We were lucky to catch up with Dana Rowan recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dana, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Taking care of customers isn’t just good business – it is often one of the main reasons folks went into business in the first place. So, we’d love to get a conversation going around how to best help clients feel appreciated – maybe you can share something you’ve done or seen someone do that’s been really effective at helping a customer feel valued?

Showing appreciation for my past, current and potential customers is top of mind and the core of my mission every moment in my handmade business. The best thing I have ever done and continue to do is approaching interactions personally. I listen to my customers as it’s their time to shine. As I listen to their story from struggle to joy, I make eye contact and separate the noise around us. Before they leave my market table or when I pack their order, I say thank you and enjoy in a personal way. I hope they feel like “wow, she really did listen to me”. When I lay my head down at night, I feel complete knowing at least one person was heard and appreciated in a vulnerable moment. I believe these little actions make a huge impact on the world and manifest connections to keep my business stable and growing.

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?

Since I can remember, creativity and crafting was a significant part of my days. I naturally gravitated to projects, creating and giving. I enjoyed sports because I got to hang out with my friends, but competition only meant something when I was trying to create and be unique.

I followed the path of going to college, starting a career, getting married and having a family. As I grew in these milestones, there was little time for creating. I found every opportunity I could, but making money existed in my nursing career, not in my handmade craft.

After becoming a mother of two, the layers of my onion were peeled back allowing me to know myself, my passion and my purpose more and more each day. Many times it was painful, but great things come from hard times. My dreams of owning a handmade business surfaced every day and became more and more vivid.

I bought my first sewing machine and started complicated projects before simple ones because my “I can do anything” spirit gets me every time! My idol Kaitlyn Bristowe peaked my interest in scrunchies. The trends of Mom Buns and comfy headbands sparked my creativity. I didn’t want to be one more headband and scrunchie maker in the field of thousands. I had to be different or else my challenge wasn’t met. Encouraging words and affirmations have always been a part of my love language. It quickly came to mind and made total sense to add these words to fabric! This is where “Back To You Designs” Empowering affirmations on your everyday accessories” was born.

These affirmations are not loud and clear, but rather small hidden details that the woman wearing can see. It’s purpose is to be a friendly reminder each day that she validates and feels confident in.

I am most proud about the networking, connections and foundation I have built in my community. In a world where ecommerce and online shopping is on the rise, creating and selling locally manifests the happiest life I have ever experienced. This is a life that serves others and fuels me to be more for my family and the world around me.

One of the biggest things I want a potential customer to feel when experiencing my brand is she is worthy, heard, enough and can do anything her soul desires. Feeling confident, speaking her voice and validating her own creativity are qualities she naturally has. They just need uncovered. If a scrunchie, headband, eye pillow and pillowcase can provide the affirmation she needs in the day, my purpose has been met.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Being curious! Being an extrovert makes this very easy, but it’s always an intentional and mindful act as a woman that is married, part time employed, business owner, mother, friend and daughter. I never hesitate in asking a question to get to know someone. I do hesitate on HOW I ask these questions. Humans instinctively want to share their story. Stories are often unheard. Being memorable comes when your heart is open and you exude interest in others.

When I am listening to someone’s story, I quiet the outside noise and remember one thing about them in my mind. I may or may not need to remember it later, but my intentionality has never failed me. Trusting the universe and allowing time to serve has been crucial in building my reputation. They say, “What comes around, goes around”.

Every interaction I have personally and in my business has significance. Being a connector has allowed me to position myself in a way that benefits others and therefore builds my reputation.

Being curious, asking questions, listening to others, making eye contact and helping where you can are simple acts that easily and naturally build your reputation. As humans, we are naturally resourceful. When we are looking for a solution to our problem we think of who and what can help us. Being memorable brings you to their mind. They take action when they trust and see the outcome as meeting their needs and wants comfortably and safely.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Resilience is soooo hard! It comes from a place of whole heartedly desiring your purpose, path and mission in life. There are stellar days, okay days and crap days all in one week. As I face these days, I do a lot of self talking, sharing with friends, meeting my unmet needs and giving grace to the fact I simply need to sleep on it!

My story is simple and doesn’t involve anyone else. It’s being selfish! Being selfish 100% of the time is most likely troublesome. Being selfish when you need to replenish your needs and wants is 100% NOT troublesome. Guilt gets in the way, but what’s better of the two “evils”? When you walk away from feeling “selfish” or from feeling “guilty” does it result in the same outcome?

After feeling “selfish” your needs and wants are met. Once these are met, you can serve others with ease. After feeling “guilty” and not being “selfish” your needs and wants are NOT met, therefore you don’t have the capacity to serve others with ease.

My resilience simply comes from having moments that serve me and only me. When myself is served I can wake up, stand up and face the day with more strength naturally.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.danarowan.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/creativelybacktoyou
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/creativelybacktoyou