The Beginning
A little something so you understand why and when this business began.
To begin, you would have to return to where my entrepreneurial endeavors began at 22. How long ago was that? Let’s say it was a time we called “back in the day” when computers made a “weeee wahhh” noise when they tried to connect to the world wide web. Back when printing something out was louder than the dishwasher, I’m running right now.
I’ve always been what you might call a serial entrepreneur (no, not the cereal in my pantry, and definitely not like any infamous Ted). I’m about the innocent creative pursuit of turning my visions into reality, improving products, or reimagining the way something is done. Ever walked past something and thought, That could be so much better, or I love that idea, I want to try it? Yep, that’s me.
My brain never hits the off switch when it comes to creating. Just like an artist sees beauty in the unique texture and colors of leaves and how they lay upon the ground or the twists and turns of tree limbs, I find inspiration in the simple things around me. If you’re an artist and entrepreneur, maybe you get what I mean: there’s a constant buzz of ideas about how you would do things.
And yes, I love the thrill of building something from scratch—it’s like raising children! You dream it, bring it to life, nurture it, and live every moment of its growth, through ups and downs. That’s been my journey with numerous businesses.
You might be wondering, What kinds of businesses? Well, here’s the grand reveal:
- I started with a Mail Order Catalog featuring artist-made products from the Southeast.
- Then dove into selling beauty products—chances are you know someone else who has done that too!
- Ventured into painting murals and decorative furniture.
- Tried my hand at eBay back in its heyday.
- Taught kids art classes which made me a rockstar in my children’s eyes!
- Drum roll, please... my biggest venture at that time: iColore! I designed black and white artwork printed on kids’ t-shirts, bundled with markers for personal coloring—a niche before the big crayon giants caught the trend. More on this later.
- Switched gears with a Home Staging Business and even a yard card business for birthdays and graduations.
- And now, here I am at Aria Dae Designs, turning my artwork into products.
You may say, Wow, that’s a lot of businesses!! Phew! Yes, it's quite a lineup. Each venture was a chapter in my creative journey, not all as successful as others, but each a step in fulfilling my creative dreams.
So here I am, again, building and birthing a new business based on my creativity. Only this time, I’m taking you with me. I am not alone in my pursuit, but I have a family of friends like you to navigate this journey.
I’m really putting myself out there so you and I can learn and grow together. I’m a lifelong learner, and I'm sure there is plenty we can all learn from each other. So let’s begin, again, and build something beautiful together.
Here we go ...
PS: Join me in my next blog post as we talk about what goes into taking an idea from a dream to a kicking business