Being a part of the handmade and #shopsmall community is kind of like living in a small-ish town. If you don’t know everyone, you’ve at least probably heard of everyone. Once you’ve been doing this long enough and get to a certain size, people start to know your name, which is a cool feeling. And that’s how I feel about Kayleigh from BASK designs. She has been a member of the Handmade Business Facebook group with me for quite awhile, and I’ve definitely “seen her around,” so to speak. Her brand is cool and unique, and can you can definitely tell her designs have a point of view. They make you want to explore, travel and be comfortable in your own skin. They have kind of a bohemian vibe, which I really dig, and is totally perfect for Summer. I’m so excited to feature Kayleigh and her shop here on The Cuteness today, so read on for the full interview! You won’t want to miss the answer to her last question. It’s a goodie.

Small Business Success Stories: BASK

Glad to chat with you! First, tell us where we can find you online.

My name is Kayleigh, BASK, BASKdesigns.com @BASKdesigns  

What inspired you to start your own business?

I think I’ve always had a passion inside burning to come alive. As you get older you have to tuck that creative urge inside down so you can do grown up things. Maybe you don’t have to but I did. I became a mom, I had a job, I was a wife, I was doing to motions. I think that fire inside me finally got bigger and was no longer able to contain and BASK just came to be.

What inspires your work and what sets you apart from everyone else?

I love to travel. One of our favorite places to travel is Hawaii. I feel like it has a vibe all of its own over there. We live in the PNW, North Idaho, so very different from Hawaii and I love that. I try to bring the two together in my works. I want to have fun comfortable items for the traveler, wanderer, explorer.

What is your background and how did you develop the skills to start your business?

This whole business was so very unplanned. My grandma bought me a sewing machine and at the time I was damn long in jewelry making. The sewing machine was so intimidating it sat on my dining room table untouched for about two months. I went shopping one day and was inspired by some clothes, thinking, ‘ why was I buying items I could learn to make’. I did research and messed with some patterns, no intention of EVER selling. I made a few kimonos and just put them up on my FB and, well, so it all began. It’s been such an amazing journey so far and I love learning every step of the way.

What has been your biggest success to date?

I feel like just where BASK is in general is a huge success for me. I am able to do something I love and people are buying BASK goods. I have AMAZING customers and I am so very thankful for that. I would say my customers are my biggest success because they seriously rock!

What has been your biggest challenge?

Gaining knowledge about small business world and knowing what to change and what to keep the same. Creative small business is not just making your goods and selling there is a lot of research that goes into it and I LOVE that part also. Then just knowing when something isn’t working for my business and trying to decide when and what to change.

Describe your typical work day.

My day is all over the place. I have two little kiddos so I wake up and get them off to school. While they are gone I do my mom job and usually have a list of what needs done for BASK. I’m a creative at heart so though I crave structure I work best wingin’ it, and isn’t that life?

Which small businesses are you inspired by?

I have been so fortunate to get to know SO many small business as I have learned so much from each one that I could never pick just one. Generosity and using your knowledge and following to help others has been a HUGE thing I have had demonstrated for me by so many shops. I am in great networking groups that have encouraged me when I am down and supported me and encouraged me when things are going great.

If you could go back to the beginning knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently?

I would have found networking groups sooner. Like I mentioned the support is so amazing and the knowledge from everyone is overflowing. I think I would also research more with my investments. There are so many online peeps ready to help you for x amount of dollars. You don’t know who to trust. I think having other friends and support in small business would help.

What’s your best advice for someone who wants to start her own creative business?

Don’t give up. It’s so easy to see these shops with thousands of followers and talking about all of their sales and to get discouraged. Have a game plan and stick to it. Invest your earnings into your business and commit to it.

Tell us YOUR small business success story! For a chance to be featured in one of our small business posts, email info {at} cuteheads [dot] com & tell us about your business.