Hoops and Rainbows: From Hobby To Business
Hello! Welcome to all new and existing subscribers of Head’s Up, a weekly newsletter that comes out on Mondays and Fridays on all things SME, Startup, and Social Enterprise in Malaysia (and maybe in the region in time to come).
It’s been a busy couple of weeks preparing content for the newsletter but I can assure you, I am going to try to be as frequent as possible. There are definitely some exciting tie-ups and that will all be unveiled in time to come.
For today’s issue, I spoke to Farah Fazanna Zulzaha, the Founder of Hoops and Rainbows on turning her hobby and love for a craft into a business.
If you enjoyed this edition, do subscribe and share it to as many people as you want.
Thank you!
1. What inspired Hoops and Rainbows and what has the journey been like so far?
I’ve always loved sewing. I used to give my clothes a makeover – a pair of jeans to a bag, dresses to skirts and I also tailor my own clothes. But I wanted to do something more creative, hence why I started Hoops and Rainbows.
It’s been great so far, friends have been supportive by commissioning and sharing my posts on Instagram, which has really boosted up my business. I am careful to take it slow though because embroidery is a slow process and I don’t want to be overwhelmed.
2. At what point did you decide to take up the craft and were you planning to expand it beyond just a hobby or a pastime craft at any point?
Like many of us, I had to look for a creative outlet when the world was in a lockdown in 2020. Working from home and being cooped up was taking its toll and I needed to find something to keep my mental health in check. When I first started, it was just a hobby but friends started asking if they could place an order so I decided once I’ve mastered the different techniques and stitches, I’d start accepting commission work.
3. What made you decide to turn your interest in the craft into a small business?
I quit my job in mid 2020 as I was expecting a baby and wanted to focus on him. Motherhood is a full-time job (shout out to all the mums out there!) and I find embroidery and making macramé rainbows to be quite therapeutic after a long day. If my hobby could earn me some pocket money, sign me up!
The pieces are also too beautiful (if I could say so myself) to be kept to myself and I’d like to share it with the world. We all need some colours in our lives especially during these trying times. I hope my work could brighten someone’s day!
4. Have you started receiving commissions and what have the receptions been like from your early customers?
Yes, I’ve started receiving commissions from friends and family and so far they’re happy with the products. It’s not a lot – I don’t have a string of clients waiting, but it’s enough for now.
5. Did you see yourself becoming a full time professional embroidery artist if this picks up?
Never say never. That’s my motto. I wouldn’t mind doing it, for sure. Through the business I’m also learning about social media and online marketing. Win-win!
6. How important do you think it is for people to pick up these skills and to turn them into a business? Should there be more encouragement from the right authorities?
During a time when a lot of people lost their jobs, it’s essential to know one or two skills that could generate some income. If you could do something you love for a living, then it won’t feel like work at all! Embroidery is also coming back into fashion and people are starting to appreciate these works of art and it wouldn’t hurt for the right authority (perhaps any art institutions or organisations) to support.
7. Were there challenges in getting into this business model in terms of recognising which pricing point to set and material costs as the commissions started coming in?
Yes, of course! I wasn’t sure how to set the pricing point as there are many factors to consider such as the pricing for the different hoop sizes, design and materials used. It was quite a challenge so I’d do some research and see what’s the market price is like and used that as a benchmark.
My future plans include learning new embroidery or macramé skills so I could produce different kinds of pieces that could be considered as a work of art.
For customisations and commissions, check out https://www.instagram.com/hoopsandrainbows/ or reach out to her via farahfazanna@yahoo.com