in return, was there with me. She mentioned she needed to leave early for a photo shoot with clients (she runs a photography business), and I was happy to let her go—after all, she was doing me a huge favor by helping in the first place. We decided not to put the sides on our tent so we could enjoy the view of nature.

About an hour into the event, the wind picked up, and our neighboring vendor’s tent almost flew away. We helped hold it down while they grabbed some water jugs to weigh it down. After that gust, we decided to put the sides on our tent to prevent any issues. It was a bit tricky because we’d already set everything up, but we managed to get them on—though not as securely as usual. We figured it would be okay.

I happened to be one of the only vendors selling herbs for smoke baths and smudging that day, and one of my customers, a Native American woman, was doing blessings at the event. She came back multiple times throughout the day to buy more herbs. As a token of appreciation, she offered to bless us and my tent. She called upon her ancestors, asking for prosperity and safety for us, all while burning the juniper we’d supplied. I was deeply moved by her kindness and grateful for her gesture.

A few hours later, dark clouds rolled in, and vendors started packing up. I wasn’t sure if the storm would hit or how bad it would be, but I called my dad just in case to see when he’d be able to get there. He was watching a Steelers game (he’s a die-hard fan), and I didn’t want to interrupt. I told him I’d call him back if the storm got worse, and he agreed to come after the game.

But then the wind picked up again. It hit our tent with such force that the loose tent sides knocked into our table, tipping it over. The table that tipped was one that held all of my delicate insect displays. I’ll never forget the sound of glass shattering.

My friend and I quickly scrambled to pack up, but it wasn’t fast enough. Most of the other vendors were long gone. A few kind vendors came over to help, and in the chaos, they took down our tent to try to protect us from the wind. That left us exposed to the rain, and I knew we had to move everything as quickly as possible.

My friend had to leave for her photo shoot, and by the time she did, I was the only one left at the park. Drenched, I moved everything under a nearby pavilion to escape the rain. I called my dad again, and he was already on his way. When he arrived, I was soaked through, my supplies were wet, and I had cut my finger on broken glass. I felt defeated. He drove me home, and I took care of the fabric and other items that needed drying. The rest of the supplies stayed in boxes, and I decided to assess the damage the next day. I needed a break.

The next day, when I finally started going through everything, I was in shock. Despite the chaos and the fragile items being knocked over, only one item was completely broken—a glass jar that had shattered when the table fell. There was one other item with slight damage, but nothing I couldn’t fix. Everything else was fine.

Maybe it was luck. Maybe it was the blessing I had received that day. Whatever it was, I was thankful. It could have been so much worse. That day, I learned a few valuable lessons:

1) Secure the sides of our tent tightly at the start of every event. 2) Have an exit plan for weather emergencies. 3) Start saving up for my own truck. 4) Always accept the blessings offered to you in life.

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.

My business is Haunting Beauty and I sell insect taxidermy, jewelry made from real insect and bone, wet specimens, interesting antique items, and other oddities that catch my eye.

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

I started this business with the idea of selling bath products and insect art displays. After I started vending at markets, I realized that the bath product industry was pretty over saturated. Also, it’s hard to compete with corporations that make bath bombs for pennies. So, after doing a few shows and getting a lot of compliments on my insect displays, I decided to really lean into that and all things weird, which I love.
So far, it has been good for me. It has allowed me to be more creative and find new ways to display insects, bones, and other oddities like glass eyes. I have really enjoyed the journey and have much more fun doing it than when I was making bath products. I think it suits me better.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

For me, going to market events is always the best source of new clients. I love talking to people at the markets and telling them about my products. I like when they are interested in the insects and I can tell them fun facts about the different species. I think it’s important to sell yourself, as well as the product. I am showing the customers that this is something I actually care about and have interest in. I am not just trying to make quick money, I’m doing this because I like it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: haunting.beauty.801