We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cindy Channell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cindy below.
Cindy, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
I’ve always had a passion for art. Growing up, I dabbled in all sorts of different arts and crafts. Nothing really stuck. But I always knew that one day I wanted to incorporate my passion of art into some type of business. I’ve had big dreams of having a booth at a flea market! Traveling from state to state in my RV! Well in July 2021, I may have found my ticket to that life! Due to Covid, I was unable to find work for 100 days! I spent some time on YouTube researching different art ideas. What else was there to do? I started making essential oil keychains. I sold just a few on Facebook. Then I seen there was a stained glass class near me! I’d always wanted to try! So I signed up! In the meantime, I watched TONS of videos on the process. I joined a Facebook group for stained glass. Here’s the part that really helped make my dream a reality. Some amazing woman messaged me that she was local and had things for me to get started if I was interested! Yes! So I went to her house and she loaded me up with more than I could have ever imagined! And for FREE! She said she loves the art and it’s a dying art and wants to help keep it alive! Bless your heart Donna! With her help, I’ve really been working on becoming a successful stained glass artist!
In November this year I seen an ad for a local artisan shop looking for vendors. So I jumped! Now I’m at Lostetter Design Artisan Market and hope to further my success!
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 name is Cindy. I make glass art. I’ve been doing this a little over 2 years. So far my main product is stained glass. I’ve also done a few glass mosaics. I am hoping to get more into that. I’d love to hear others ideas! I’m willing to try anything if a client has a specific idea. My only problem is time. I only do this when I’m not working my full time job. But with your help…maybe one day this can be my full time!
We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.
I’d been wanting to sell my glass art. But didn’t want to try Etsy. Didn’t want to deliver, didn’t want people coming to my house and shipping glass can be tricky and expensive! There was a Facebook post that a local artisan market was looking for vendors! Bingo! I am so thankful I decided to become a vendor. It’s been a great experience and I’ve met a lot of fantastic people! Thanks Allen for helping my dreams come true!
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
I am so blessed. Again, I had a Facebook group that a woman reached out to me. She gave me everything I needed to get started. I feel like everything happens for a reason. It was meant that I didn’t have a job at the time. Everything has worked out so beautifully. I’m very grateful.
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