Flagstaff Featured Business: Flagstaff Crafted
(as published in the May 22 edition of The Community Press)
The Flagstaff Region Featured Business is a monthly newspaper and web feature presented in partnership by Flagstaff County and The Community Press.
Flagstaff Crafted
Flagstaff County’s Economic Development team had sought a way to leverage that pride to enhance the exposure of local makers, artisans, and retailers. And so they designed the Flagstaff Crafted program to not only bring opportunities to these local entrepreneurs, but also form and foster relationships along the way.
Flagstaff Crafted makers will benefit from marketing initiatives that showcase their amazing talent while also sparking collaborative ventures with other likeminded entrepreneurs.
The Flagstaff Crafted makers movement is already afoot.
The following three Flagstaff Crafted makers share their stories.
Andrea DeSain, Rebel Ridge Soaps
Andrea DeSain was looking for a unique Christmas gift idea, when she decided to make her own soap for family members.
“I found a video online of somebody doing it and I got really excited about seeing how they did it and the different options,” she recalls.
DeSain immersed herself in learning the soap-making process and soon had more soap than she knew what to do with – so she started giving it away to friends.
And then they started asking for more, offering to buy it from her.
So the Hardisty resident launched an online store and eventually designed her own website for what became a thriving home-based business.
“People just started buying stuff,” she explains.
From there, DeSain never looked back.
She recently earned her basic soapmaker certification – after acing the exam – and is now working on her advanced certification.
These days, her biggest challenge is finding enough time to meet the demand for her products.
“This year I’ve been devoting a lot more time than I did in previous years to my business,” she explains. “I do work full-time… but I try to do it most evenings and on the weekends. I spend a lot of my time either making soap, packaging soap, or making labels. I make all of my own labels, I update my website and I go to markets, so I find that I do spend quite a decent amount of my spare time doing it.”
Rebel Ridge Soaps offers a line of bath products that includes seasonal scents: floral in the spring, fruity in the summer, spicy in the fall, and wintery scents in the cold months.
“I also like doing just random ones that I think smell good or that other people request. I do get a lot of requests, which is awesome,” she adds. “I watch a lot of soap videos, and I follow a lot of other soapmakers on Instagram, and they inspire me to do different things.”
Joining the Flagstaff Crafted makers movement has “broadened the horizons of my customer base,” DeSain says. She currently retails her products at Status Hair Salon in Killam, and is looking forward to collaborating with fellow Flagstaff Crafted makers in the near future.
Mandy Spiller, The Rusty Daisy Gift Co.
One fateful day about seven years ago, Mandy Spiller drove by a flower shop on Daysland’s main street that was for sale and she couldn’t help but imagine the possibilities.
“It just caught my eye and I thought it was the most beautiful little store ever,” Spiller recalls. “I popped my head in, and I couldn’t believe that they were selling it. They had decided to move to Penticton, and lucky for me, I bought this beautiful little flower shop of 500 square feet of awesomeness. I just love my store so much.”
She christened the shop The Rusty Daisy Gift Co., and set to work instilling her own personal charm. Described as a “rural treasure,” the store offers a unique selection of products – including giftware and home décor – along with floral arrangements.
“I’m known for my purses,” Spiller says. “My purses are pretty much my bread and butter. During the summertime, I feel like everyone deserves a new spring purse.”
And at Christmastime, the Rusty Daisy is the go-to spot for Grinch trees.
Spiller is also fast becoming known for her humorous one-of-a-kind greeting cards.
“It was just random,” she admits. “I had to fill my card rack, and I said to myself, ‘Why can’t I put my cheekiness into cards?’ I literally find stuff that makes me laugh, I write it in my phone, and I save it for card-making day.”
Spiller opted to join Flagstaff Crafted because “it honestly was too good of an opportunity not to.” It was at the Flagstaff Crafted market as part of the Flagstaff Celebrates Success event in Killam last fall where she met Candace Patten of Sweet Three Designs. The two have since struck a successful collaboration and retail each other’s products.
“I feel that the more you can get your business name out there and on the minds of people, the more they will stop in to Daysland, and be like, ‘Oh yeah, there is a cute store in Daysland. We should stop there and have a tour,’” she explains.
“I don’t expect everyone to buy something, but come see what I have and see what I carry. I’m always getting new things in, always, always. I only have so many customers, so I change it up as much as I can, and I have so much fun doing that.”
Candace Patten, Sweet Three Designs
A love of jewelry, coupled with the desire to express herself creatively, compelled Candace Patten to launch Sweet Three Designs in her Sedgewick home.
The mother of three young girls says she draws inspiration for her unique creations from fashion trends and everyday life in general.
“My daughters are my main sources of inspiration for Sweet Three. They have a huge say in which designs we go with, colour combinations, and the look of our company,” Patten explains.
“Currently, the majority of their involvement is just simply watching and learning the aspects of building a business and being an entrepreneur. They’ve all naturally shown their desire to be little business women and I’m just helping them understand what it takes to bring a business to life.”
And while growing a business can be time-consuming, Patten strives to strike the right balance.
“Time and balance are definitely my biggest challenge,” she admits.
“Balancing school, sports, business, and quality time with family is constantly on my mind. I do my best to make sure everyone is getting what they need while trying to also nurture this fun little venture.”
Sweet Three products can be found at Laurie’s Vintage Creations in Viking and the Rusty Daisy in Daysland.
“I truly appreciate the support and encouragement that’s been shown to my girls and I,” she says. “In return, we try to give back to the community and help out with causes and organizations as much as we are able to in order to pay it forward.”
For more information, visit flagstaffcrafted.ca.
As published in the May 22 edition of The Community Press – on newsstands today. Never miss an issue, become a SUBSCRIBER today!
The Flagstaff Region Featured Business is a monthly newspaper and web feature presented in partnership by Flagstaff County and The Community Press. For more information, contact Jenalee Blackhurst, Economic Development Coordinator, at 780-384-4152.
