We were lucky to catch up with Kelly Bailey recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kelly, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
When you see a successful small business/maker on Etsy or at an artisan market, you are only seeing a fraction of what it takes to get there. The sleepless nights before a market or a big online order is due. The concept that when you’re the only employee, nothing moves unless you do. If you would have told me the dirty details while I was still crafting cocktails at a casino, I would still jump in head first. Starting your own business is a huge risk, I learned this first hand when I quit my full time job and started creating. My first products were certainly a rough draft and have evolved greatly since it began. Having fellow small business/maker friends has made the journey a little less stressful. Chances are if you’re scratching your head or wondering if you should just scrap everything and give up, they’ve been there too. There are days where you have amazing success and think it’ll be smooth sailing from there. There are even more days where you’re wondering what you need to change. Making connections with repeat customers and genuinely making them feel good about the products you made is worth keeping it going.
Kelly, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hi my name is Kelly. I worked in the service industry for half of my life. I have a degree I’m liberal studies with a concentration in photography. I made the leap to consciously crafted skin care and eco-friendly goods for quite a few reasons. The most important was that I wanted better products for myself and my loved ones. Raw Oats is eco-friendly and working towards sustainability. What sets it and myself apart is that not only am I creating quality products that are safe for the environment, but I am also working to support other entrepreneurs and important causes. I feel if I can bring light to other amazing makers and small businesses who align with my values I am bringing things full circle. My brand continues to evolve year after year. Raw Oats prides itself on working to educate consumers on ingredients and new concepts. Everyone is at a different understanding and enjoys what I do for different reasons. Whether it’s the scent, the consciously crafted product, or how it makes their skin feel.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Society is adapting to creative at a reasonable pace. It is important to understand that our time and talents are valuable, the equipment and materials aren’t cheap, and when you purchase something from them, you are not only supporting their dreams, but allowing them to continue making amazing things.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
It is my mission to teach people to better look at ingredients and to work to minimize their footprint on the environment. The earth is important, it’s our home. While we should have started addressing environmental concerns decade’s ago, now is always a good time. We cannot do it all, but every little bit helps. 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rawoatsskincare.com
- Instagram: @rawoats2021
- Facebook: @rawoats.mi