Today I would love to share a lovely local business with you! Please say hello to Knotty Crochet. They sell locally handmade crochet, macrame and woven items for your home and children’s rooms, and they make the most divine gifts too! They make stunning rugs, throws, bath mats and many other items you didn’t even know you needed until now! They even sell DIY kits for you to create your own pieces.
Please shop online, on their website and support this local business. They would also appreciate the love if you would follow their Instagram and Facebook pages too.
We chatted to the lovely creative #girlboss behind Knotty Crochet, Lerone Lazenby, and she had this to say to us!
Tell us a little bit about your business.
Knotty SA is a labour of love and a form of creative expression. I was taught how to crochet and knit by my now 81 year old Grandmother. It started with crochet flowers and knitted blankets. I eventually ended up testing every type of material to see what the final product would look like
I made rugs, throws, macramé items and placemats for myself, then for friends, then for friends of friends, until I had a few orders a week to complete.
Here we are now in 2020 and I have women who help create products on a part-time basis and I have been able to take the brand online to help it grow.
As far as possible, I source materials locally and most of the materials are recycled cotton or poly-cotton. I aim to reduce our impact on the environment and to be a conscious creator to the conscious consumer.
I love to create beautiful and timeless items for everyone’s home.
What are the top 3 learnings you have had to find out the hard way since starting your own business?
I learnt the hard way, that when it comes to working with influencers, you need to have a formal agreement in place.
Success comes to those who work for it. Continuous effort produces proportional results.
Your business needs to be ahead of the current market, and in order to do that, you need to continue to explore new ideas, new concepts, develop new products and new ways to do business. Your aim should be to improve what you are doing, not focusing only on what you should do to be better than your competition.
Where do you see your business in 5 years? Once we have gotten over the effects of the lock down.
In five years time, I hope to be able to have taken a step back from the production phase of our products and spend my time focusing on expanding the business and product offering. I truly want to create products that make people’s lives better and more comfortable.
What is your advice to individuals out there wanting to start their own businesses but are too scared?
Don’t be afraid to take risks – evaluated and calculated risks that can help you start or grow your venture.
Set goals and create plans to achieve those goals which will allow you to make the right actions to reach those goals.
Tell us 2 things that are the BEST part about owning your own business and make it all worth while?
When you create a product that people love
The fact that your time is flexible, especially with two young children in the house.
How has lock down affected you, your business and your team?
Lockdown has resulted in an unfavourable economic environment, which has motivated buyers to direct their shopping power towards essential items.
We have seen a decrease in sales for certain items, and an increase for others. We have been less busy than we usually are.
Although our items are considered luxury products, we are reasonably priced and our products are excellent quality.
I am confident that we will be back in full swing again soon, especially with the festive season around the corner.
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