Interview with Molly Heiser
What fuels your fire? What keeps you going?
I think it's so satisfying to look down at something you made, something that started as an idea in your brain, knowing that your hands translated that idea into something tangible. To me, the most exciting thing about being a maker is materializing something that once only existed in concept.
You know how things you don't understand make something more awe-inspiring? There are a lot of those things as we are children, so what is the most magical memory you have as a child?
I used to do a lot of exploring as a child and I was privileged to have lived on a property with a huge garden. I was really interested in animals as a child and I spent most of my time playing outside with my older sister. I did a lot of discovering on that property as a child and most of it involved plants and animals. I have so many memories from that time but I remember once coming across a nest of baby rabbits and there's something about being a child and stumbling upon something like that in the wild that feels like finding buried treasure.
What is magic to you, as an adult?
I think when we grow older we tend to lose the sense of discovery and newness that the world has to offer us when we are children. As an adult, any moment that allows me to recapture that feeling feels like magic. I think one of the reasons I love to hike and travel is that is allows me to chase after those moments of new discovery. I think life stops surprising us as we get older, so any moment when I can be caught off guard in a moment of discovery is magic to me.
How did you find yourself as a maker? How has this career unfolded for you?
I have been making things since I can remember. I've always been really interested in crafts, drawing, photography, really anything creative. My dad is a writer and my mom has dabbled in so many hobbies from interior design to sewing to crafting in general. They've always encouraged my creative passions and bought art supplies for me and my siblings. While drawing was my first love, when I was about 10 years old I started making and selling jewelry at farmer's markets with my best friend. We used to spend hours making jewelry together. I stopped making jewelry as I got older and started focusing on photography, which I was devoted to for over a decade. When I moved away from Washington state in 2017 I found myself struggling creatively and decided to pick up jewelry making again, and it has really helped me rediscover my creativity again.
What do you love most about your business?
I love the way it has helped me grow as a person. I've gained some experience in the areas of social media marketing, graphic design, product photography, and e-commerce. I originally gave my hobby of photography up to start this new business, but now I find myself doing more photography than before, which was an unexpected surprise. Most of all I love the way it allows me to be creative every day.
What has been the biggest challenge for you on this professional journey thus far?
With any creative field, staying inspired and dealing with comparison are big hurdles. There's also the challenges that come with starting from scratch and doing everything yourself. Those are all things that should be expected when starting a handmade business, but there are other struggles that I don't see articulated as often. One of those is convincing potential buyers that they should take a chance on you when you're just starting out. Sometimes customers aren't ready for what you're putting out into the world, and it takes time for them to see that what you're offering is special. I value originality over everything else, and I don't want to make what everyone else is making. Unfortunately, sometimes this means trailblazing alone. There's a hard balance to strike when it comes to having your own unique creative vision and making what you know will sell.
What is one habit you have formed that has become an important part of your success as a business owner/maker/artist?
I have never been into list making and planning but it has been a huge help to me in this process. Just getting used to writing things down and keeping myself organized have been huge for my productivity. I would have never owned a planner let alone written a daily to-do list before this year and I've always been the type of person who keeps everything in their head. A few months in, I knew that wasn't going to be an option for me anymore. There are a lot of moving parts when you are a maker in charge of every role of your business and I no longer have the luxury knowing what every day of a 9-5 job is going to look like before it even starts. Now I have to be in charge of making my days as productive as possible because I am the only person I am accountable to.
Who or what has had the biggest influence on your creativity/your business?
I am very inspired by Midcentury Modern design and just about every creative aesthetic from that era. I love the shapes and patterns which often tend to show up in my own designs. I try to find my inspiration organically through mediums other than my own as to not become tempted to replicate anyone else's work. One thing that I did earlier this year was create a mood board of Midcentury Modern furniture, patterns, and decor and create a collection of earrings inspired by the shapes I saw repeated in those images. I am very proud of that collection and the pieces that came from it are still some of my best sellers.
What is one thing you would tell an aspiring or new entrepreneur that would encourage them to start/keep going?
If you love what you're doing, keep at it even when it's hard, even when things aren't going the way you want them to and you feel uninspired. Never let a day go by that you don't do something that gets you closer to your goals, even if it's a small thing. Always remember that everyone has good ideas, but it's the execution of those ideas that will set you apart.
