Art 2 the Extreme – Fast Blogs World

With practically 10 years of expertise as an elementary artwork instructor—and over 14 years expertise promoting on Etsy—Nicole Lewis is not any stranger to the facility of creativity.

Inspiration for her signature design, The Authentic Rainbow Crayon® struck again in 2007 when she entered considered one of her kindergarten school rooms on Earth Day, seeing damaged crayon stubs scattered about. She determined to gather the items along with her college students and melted them down in wax paper cups to create bigger multicolored crayons.

The consequence? “It was horribly superior,” says Nicole. “Positively messy, working with kindergarteners and melted crayons! Nevertheless it was superior, as a result of we had been capable of recycle these discarded items, and create one thing new and practical.”

From there, Nicole labored to refine her multicolored crayon idea, growing a smoother manufacturing course of and extra polished design. Within the 14 years since, her Etsy store, Art 2 the Extreme has reached practically 50,000 gross sales. Her stock has additionally expanded 12 months after 12 months, that includes multicolored crayons molded into a spread of shapes, together with mini donuts and personalized pet portraits.

She left educating to run the enterprise full time again in 2014 and her husband, Eric, got here on board a number of years later. Collectively, they run Artwork 2 the Excessive from their dwelling in Noblesville, Indiana, the place they’re elevating two sons.

Just lately, Nicole spoke with Vendor Handbook Senior Editor Katy Svehaug about how she’s advanced her inventive pastime right into a thriving enterprise that celebrates the artist in everybody.

When did you resolve you had been able to formally stop your day job?

My store began out as a pastime again in 2007, then changed into a aspect hustle to assist my educating job. When my first son was born in 2014, I made a decision to go away educating and switch Artwork 2 the Excessive right into a full-blown enterprise. It was very scary at first, however has turned out so nicely since taking that leap. We’ve finished higher and higher every year, particularly since I’ve extra time to place into the enterprise.

In 2018, my husband was capable of depart his job as a faculty principal to come back work with me on the enterprise full time, too. It’s been a beautiful journey, making the transition step by step. Promoting on Etsy has given us the possibility to look at our children develop whereas constructing our enterprise as a household.

How does your expertise as an educator elements into your designs?

As a instructor, I do know that not everybody learns the identical manner. Equally, no two persons are inventive in the identical manner. I need our crayons to empower individuals with completely different talents and concepts. It’s one thing we take into consideration in having a number of methods to grip the crayons, and chunkier shapes that aren’t going to roll off the desk. Our crayons are additionally sturdy, which is very nice as a guardian, so that you’re not always having to sharpen them or purchase a brand new set.

“A part of what I really like about multicolored crayons is that they get individuals excited to create, even when in their very own eyes, they don’t see themselves as an artist. As a substitute, it’s about having enjoyable and being inventive.”

Inform us extra about your workspace, and the way it matches into your property life.

We began Artwork 2 the Excessive from the laundry room of our one-story home again in 2007. Over time we’ve moved a number of instances, partly simply to maintain up with the expansion of the enterprise. We now have two completely different workspaces in our dwelling: The makery, as I wish to name it, is the place all of the melting and making occurs, out in our storage. We’ve set it up with superior air air flow and loads of counter area, so we will actually unfold out on no matter we’re engaged on.

Our second workspace, within the basement, we use for packing orders and managing the enterprise aspect of issues, together with every part from present wrapping to social media photograph shoots. It’s vital to us to have a protected area the place our boys can come and spend time whereas we’re working. We designed it with shiny, energizing colours that additionally really feel inviting for the youngsters. I really like that they get to create alongside me on a regular basis utilizing merchandise that we’ve created.

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Do you’ve any plans to develop past your property studio?

Again in January of 2020, we had been considering critically about taking the subsequent steps in rising our enterprise, together with hiring staff and increasing right into a warehouse. When COVID-19 hit, we determined to scale issues again a bit, which led to us shifting into the house we’re in now. General it’s been an excellent determination for our household, particularly since we’ve renovated the basement and storage areas to accommodate our enterprise wants.

Are you able to stroll us via the method of making a multicolored crayon?

To start out, we lower every crayon’s wrapper off individually, after which break them into items by hand. From there, we select completely different coloration items to mix. After placing them into oven-safe cups, we soften them within the oven. Then we pour the wax into molds, and allow them to harden. As soon as cooled, we pop the brand new crayons out and get to see how they’ve swirled and melted collectively—no two crayons prove alike.

With over 14 years of expertise since launching your unique multicolored crayon design, how do you method evolving your stock to maintain patrons coming again?

We come out with one or two new designs every year, and frequently consider what’s promoting with a purpose to make changes. We additionally make it some extent to take heed to what persons are asking for [in messages and on social media], together with present developments. One other vital realization for us was that curiosity from clients in personalization is just not going away. Folks love that additional little particular contact {that a} maker or a present can provide to somebody, particularly if they’ll’t normally discover their title on different merchandise.

Any closing ideas you’d wish to share with the neighborhood?

I really like seeing how far I’ve come over the past 14 years. I imply, I look again on a number of the images and listings I first had on Etsy, they usually’re virtually embarrassing—however everyone has to start out someplace. It’s been an unimaginable journey, to have gone from the little wax cups to issues like customise pet portraits, to not point out the entire small enterprise abilities I’ve realized alongside the best way: pictures, branding, social media, even constructing buyer relationships.

All of those abilities take time to develop. I believe for a profitable Etsy store, it’s vital to start out small and work out what you do finest. For those who unfold your self too skinny, with too many concepts, it’s simple to get overwhelmed. For me, it’s been about leaning into what I used to be good at, and studying the elements of enterprise I used to be not so good at, or didn’t like, over time.

My hope is that our enterprise can encourage not simply our boys, but additionally different individuals, and different households. The standard 9-to-5 isn’t the one answer; you could be a maker, you may comply with your desires, and pursue what you’re enthusiastic about. I get up with a lot pleasure within the morning figuring out that I get to go downstairs and make one thing that I really like.

To see extra of Nicole’s colourful designs, go to her Etsy store, Art 2 the Extreme. To appoint your store for the Give up Your Day Job collection, fill out the Seller Handbook pitch form.