We recently connected with Stephanie Molinar and have shared our conversation below.

Stephanie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I definitely would say that being a business owner— you have to be well rounded and structured. I have a regular day job 40/hrs a week as a barista in one of the busiest local shops in the city. Being a business owner and vendor is where I find myself in my happy place. I connect with so many wonderful other creators.

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

As a working mom, there almost is no time in the day to do anything I really enjoy. You can make time for anything that’s really important to you and especially if it brings you joy; for me that is crafting. Resin art is my absolute favorite way to decompress from my day or get lost in making beautiful art that someone else will admire or appreciate. It draws out any negativity from my day. I practiced for about a year, made myself jewelry and so many people would tell me how much they loved what I made so I decided to start selling my art. This year I had a pop up event and tend to join any holiday related events or local events in the city.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My son who is almost four now has been such a motivator for my business. He says everything I make is so cool. When his dad and I separated in 2021, I realized I had to make things work for my son and I. A 40 hour work week and mom life definitely strengthened my willingness to find another source of income. I noticed I was always having to find a second income, weather it’d be getting loans, selling things, just anything. I was so stuck in a state of depression for years prior to being a mom and have always managed to get by. Now that I have finally gained the confidence that I was lacking, I just knew I had to put myself out there. It was the only missing piece to something I had been holding myself back from.

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

Instagram was primarily where I was posting my product. Showing off My art, I noticed people started to become interested, contacting me wanting to buy what I just made or asking for custom orders which I can easily fulfill. I would say self marketing in any way you’re able to. I often use instagram stories so I can gain a larger audience. I have familiarized myself with making eye catching signage, flyers, promoting other vendors to gain some exposure. Let people know who you are and why you’re here.

Contact Info:

• Website: Etsy.com/dankcreationsbysteph
• Instagram: Stephanie.michelle_
• Facebook: Stephanie Molinar

Image Credits
Kim Jew Portrait