We were lucky to catch up with Sevin Cakal recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sevin , appreciate you joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

During my university years, I had the privilege of gaining my first entrepreneurial experience alongside a close friend. This experience not only broadened my horizons but also sparked the idea that perhaps my true calling lay in entrepreneurship, rather than pursuing my primary profession of engineering. Over the years, a persistent notion continued to gnaw at me – the desire to establish my own business and engage with customers directly, in person. While the aspiration was crystal clear, I faced the daunting challenge of charting a course forward. Armed only with ambition and a set of objectives, I embarked on a journey.

In July 2022, my husband and I initiated a new chapter by relocating to San Diego. I firmly believed that the auspicious opportunity I had been waiting for had arrived. The plan was to venture into the local farmers’ markets and introduce my products to a discerning audience. However, there was a formidable hurdle – I had not yet determined what precisely to offer.
Prior to our relocation, my mother-in-law had produced a modest quantity of 5-10 crochet phone cases. Additionally, I had procured various handmade items, including necklaces, rings, and earrings, from contacts in Turkey. These items accompanied us to San Diego. After the chaos of the move had subsided, a close friend who fellow entrepreneur extended a proposition that would alter my trajectory. He secured a sidewalk permit and proposed, “Let’s establish a stand.” On August 13, 2022, we inaugurated our inaugural stall, albeit a rather diminutive one – comprising a small table, two chairs, and an assortment of items insufficient to occupy the available space. Nevertheless, I relished the experience immensely, and we persevered in this manner for a period.

During this phase, my mother-in-law commenced crafting crochet bags, ardently contributing her energy and time to bolster our endeavor. Yet, a critical predicament arose; my friend was disinterested in this particular enterprise, and I was constrained by the absence of his sidewalk permit. Consequently, we reached the decision to establish our independent entity, culminating in the founding of our small enterprise, OLYMPUS HANDMADE, in October. Subsequently, we arranged for our own sidewalk permit. This development facilitated the operation of stalls at multiple locations, a practice we sustained until December 2022. During this period, our business began to take definitive shape, largely centered around crochet bags.

With the advent of the new year, the use of sidewalk permits in San Diego for sales was prohibited. This compelled us to explore alternative avenues, eventually leading us to farmers’ markets. After a series of market trials, we eventually found our footing at the esteemed La Jolla Open Aire Market, where we have consistently maintained a presence since July 2023. Concurrently, we received an enticing proposition from the newly-established Sea Hive La Jolla shop, expressing interest in featuring our products. This marked the commencement of an exciting new chapter. Both the market and the shop yielded promising results, affording us a fruitful summer.

Simultaneously, our quest for new product lines persisted, as did our search for a store. On the inaugural day of October, our merchandise officially graced the shelves of DiTorr, a local artisan store. Recognizing the need to diversify our product range, given our expanding network comprising two stores and a recurring market presence, I resolved to materialize a long-held dream. Consequently, I engaged the services of a punch needle artist to craft handmade keychains. These distinctive keychains are poised to become available at our sales counter and in two local artisan shops in the near future.

The journey from ideation to realization has been replete with challenges and triumphs. It has demanded unwavering dedication, ceaseless effort, and an unwavering commitment to our vision. The evolution of “Olympus Handmade” serves as a testament to the potential of passion and persistence, and we take immense pride in our continued ability to craft and share exquisite handmade products with the world.

Sevin , 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?

My first goal was unequivocal – to offer environmentally conscious products. Although sourcing products from China presented a convenient option, I was unwavering in my commitment to provide products that were entirely handmade, distinguished by quality, and characterized by their unique appeal. The emphasis here was on sustainability and longevity, products that were not only less detrimental to the environment but also possessed an enduring quality. My second objective centered around empowering Turkish housewives by providing them with opportunities for employment and autonomy within their households.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

When I first opened Instagram for my business, I first started following pages that made crochet products. Then I started following the people who followed those pages. While doing this, I also shared photos of our bags regularly every day. I always advertised the shops where I sold my products and the markets I went to, and as they shared me on their pages, I became more well-known.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

My personal development books are novels. I like to learn from the lives lived in novels. The most important book that changed my perspective on life is Jack London’s work called Martin Eden.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olympus.handmade/

Image Credits
by Harun Cakal