Today we’d like to introduce you to Jo Kyle
Hi Jo, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have been making art since I was a toddler. In kindergarten, I even said that when I grew up, I wanted to be an artist. Throughout middle and high school, I was making a lot of art and selling small amounts to friends and classmates, but senior year of high school is when I first took the step towards creating a business using Etsy. It was nothing big but I continued using it throughout college, during which I also tried to grow my social media following. Once I graduated, I moved to Georgia to be with my partner. This is when I really started to look more into artist markets as a way to get my art out into the world and create a real business for myself. 2021 is when I did my first artist market and I fell in love with it. At the time, I was using a different name for my business, Johanna Ruth Art. A name that I had come up with during my senior year of college. However, after about a year of doing artist markets, I felt that it didn’t exactly fit the vibes that I was going for. I wanted the name to be more of a brand for my art, so I came up with Strawberry Disco, a combination of two things that I love. Changing my business name and creating the brand has been the best decision I could have made. Customers remember the name when they visit me at markets and it brings them as much joy as it has brought me. I’ve continued participating in artist markets and growing my social media following since 2021.
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?
It has definitely not always been smooth. I have made some difficult business decisions such as shutting down my personal website and going back to Etsy. The past few years have been hard on small businesses. Strawberry Disco has never been my full time job, as much as I would like it to be. Due to that, I’ve had to make certain sacrifices, but it is still one of my top priorities and joys in life and I will continue to make art for people as long as I can!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I pride myself in specializing in a lot of art mediums. In college, part of my major was in ceramics. Since graduating, I have not had access to the machines and materials I would need to continue doing it, so I have switched to polymer clay which can be baked in an oven. I also focus a lot of my work in digital media and fiber arts through crocheting. I think the themes of my art set me apart from others. I love to focus on queer joy, social justice topics and simple random cute things. I’ve found that if I find happiness making the art, my customers can sense it and enjoy it as much as I do.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My partner, Drew, deserves so much credit for always helping me with markets and business decisions. Without him, I would not be able to attend the majority of the markets I have done. He always helps me set up, tear down and work the shows and is happy to be there. I also have made so many great friends and connections through artist markets. We love to share market tips, product ideas and so much more together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/StrawberryDisco
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strawberrydisco/
- Other: https://www.patreon.com/c/StrawberryDisco
