Learnt Crochet at the age of 8, Rachel Alford, now owns a lovely crochet business called Cozy Nooks Designs.
Though she learned to crochet at the age of 8, she forgot the art and later learned knitting when she was in High School. Later she lost touch of Knitting but took up crocheting and now she is a Crocheter.
She always wanted to have a little business of her own. She tells what she did in her earlier days, “Since I was a little girl, I was always side-hustling with little businesses. Whether it was lemonade stands, friendship bracelets, pom-pom tassels, animal keychains (basically, any awkward thing a kid could guilt an adult into buying), so it felt natural for me to start a legit business when I “grew up” so I could sell some of my crafts.”
Selling the first thing in a serious proper business as an adult is always accompanied by nervousness and excitement. She tells us her experience of selling the first item, “When I made my first sale, I am pretty sure I almost died of a heart attack. I was SO excited, but nervous, and happy, but scared, but confident, but not. I finally realized that yes, I can make things of value for people and to own it! Don’t discount yourself or your products because you feel it is of no value. It is okay to feel butterflies because that’s how you know you are growing as a person and stretching yourself and your business.” Didnt that pretty much sum up our feeligs as well. I am sure all of us felt the same whn we first sold our goodies.
When you are successful it is definitely because of your own hard work and dedication but the family also plays a very important part. When your family supports you it is always awesome and it becomes easy to handle day to day chores also. Rachel tells us how awesome it is when your family is your supporter, “My family is my rock. My husband, I like to call him Mr. Nooks 😉, is so legit. He is my biggest cheerleader. He likes to geek out with me and look at the numbers but is also willing to sew on a button if I am in a pinch. He actually is a big part of this business because he is my sounding board for different ideas or opportunities. Not sure if he necessarily asked to be a part, but he is indispensable.”
Being mompreneur isn’t easy but it definitely is fun. Rachel tells us how her kids love to help her and each of them has a different role to play for Cozy Nooks Designs. She tells us, “I have three kids ages 6, 4, and 1. My two older kids are both boys, and they are very much a part of this side gig as well. They help package up orders and get paid when they do so (and love to help!) and my baby girl is my “design assistant” and helps me think of new pattern designs. 😉”
Her love for the art coupled with her knowledge of the business is her strongest point. Being a Busines Management Graduate with an emphasis in International Marketing in college (Go BYU Cougars!), she loves to geek out and look at numbers. It is awesome when you know about running a business and have one of your own too. She furhter shares, “I love all things branding, and I must admit I am a bit jealous that Mr. Nooks is getting his Master’s right now and is in a marketing class. “
No other success can compensate for failure in the home.
-David O. McKay
She loves this quote and tells us why, “This quote is one of my all-time favorites because as a wife and mother, my family comes first. Nothing comes between me and my family. I tend to be of the personality of “all in! going 110%! Can’t stop, won’t stop!”, so with Cozy Nooks Designs, I have to take a second every few months and stop to see if I am staying true to this quote and doing a good job balancing my family as well as this job. It is hard, but I think every working mother has to find their own individual balance and what that means for them personally.”
We love what she says and means and we totally believe it. Balancing life is very much important. People who are there for you should also be taken care of, given time and love. You can not be totally into your professional life 24/7.
Rachel loves Yard Sales. She also likes to read, run, and eat Chick-fil-a. She loves home renovation projects. When she isnt designing or making any crochet projects it is most likely beacuse she is into a home project and want to give it all the attention it needs.
Her advice to all of us makers is “To own it!” She says, “You are awesome, and you do great work! Keep your chin up, a smile on your face, and you got this.”
In life, you get what you put into it. She tells us how after a number of failures and a great amount of hard work she has reached where she is right now, “To get my first sale on Etsy, I had a solid year of no sales, and countless hours every week trying to build my business. I didn’t give up during that first year of no sales. I just kept trying different avenues until boom! I found that my crochet hats were selling and selling fast! I ran with it and have been trying to grow myself and my business since than. <3″
We agree with her and we all need to understand that starting and managing a business is very difficult. Making goods and selling/ marketing those goods are very different things. But with time things fall in place. We slowly start learning how things work. what is good and what isnt. What sells and what doesnt. So be strong keep trying and do not stop 🙂
It feels really great to know and write about people like Rachel. There is a different kind of energy and positivity when you interact with such people. We are sure Rachel inspired you today because she surely inspired us and encouraged us with regards to family and business. Thank You girl 🙂
Connect with Cozy Nooks Designs
You can follow Rachel Alford / Cozy Nooks Designs at below social media handles: