We recently connected with Sadie Fox Metter and have shared our conversation below.

Sadie, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I have two small businesses. One is Fauna Salon, a hair salon and the other is my creative retail biz, Sadie Fox Studio. Although I am not a hair stylist myself; I set out to create a salon space that was healthy for our booth rent stylists as well as their clients. We offer styling and hair care products that are safe and healthy for hair AND are good for the planet. This healthy planet thread runs right through to my other creative business. Sadie Fox Studio is my creative business where a very large percentage of the materials I use are up-cycled, thrifted and refashioned. My goal for 2022 is to use even more recycled materials in my designs and the offerings that my little home studio creates for my customers.

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

My name is Sadie Fox Metter and I own Sadie Fox Studio which creates small batch, one-of-kind, custom & up-cycled vintage treasures for body and home. I sell my goods on Etsy, at local fairs and in my booth (or what I like to call my micro-boutique) at the new Painted Tree Boutiques in Northglenn, Colorado. I’m a third-generation Coloradan and I have been crafting and sewing for as long as I can remember. I spent over a decade living in New York City where I was inspired by high end fashion designers, the garment district, theater, street fashion, indie boutiques & flea markets. I now live in Lakewood, Colorado, i’m married to a graphic designer and we have two beautiful & creative teenagers. I love to create for & decorate our mid-mod vintage home, thrift shop, refinish old furniture, spend time with friends and family, travel and wear big earrings.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I think my story is going to be a common story amongst small biz owners. A large pivot had to happen at the beginning of the pandemic. This goes for both of my small businesses. For the salon, it meant obvious changes. Fewer people in the space, staggered schedules and ultimately making the business work with fewer stylists paying rent. It has been a shift and fortunately, we are making it work for the time being. Hopeful we can build it back and even better in the future. My creative studio biz had to pivot too. At the beginning of 2020 I was planning on getting my makes out in front of more people. My online store was growing slowly and I felt it was time to push myself and put myself out there more. I signed up for several events, weekly weekend farmers markets, big craft shows, etc. I had my year planned out and was looking forward to meeting my customers face to face and sharing my creations. We all know what happened. Those events were all cancelled. The money I had invested in supplies and inventory sat in my home studio. The time spend early on in the year was feeling wasted. It was time to pivot. I had to take another look at what I had built online and nurture it. I worked on my product photography. I buttoned up my online presence and even took some online classes that help me build a better online brand. I started to participate in an online community of makers and creators that supported each other. We were all in the same pivot with our businesses. These relationships have become invaluable as the world and our small businesses are continuing to evolve and pivot yet again. I am looking forward to taking what I have learned and the relationships I have grown to make the next pivot even more meaningful for my business.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

I just recently opened a small vendor booth in new Painted Tree location in Northglenn, Colorado. I like to call it my micro boutique. It is such a wonderful compliment to my online shop and the online business I have been growing and nurturing over the last few years. The biggest benefit is the exposure it gives me to new clients and customers. There is significant benefits for customers to see my handmade products in person. Online, it is easy to be drown out by all the competitors. In person, though, people can touch and see the quality of the items I am offering. So this new opportunity with Painted Tree has come at a great time.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.sadiefox.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sadiefoxstudio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sadiefoxstudio
• Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sadiefoxstudio

Image Credits
myself