Today we are introducing you to Sheanne, the small business owner of She Dazzle Diamond Art, who found a hobby for herself and decided to share it with others.
Sheanne had been thinking about going back to work once her kids started school. She was interested in Diamond Art as a hobby but after some quick research, she realised that it was very hard to buy single sets in Australia. Luckily, there were some good wholesale prices available and Sheanne came up with the business idea to start her own diamond art small business, She Dazzle Diamond Art.
“Donna helped me with a loan so that I could get more stock. She was just someone who is there for me to talk to about anything and everything. She has helped me with all of my finances, including my record keeping with the Many Rivers recordkeeping kit.”
Sheanne is at the beginning of her business journey. Read about why she decided to become a small business owner and her journey so far.
Meet Sheanne
I started in November 2019 and my business is selling a relaxing arts and craft activity kit. I was a stay-at-home mum and I came across diamond art on Facebook. I thought it looked relaxing so I looked into it. I saw that it wasn’t really available in Australia and that’s where I came up with the idea to have my own diamond art small business. I thought it was just so different and I am a very artsy crafty person myself. I love decorating things for my kids. So it was right down my ally and more importantly, something that I really like doing.
NEIS referred me to Many Rivers in March 2020. I wanted to go into business for my family and to support my family. I also wanted to start doing something for myself now that my children have gone to school I want to make something of myself.
My kids like that I am working and I can see where my business can go. Everything I have done the last few months is all the little steps that are setting up the foundations for the future. I can see the outlook now of where my business can be. I needed to do something for me and something that I enjoy.
Working with Many Rivers
Donna helped me with a loan so that I could get more stock. She was just someone who is there for me to talk to about anything and everything. She has helped me with all of my finances, including my record keeping with the Many Rivers recordkeeping kit. Donna also comes and visits me at the markets so she is just so supportive.
Sometimes I’ll do a heap of things for my business and think to myself ‘is this good enough?’ and then she will come over and tell me I am on the right track. It gives me so much more confidence knowing that someone who is an expert in the area thinks I’m doing the right thing. It’s that backup that reassures me.
Biggest Challenge
Marketing! Just the price of it – for example the price of printing flyers is so high! I have experienced problems with Shopify and other platforms, and it is quite time consuming and expensive. It is also causing some problems with my website too. I can see why this can be such a barrier for people that want to go into business.
Biggest Success
My school package – turning my product into a bigger product to then wholesale out to schools.
Future Goals
To be able to pay myself and to get to that point. The next step is selling it and succeeding and running the business whereas the last 12 months has been setting it all up.
Thanks Sheanne for sharing your business journey. We know that there are many other people out there looking to take the next step towards setting up their own business. Your story will inspire them on the next stage of their business creation. If you want to stay updated with her business journey make sure to check out her business Facebook page.
Do you have a passion or small business idea? Do you have a business you would like to expand or would like some business coaching support?
We’re here to help.
CLICK HERE to see if Many Rivers is right for you
Did you love this business journey? Read about another and meet Merrilee, who provides a service to new mothers and supports them as they enter the new stage in their life.
B0008836