I think I am not alone in this. And for that reason, I have been dreaming for months about starting a new series focusing on mom entrepreneurs or "mompreneurs" as they are sometimes referred to. There is so much we can learn from each other and so much to be inspired by!
So on the first Monday of every month I will be spotlighting a mompreneur. If you know of one that should be spotlighted, let me know!
Without further ado...here's the first in the series. Joanne Couch is a truly inspirational, intelligent, passionate and innovative woman who is making her mark as a mompreneur.
1. What is your company's name? How did you come up with the name?
Handmade Hope Rags, LLC.
'Handmade' because each piece is one of a kind and handmade by me. From beginning to end, my fingerprint is on the finished product.
'Hope' because it is my middle name and ironically enough, something I didn't have a lot of growing up in my teens. But have found a new affinity for my given name because of my faith in Christ.
'Rags' is sort of an irreverent nod to my former nihilistic attitude about life but truly has a greater meaning to me in that God can take something akin to a "rag" - a discarded piece of trash that has been spent past it's prime: tattered and torn, seemingly useless; and redeem it and refashion it into a construct of something beautiful, simply by implementing a new design/purpose upon it with the Hopeful desire of meaning and worth.
2. How did your business come about?
My husband and I arrived in Lexington ,
Kentucky California for Lexington ,
Kentucky
3. What is the company's focus/vision?
I love creating aesthetic crafts with a personal touch that bring people joy - memorializing a special person or a special event, a favorite nostalgic image or inspirational era. It's always fun creating cherished items from historic art pieces that were once long forgotten. It is the perfect combination for the artist and archaeologist in me.
Handmade Hope Rags gives 30% of all of our proceeds to the Good Shepherd Orphanage in
Music has always been a huge part of my life, so often times it is musical artist which inspire me like: Merle Haggard (at 19 he was in prison, but upon getting out he went to every single person he'd ever stolen from and paid them back and apologized); Johnny Cash, Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen, Ryan Adams, Ben Harper.
4. What inspires you?
Redemption - People have beautiful intimate stories of how our Heavenly Father
spoke to their heart and convicted them to change their ways. Life is a journey,
so their Redemption isn't complete. It's a daily walk with God.
5. What's been your most effective marketing tool thus far?
Doing local art/craft fairs like the Woodland Arts Fair in
Least effective?
I would say I have not had a marketing tool that was "least"
effective, sure there were some that were not "monetarily" profitable
but as a wise business person and true artist you have to learn to take the bad
with the good, and have the patience to wait out the eb and flow of the market
without compromising on what your company's vision and mission is. Especially
as an artist you have to be true to your heart and the creative design God has
governed you with through your life experiences, otherwise people can see
through your esthetic incongruities. There will always be "markets"
of people who get what you do and other "markets" of people who don't
get what you do. The general public's fancies trend with consumer fetishism
which relies on multi-million dollar marketing corporations. I'm not trying to
reach that market.
6. How do you juggle mommy-hood and
entrepreneurship? Now that my son is 4, he does great and is really supportive, just as long as he gets to sit and play by me when I’m working. I have had to learn to take breaks to "stop and smell the roses" and play a little with him when we aren't doing home school or making meals. I incorporate him into the family business as much as possible; we dialogue about my creations and the process; I bring him to boutiques on business meetings and quite honestly he impresses clients all the time with his charm and manners.
7. What has been the biggest challenge?
Overcoming fear of rejection. I've spent the last 20 years in a very
Alpha-personality dominated, construction industry field. There was an artistry and craft but it is in
people, politics, and ideology presentation. You do have a passion, but it is a
very vocal, protagonist, activist passion dealing with tangible scenarios.
Now, being an "Artist" and
pouring my esthetic affinities into something so personal and then having to
put a price tag on that gift and ask someone to pay for it? Well, it can be
literally an immobilizing fear. But since coming to know Christ 5 years ago, He
really has done a great work in me. That is the only thing I can chalk up all
these blessings of my company too. 8. What is the future of your company?
Being 6.5 months pregnant now with my 2nd child, a little girl, I know God will bring me and my company a lot of blessings as I see Handmade Hope Rags future through her eyes and needs. Right now, I'm in the process of making Isabelle Skye's own personalized baby bedding adorned with vintage equestrian images of lovely ladies and their horses since Isabelle Skye will be born a
Life is changing for the better in all areas of my future as God showers His blessings upon us. My husband Jeff is tremendously supportive, helping me with most of the logistics and always giving me a discerning opinion in most of my creative and business affairs. It's interesting that not too long ago we had a .25 (quarter) million dollars just sitting in our bank account after selling our first house. At that time we had seriously thought about opening up an interior design company and moving to
Our etsy store is a great place to start:
www.etsy.com/shop/HandmadeHopeRags
Also our website has a form for custom orders:
www.handmadehoperags.com
If you are in the
The Fashion Filly, Midway
Click on the above links for the store's FB page, and while you're at it you can go to mine here.
Thanks Joanne for a great interview!
