Today we’d like to introduce you to Christy Jones.
Hi Christy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Since I was young, I’ve loved to make things – from handmade jewelry to DIY home projects, I’m happiest when I’m creating! I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs and artists, so I always knew I wanted a business of my own. My dream came true in 2019 when I became the owner of Red Seal Craft Studio. This was my chance to take my love of creativity and share it with other women and girls in the community. I have owned Red Seal for 2.5 years now. In that time, I have met the most amazing women, learned more than I could ever imagine about running a business, and have felt complete happiness in knowing this is what I was meant to do.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Owning this business definitely hasn’t been a smooth road! The pandemic hit right at my 1-year anniversary. The first year of owning any business is a struggle – and I was just getting into my groove when I had to shut down due to Covid. I was heartbroken since I had worked so hard to build my dream business, and it shut down overnight. The foundation of my business is people gathering together, and all of a sudden that was no longer possible. I had to shift my thinking to come up with new ways to do business to keep it alive. Luckily, the community fully supported me, and I was able to shift to selling DIY at-home kits and doing virtual workshops to keep things going while people were staying home. I’m happy to say I made it through, and my business is stronger than before thanks to the ongoing support of all of my customers!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a maker. I love to create, and I’m always dreaming of new projects. I started out making jewelry in my 20’s when I was looking for a certain style that I couldn’t find in stores. As I got older, my interest shifted to home decor. I would see things I couldn’t afford in high-end boutiques, and I’d think “I can make that!”, so I’d go home and figure it out! Whether I was creating art for my daughters’ nurseries or making a centerpiece for my coffee table, I have always found so much joy in the process of creating. At Red Seal, I’m known for offering beautiful, on-trend projects that are easy to make. My customers often tell me that my project choices and the atmosphere I’ve created at Red Seal set me apart from other craft businesses.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think the DIY/Crafting movement will continue to grow over the next 5-10 years. I’ve already seen so much growth since I started and expect it to continue to evolve. We all live such busy lives, and crafting gives us the ability to slow down and take the time to embrace our creative side. As far as trends go, we’re constantly shifting. When I first started out with this business, the most popular craft was wood signs and anything with a “farmhouse” style. Now we’re doing more “boho” crafts like macrame. I expect these trends to continue to shift, and I can’t wait to see what’s next!
Contact Info:
- Email: christy@redsealcraftstudio.com
- Website: www.redsealcraftstudio.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/redsealcraftstudio
- Facebook: facebook.com/redsealcraftstudio
