We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Olivia D’Amico a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Olivia , appreciate you joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I started Kinspoke in 2016 and the Friendly City Flea in 2019 with different business partners. When I started these businesses they were to meet the needs of our community but they were also to meet some personal needs and dreams.

Creative spaces can be hard. When I was a young artist I was made to believe there wasn’t enough space for everyone. We had to fight for jobs and fight for exposure. But then I hit a point of feeling completely over the lie I was constantly competing with others when I went into other creative spaces. I wanted to highlight the amazing talent of my friends around me. I wanted to focus on beauty as an important human right and need. Through Kinspoke and Friendly City Flea those things started to become possible. We started, and have continued, to create a beautiful network of makers, musicians, and creatives.

I envisioned a community thriving with creativity and inclusion in the Southwest Florida region. There were others doing it but not in a way that was accessible or at a close geographical distance to so many around us. So we decided to create the community we were longing for.

Olivia , 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?

Kinspoke is a creative agency based in Bradenton, Florida.

Grounded in the belief art and beauty are human rights and must be made accessible and celebrated by people regardless of background or income. We seek to create more beauty + belonging through creativity in the world for everyone who becomes a part of our Kin community.

From our large-scale floral + art installations, artisan-made goods, creative workshops, and bloom bars, Kinspoke is changing the floral industry one bloom at a time.

Friendly City Flea

Mission

A community organization focused on creating opportunities for the makers, musicians, and creatives of the Bradenton/Sarasota area by providing a network of like-minded friends and resources.

Vision:
Our vision is to provide leadership, uplift creative businesses, and give a platform for grassroots and underserved local entrepreneurs in our city.

Our Story + Vision
In 2019, the Friendly City Flea was born over conversations in a coffee shop. Friendly City Flea’s vision is grounded in three core values: Community Building, Creative Lifestyle, and Supporting Small Businesses. A collective market founded by creatives, for creatives, curated specifically to gather artisans and craftsmen/women that Bradenton/Sarasota hasn’t had exposure to, as well as allowing creatives to cultivate relationships and work together to further their creative journeys.

Our markets consist of: painters, leathermakers, candle makers, artists, glass workers, illustrators, woodworkers, jewelry makers, antique collectors, florists, chocolatiers, bakers, sculptors, musicians, and much more.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Kinspoke and Friendly City Flea are both built on the core value that people matter over production. We care about each hand that touches the products, each person who is part of the making, and each person who is part of the buying. We love people and use things as The Minimalists would say.

We want to create a community in a friendly and honest way caring for those who come in the door. I like learning names, giving, hugs, and hyping up my Kin when I see them being incredible creative forces. That pours out in what we do. If you are a part of our tribe or a stranger we are going to treat you with respect and kindness.

If we ever get off track we come back to our values and make sure the love and care for people are placed back at the core.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Be so incredibly honest with what you are bad at and what you are good at. Find other people to help you with those weaknesses. It will totally change how you enjoy and work within your business. If you don’t burn out and resentment will come quickly. It is NOT a weakness to allow others around you to pull the weight and take over challenging aspects.

For example, if I get stuck in small details like accounting or invoices I slowly die inside. But put me in front of a room of people or in a challenging situation and I thrive. I know what I am good at and my CPA can tell you it’s not math.

Contact Info:

• Website: Kinspoke.com Friendlycityflea.com
• Instagram: @kinspoke @friendlycityflea
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kinspoke https://www.facebook.com/friendlycityflea
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-d-amico-428a0142/

Image Credits
Headshot: Shy Quiles Photos/design: Olivia D’Amico