We were lucky to catch up with Mariah Eiman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mariah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you have a hero? What have you learned from them?

My Mom is and always has been my hero. Growing up, she instilled in me the value of education, hard work, and determination. Though she was not able to finish her college degree when she was younger, she encouraged me to go to college, and after years of working and going to school, I graduated last year. My Mom spent much of her career in the medical field and in the military, and after over 20 years of service, she retired in September of 2020. When she thought about what she wanted to do next in life, she decided it was time to go back to school. Reentering a classroom later in life is not easy, but she has handled it with grace, courage and determination. I love that she shows me on a daily basis, that its never too late to pursue a new or different dream. I am so thankful for her influence in my life, and I can’t wait to see what she will do next.

Mariah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado and only recently made my way to Kansas City. I met my husband in 2018 and he introduced me to the magic of Etsy. He had been running his own Etsy shop for a few years at that point, and I loved watching him create and fulfill orders for people all over the world. He helped me get an iPad, learn Procreate, and showed me how to turn my designs into stickers.

I remember talking to him on the phone when I was on a trip in Colorado the summer of 2021. I had been struggling to find direction in my career and after taking some time away for a wedding, I finally had some clarity. After presenting a friend with a portrait I had made for them, I knew what I wanted to do. “I just want to make things that make people happy”, I told him. Thankfully I am married to another creative soul, business owner and someone who has endless patience as I have tried many different creative outlets. That simple revelation gave me the direction I needed to start pursing my business in a different way. I began renting space in a makers boutique in downtown Mission, KS, and I started looking for more opportunities for markets, and wholesaling.

There are still so many things I want to do with my business, but everyday I’m just grateful that people want to buy the things I make. It’s easy to get caught up and frustrated when your reels don’t go viral overnight, and your newest product doesn’t sell out, but if I make something that makes just a few people happy, it will all be worth it.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

The beautiful thing about Etsy, is that there are not many start up costs. You can set up a store in a few hours, as long as you have some good product photos, and a basic understanding of the way you will ship those products. I can’t speak to other businesses, but for me, the main startup cost came from the materials I needed to start making my products. Originally I purchased stickers based on my designs from Sticker Mule. They have a great sample option where you can get 10 stickers printed for $9. This isn’t super cost effective in the long run, but its great in the beginning to see which stickers designs are going to sell. When I began to get into Macrame, I had to purchase the cord I needed for my projects. At first I thought I could only get it from a vendor overseas and I paid a fortune in shipping. Later I found a vendor who was stateside which reduced that cost significantly. When starting a business, I think you really just need to be patient with yourself and know that you will probably overspend in the beginning until you find the most cost effective way to run your store.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

As a creative person, I think it takes time to grow into your creativity, and understand what gives you joy. I have a perception, and this could be totally wrong, that it’s often easier for non-creative people to discover their calling, or path in life. As a creative person, what I want to do, and what fills my cup is always changing. For me it helps that my business is not my main source of income. This allows me the freedom to try new things, and discover what I like, and what will be the most sustainable long term, without the threat of my family struggling financially. I’m very lucky to have a husband that understands this as well, and has allowed me the space to figure out what I want to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: quinnand.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinn_and_co_creative/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QuinnandCoCreative
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariah-eiman-2b397092/