We recently connected with Macki McMahan and have shared our conversation below.

Macki, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I have always been a huge fan of polymer clay earrings. I love the weight, style, and look of them. For a long time, I supported various polymer clay earring companies. A bold pair of earrings are always an important part of my daily outfit. In march of 2023, I started to dive deep into the process of polymer clay creations. I spent the month watching classes and following creators that inspired me. I created pinterest boards of techniques and styles I liked. I sold things I no longer needed so that I could get the base materials that I needed. And from there, it all snowballed. My husband helped me create a craft table for our sun room, I wasn’t sure how much I would use it, but I can confidently say I use it 2-3 hours a day now. I joke and say “during my 9-5 day I am a marketing storyteller and during 7-11pm I am a polymer clay earring creator”.

Macki, 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?

Howdy Hello is a small business located in Louisville, KY. At Howdy Hello, I make polymer clay earrings. I have a whole clay studio set up in my sun room, it is my favorite place to be. Howdy Hello’s signature earring is a bold / colorful / funky pair of earrings. You can spot a pair of Howdy Hello earrings by the way that they stand out from the rest. “everyday earrings” is our tagline – encouraging people to wear Howdy Hello earrings no matter the occasion!!! The earrings are made out of polymer clay which is a super light material. Our earring posts are nickel free which makes your ears happy : ) I am so proud of this art and I look forward to it everyday when I get to create.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I love seeing women be confident with their howdy hello earrings on. For me, it’s not that they’re wearing “my” earrings. It is more that I can see that the earrings help women to be confident and step more into a bold and colorful style. I love the age range of women that love my earrings. From 8 year old to 80 year olds, it is so sweet to see them all get giddy over their newest pairs.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

When it comes to social media, I show all of my process. I have found that that makes consumers feel like they are a part of the process. My most favorite thing to post is the colorful clay slab before it turns into earrings! I get a lot of “oooooooooh😍” responses. It makes my followers eager to see what the clay slab turns into. My followers are a HUGE source of encouragement for my business so I make sure to keep them in the loop on anything exciting that may be coming up for howdy hello (sneak peaks, giveaways, discounts). When it comes to starting to build your social presence, be you. Show why you are passionate about your craft. Gain the trust of consumers and continue to show them that you are different from the rest!!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://howdyhelloo.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howdyhelloo/
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Howdyhelloo I also have a booth at Crestwood Mercantile : https://www.instagram.com/crestwoodmercantile/ (curated collection of small shops)

Image Credits
Taken by me or my huband, Sean Stargel