We recently connected with Marissa Rosen and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Marissa, thanks for joining us today. One of the toughest things about entrepreneurship is that there is almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?
I am currently experiencing an unexpected problem within my small business! M.O.M. G.U.IL.T. I am a military spouse and we are going on 9 months without my husband. I am a mother of 2 young children and was absolutely not expecting this deployment. It feels as though each time I think I’m gaining traction within my business, there is a setback. Becoming a mom for the first time, moving across the country, having another baby, and now surviving with my husband overseas. I think there is something that needs to be said about the incredible women behind small businesses they have built over and over again while following their husbands’ career. My kids have been hit hard with this deployment, and I am in the trenches of trying to pour more time into my business. I feel as though I am working 2 full-time jobs at all times. If I’m not parenting, I’m building my business and vice versa. My kids have definitely lost out on important mom-time, and I have lost out on giving them my full attention. I hope that my hard work will create a much nicer balance for when my husband returns, and we can begin to make up for all of the time we have lost as a family. When you run a small business from home, a personal issue can quickly bleed into your work. I am struggling, but I know that I am building something to be proud of. I feel very fortunate to have clients that understand and continue to support me and my work.
Marissa, 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?
For those who have not seen me or my work, I am Marissa and I am a self-taught woodworker and artist. My husband bought me my first scroll saw 4 years ago and I quickly fell in love with all things handmade. My art has taken many different forms but I have always found the most enjoyment from creating items that evoke emotion and are personal to my client. I specialize in human portraits, home portraits, and animal portraits. 90% of my work is strictly handmade and I have truly enjoyed learning and perfecting my craft. I am proud to share that I am a stay-at-home mom and military spouse. I am originally from Los Angeles where I met my husband. Shortly after we got married, my husband joined the United States Army and we found ourselves moving across the country. We are currently settled in Clarksville, TN just outside of Nashville. I have found an amazing community of creators and clients that are supportive and understand the struggles that come with being military. I feel that what sets me apart from others is the connection I form to each piece I make. I want to know if you love it, how the recipient reacted to receiving it, and if there were any tears shed when opening! I work so hard on each and every piece that leaves my door. I am currently brainstorming ways to incorporate more original art into the limited time I have to work, so be on the lookout for fun new art to hit my channels soon!
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
The majority of my clients have come from word of mouth. I have put a lot of work into my Facebook and Instagram and am starting to see the pay off. I think organic growth, especially as someone who is not well versed in tracking trends or following algorithms(seriously, what even is that?!), has been difficult. As my work has improved, I have been getting a lot more traction. I’m hopeful that I will continue to grow at a faster pace as I take on more clients!
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Believing in your hustle. I work hard to make each piece better than the last. Building connections. My reputation has come from putting in the extra effort where applicable and letting my work speak for itself. My clients recommend me to others because I work hard, I don’t cut corners, and I am thoroughly invested in creating what they envisioned. I spend a lot of time connecting with other small business owners and showing them the same support they show me. It’s a great feeling when I receive clients based off of past clients and it proves that the work I do is creating the impact it was intended to.
Contact Info:
- Website: solbirdcreative.square.site
- Instagram: @solbirdcreative
- Facebook: facebook.com/solbirdcreative
Image Credits
Bethany Platt-Biesendorfer Insta: @bbphotography303