We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Meg. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Meg below.

Meg, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

At Fizz and Flourish, my mission is to empower aspiring artists and small business owners, regardless of their circumstances. As a busy mum to a toddler and twin babies, I understand the challenges of balancing parenthood with pursuing creative endeavours! I believe in a culture of inclusivity, where everyone (regardless of their stage in life), can access valuable resources and support, to thrive in their artistic and entrepreneurial journey. Through transparent tutorials and insights into running a small business alongside parenting responsibilities, I aim to show my audience that with determination and support, individuals can achieve success in both their personal and professional lives.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Meg, and my journey into the creative world began as a Costume Maker after graduating from University. This career path led me to China, where I worked for a few years on Cirque du Soleil’s sister show, The House of Dancing Water. It was during my time in China (whilst in lockdown!), that I started exploring digital art for the first time.

I started watching Studio Vlogs on YouTube, where other artists shared their journey and I knew I wanted to support myself the same way, and leave employment forever – showing that it doesn’t matter where you are on your journey! Since then, I’ve grown a following, had a baby, then a set of twin boys.

In my small business, Fizz and Flourish, I provide a range of products and services centred around illustration and entrepreneurship. From digital art tutorials to insights into running a small business, my goal is to empower aspiring artists and small business owners. I aim to break down barriers and inspire individuals from all walks of life to pursue their passions fearlessly.

Despite the challenges of being a mum to 3 under 3, I’m still at it – juggling being a mum to twin babies and toddler, whilst running my small business from home and creating content for others. It might sound like I’m a Supermum, but the reality is that I’ve had to make sacrifices along the way. I had to temporarily close my shop to focus on my family, but that hasn’t stopped me! I’ve found new ways to earn an income from multiple sources while my shop has been closed. I hope to show others that it’s totally possible to support yourself whilst raising a young family. I work diligently during nap times and evenings, demonstrating that with determination and resourcefulness, anything is possible – even whilst raising twins!

I am most proud of the following I have built over on YouTube. It’s not about the numbers for me, but the community I have built. I love reading comments about the impact my videos have had on them – especially when I meet another parent working hard to pursue their dreams.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I had to make a significant pivot in my content strategy on YouTube, which affecting the running of my business day to day! Initially, I started out creating Studio Vlogs, offering viewers a behind-the-scenes look into my life as a small business owner selling stationery. This all changed when one of my ‘Draw With Me’ videos (not a video I usually uploaded), went unexpectedly viral.

After that, my Studio Vlog views were way down, and YouTube only seemed to push my art/tutorial videos. So, I went with it as best I could! I started uploading art videos and moved away from the Vlogs. As sad as it was to stop doing Studio Vlogs, it’s been the best thing for my business, as I’ve been able to focus on digital products, art tutorials and improving my own artistic skills. I was able to make more income from YouTube Ads and gain brand deals which was an exciting time for my business!

Looking back, I’m grateful for the unexpected turn of events that led me to pivot in my content strategy. It taught me the importance of adaptability and seizing opportunities, even in the face of challenges.

We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.

I started out selling on Etsy, and that was working well to begin with. I quickly realised that I was sending 95% of my own traffic to Etsy though, and very few customers were finding me through SEO (I admit, I just didn’t put my time into improving this!). With this realisation, it made sense for me to open my own E-commerce website, where I had more control over the fees incurred from sales. I absolutely love having my own space on the internet where I can sell my products, however the downside has been customs fees. It’s not something I can automatically add at checkout (every country has different tax codes), so Etsy wins on that one – they calculate it for the customer. This means that when ordering through my website, my international customers won’t know what tax they have to pay until they receive their package. I make this clear on my website though, and so far it hasn’t been an issue! When I reopen my shop I shall continue to sell from my own website as I love creating a space that is solely my own!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fizzandflourish.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fizzandflourish/?hl=en-gb
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fizzandflourish/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm-PhZ3elxbhzsbzF9W-Yqg
• Other: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fizzandflourish