We recently connected with Tiana Brown and have shared our conversation below.

Tiana, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

I like to think of the word “Success” as an acronym: sense of direction, understanding, creativity, communication, expanding, self-confidence, and support of family and friends. Sense of direction is always key. You need to reflect on where you’ve been, appreciate where you currently are, and plan out where you are headed next. We are always on the go, mentally. It’s easy to set and strive for the next goal, but the true sense of direction comes from reflecting on the past. The famous saying, “hindsight is always 20/20”, is one I personally live by. For me as a business owner, it can be so easy to get wrapped up in continuously creating new products because I own a Cricut and sublimation printer. I have recently been reflecting and learning that the direction I need to be headed towards is focusing on becoming efficient and being a master at a just a few products.
Understanding comes in many forms – the business model, products, customers (new and returning), target market, marketing, and shipping. It is our job as business owners to be an expert in those areas by continuously researching and learning from others.
Creativity – Of course the foundation of my business is creativity because I make custom crafts however, creativity also means developing tactics to ensure customers receive quality products, quickly. I found that trying to do everything such as creating products, managing a website, marketing, and shipping, isn’t feasible. I learned I could hire assistance or outsource jobs, so I can provide quality in every area without being stretched too thin.
Communication – As a business owner, lack of communication is a pet peeve of mine. I strive to respond to customers quickly as possible. When customers have questions or place a custom order, it is our responsibility to ensure customers are aware of the order timeline and to provide clear communication with consistent follow through.
Expanding – We all want our businesses to grow with consistent sales and exceptional profit. To expand, we must set goals, demonstrate follow through, attract, and retain customers.
Self-Confidence is important in all facets of our lives, especially when owning a business. You must be confident that your product is a solution to your customers’ problems. When sales are low, it can be hard not to get discouraged, but instead, continue to hold your head high. It is an opportunity to re-strategize and develop new tactics that can ultimately lead to success.
I cannot stress enough that the support of family and friends is critical to a business’ success. Word of mouth is one of best marketing strategies and best of all – it is FREE! Encouraging those you know to share your business is a great start to finding a new customer and eventually success

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

Simple Creations By T is a custom crafts and gifts business. It was founded “on a whim” after a Facebook Marketplace purchase of a Cricut Maker. The first product I crafted was an 8 x 10-inch Monogram Shadow Box. Amazed by the finished product, I shared a photo of the Shadow Box on Facebook with family members and friends with no intentions of selling it or opening a business. Within a day after posting my photo, I received an overwhelming response of custom orders. I strive to create custom gifts for the “person who has everything”. In combination with my Cricut and sublimation printer, I create the following staple, handmade products:
Shadow Boxes
T-Shirts
Stainless Steel Tumblers
Mugs
I also create seasonal gifts, acrylic signs, floating frames, puzzles, gift boxes, bridal party gifts, and other custom creations by request.
We live in an era where we can buy products that are mass produced, quickly. Because I dedicate significant time and effort to each order, it sets me apart from other businesses.
I solve the problem of customers who are looking for products that are unique and a true keepsake from a business that fulfills their custom requests.
I am most proud of the creativity I have demonstrated through all of my products, especially my shadow boxes. I never considered myself a creative person, so I am always in awe at my finished products. Not only was the shadow box the first product I created with my Cricut, but it allowed me to connect with my existing customers. I truly love the versatility that a single shadow box can provide.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In 2017, I actually started my first business by selling accessories. I would buy several pieces of jewelry and handbags in bulk from a wholesaler. I did not do any research prior to opening this business, define a target market, nor had an overall passion for it. I just assumed because I liked cosmetic jewelry, everyone else would too. I spent a lot of money purchasing items to resell on Etsy. It was a learning experience because my sole goal was to make extra money. I surely spent more money than I made. I did not consider any facets of actually owning a business along with the time and dedication that was needed to be successful. 3 years later, I stumbled upon my passion creating crafts and custom gifts with my Cricut. Because I love creating custom, handmade gifts, it trumps all the other (not-so-fun) areas of business that are necessary for operation.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Social media has had a tremendous impact on my business. I completed my first craft on January 20th, 2021, and then the world shut down 3 months later. This force me to strictly share my products and connect with customers through social media. Initially I started posting photos online with my Facebook friends, which started my list of orders. From there, my business expanded as family, friends and customers shared my business through word of mouth. Generating enough sales, I was able to create new products to sell two ways – through my own innovation or customers bringing me ideas. Regardless, I always share my products on social media through both Facebook and Instagram. Videos (reels) are now a source of new clients – for all businesses. Potential customers want to see the product and envision themselves with the product. Other strategies that helped me find customers are customer reviews and paid ads. Customer reviews are important as it drives trust between a new customer and the business owner. Reviews also help me strength my relationship between myself and customers. If a customer is not satisfied, I want the opportunity to correct their shopping experience with me. Ads are helpful because my products are presented in front of a larger span of my target audience, increasing the chance for more sales.

Contact Info:

• Website: simplecreationsbyt.com
• Instagram: @simplecreationsbyt
• Facebook: Facebook.com/SimpleCreationsByT
• Other: Etsy.com/Shop/SimpleCreationsByT

  Simple Creations By T’s Holiday Sale runs November 4 – December 17th. Use the promo code “CanvasRebel1” at checkout to save 10% off your order.