We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Haley Ponder a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Haley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How do you feel about asking friends and family to support your business? What’s appropriate, what’s not? Where do you draw the line?
When asking family and friends to support my business, especially when you are first starting it can feel like you were an annoyance. I started a Facebook page. Intentionally to hit a target audience of the adult crowd therefore, adding my mom‘s friends as well as family members. posting on your stories and feed every day multiple times a day is the part that can make you feel like an annoyance. I hosted an event in the beginning of 2024, called vendor blender and outside small business market type set up when doing an event promoting is the key component to success, but while posting it makes you wonder are people saving the information or just oh look here is that post again luckily it was a great event and I hope to plan in the future but that is always in the back of your mind but also just one thing to prosper through in business.
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?
The art industry is truly in my blood . My great grandmother was one of the amazing ladies that help start the Venice Art Center. What makes me the most proud is when I am teaching an art class no matter children or adults when they see how amazing their masterpiece turned out when they didn’t think they were capable of it, showing people they truly are capable of being artists all you have to do it try is what makes you feel proud and accomplished. I want anyone reading this to know anything is art just open your mind ,go watch the clouds see what you can see let the creativity flow!
Have you ever had to pivot?
Pivoting is something everyone needs,life is not planned out peoples opinions are not the same, things will be viewed differently than others . One instance I had to pivot I was doing a brides wedding flower display and I was given creative freedom, when I sent finished photos to the bride and family they were unhappy even though I thought what I had done was great. Make lemonade right so I remade multiple things to satisfy their vision but in the end you have this idea of what the reaction will be like and when it doesn’t you must pivot and bounce back !
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
My art business is a part time job . My way of funding the art LLC I work for a plastic surgeon part time as well as teach the resin and painting classes at the Venice art center on the island! I like my mixture of fun and serious medical work people are always overwhelmed with my schedule but truly it is perfect for me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Cometcreationsllc
- Facebook: Haley ponder
- Other: https://www.tedooo.com/shop/64bd9fe18c2f8c95f5eccecd
Image Credits
Trinity Mathis